There are 2 basic VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) provider
options: free services or paid providers that charge a monthly fee.
Making that choice depends on how you plan to use VOIP.
If
you just want to chat with friends and family over the Internet, a free
service may be adequate. If you're looking for a true alternative to
normal phone service, however, consider a VOIP service with a paid
package deal.
Package Choices
There are so many choices. To
determine which is the best service for your money, you must decide
which services you need, and whether you want to quit your existing
telephone service completely.
Most VOIP providers offer package
plans with free calls to a designated geographical area. Nearly all
providers offer free call waiting, call display, and conference call
services.
Even though the basic package for a similar fee is the
same with most providers, there is a great rivalry between VOIP service
providers, with each striving to offer services that set them apart from
their competitors. To make the right choice, you'll have to check
several packages to find the best for your needs.
For example, if
you make a lot of overseas calls, a package that includes international
calls makes sense. Or if you receive most of your calls from a specific
city, get a package that offers a specific phone number that allows
people to call you at that local rate.
Service and reliability are
other critical factors when selecting a VOIP provider. This information
is available from reviews on the internet or by asking your friends
which providers they use. One suggestion is to find a provider offering a
money-back guarantee.
Find out how much bandwidth is required for
a particular VOIP service. If the information is not available from the
company's web site, send an e-mail to verify that your broadband
connection is suitable for their VOIP service. Usually 128 kbps on the
upload side is sufficient.
Problems
Emergency calls are 1 of
the technical drawbacks with VOIP, because it's hard to determine your
physical location on VOIP calls. 911 calls may not be routed to the
correct call center, and if they are, operators can't establish your
location if you are unable to communicate. The Federal Communications
Commission, in the United States, is demanding that VOIP service
providers find a solution.
Providing phone service during a power
outage is another technical problem. Since VOIP requires electrical
current to operate modems, in a power outage the VOIP phone line goes
dead. One solution is to use a computer with a battery backup. Another
is an electrical generator to provides emergency household electricity.
Finally,
you may want to retain your existing phone service after signing up for
VOIP. Not all providers offer this service, so if it's important,
verify that ability in advance.
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Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. Visit voip-solutions-now [http://www.voip-solutions-now.com] to learn more about this subject.
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