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Why Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP)?


VOIP services can be a valuable complement or replacement to land line (analog) telephone services. With VOIP services you can get all the basic calling features you enjoy plus many advanced features without paying extra.

For example, most VOIP services include in their basic plans:

  • Transfer, block and forward calls
  • Caller ID
  • Voicemail and Call Waiting

Compared to analog telephone services, VOIP requires only a low monthly fee and some long distance calls are free. VOIP services can save you money with:

  • Unlimited In-Network Calls - VOIP services allow unlimited free calls to and from anyone inside their network.
  • Plan Minutes - Often VOIP services include long distance calling in their basic plan minutes, so if you have 500 minutes, you can call anywhere in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. International calls are usually extra. VOIP services also offer unlimited plan minutes at a higher monthly price.
  • Low Over-the-Limit Fees - VOIP services charge 2-5 cents a minute.
  • Disconnecting Your Land Line - With VOIP services you may be able to shut down your land line and transfer your familiar phone number to their service. Many offer emergency 911 services, or you could just simply use your cell phone for emergencies and VOIP for regular calls.
  • Choosing your Area Code - Many services will let you pick the area code of your choice. So if you frequently call an area code other than the one you live in, you could pick that area code and save on long distance fees.

In this site, you’ll find articles related to VOIP and equipment as well as comprehensive reviews and a side–by–side comparison to help you make an informed decision about which VOIP service is right for you. At TopTenREVIEWS — We do the research so you don't have to.™


What to Look for in VOIP service

VOIP technology started out as computer to computer communication so some providers still focus on computer to computer services and telephone to telephone service is extra. The more popular telephone to telephone services may offer computer to computer add-ons for free or they may charge an extra fee.

Deciding which VOIP service is right for you may be confusing, but when choosing a plan think about what kinds of calls you make, what advanced features you want and whether you want to disconnect your land line service or add a VOIP number in addition to your regular service.

Below are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate VOIP Services:

  • Service Plan Fees & Minutes –Most VOIP providers generally offer 500 calling minutes (local and long distance combined) in their basic plans. Beyond 500 minutes, calls are charged at per minute rates and international calls are charged at separate rates. In-Network (calls between users of the same service) calls are free. Unlimited calling is generally up one level from a basic plan. Depending on the provider, the monthly price for unlimited calling may increase $5-$10 or more than double.
  • Calling/Service Features – A good VOIP service should provide calling features such as Voicemail, Caller ID, 3-way Calling, Speed Dial, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding and Call Return (*69). An even better VOIP service will offer enhanced features like Repeat Dialing, transferring and blocking calls, ringing on multiple telephone numbers (Find Me), Do Not Disturb and Enhanced 911 Dialing.

    VOIP providers offer service features such as transferring your existing telephone number to their service, choosing a different area code than the one you live in, using the portable telephone adapter to use VOIP service anywhere there is an Internet connection, accessing account statements online and forwarding calls to a safe number in the event the Internet is disrupted.

  • Installation/Setup – VOIP service is ordinarily simple to install and setup. High-speed Internet is required for all VOIP services (dial-up will not work). For computer to computer services, a computer and VOIP software (usually a free download) are required. And for telephone to telephone services, only a telephone adapter (usually free with service) is required. A few providers require their customers to sign up with their Internet service, which can be a significant cost increase. Additionally, some provider's services are not compatible with a USB modem.
  • Help/Support –At the very least a VOIP provider's website should provide help information such as frequently asked questions and contact information. An impressive website will offer additional help information like installation/user guides, tutorials and user forums. Customer service should personally respond to questions from customers — some providers send standardized form letters in response to emailed questions to customer service and some telephone menu options don't lead to a live person.
VOIP services are a functional and inexpensive technology that provides consumers with an alternative to analog telephone services. VOIP service plans offer the same calling features as analog phone services at a much lower price.

For the best VOIP service available see Vonage.

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VOIP BOOKS
VOIP Services Books

VOIP NEWS

March 24, 2008
What the Recession Will Do to VoIP
VOIP News
Exactly how a recession would affect the VoIP industry and its customers is hard to say at this point. Still, it's possible to make some educated guesses and to understand that an economic downturn may have both bad and good implications for the VoIP indu


March 24, 2008
Court reminds states that VoIP is exempt from service fees
ars technica
Late last year, VoIP provider Vonage sued the state of Nebraska over the Nebraska Public Service Commission's attempts to force it to pay into the state's Universal Service Fund.


March 19, 2008
Why is mobile VoIP so slow to take off?
FT.com
Voice over internet protocol, or VoIP, has been gaining ground in the enterprise market, as legacy systems are gradually replaced by their IP-based offspring.


VOIP Services News Articles




VOIP Services Review - A Review of the top VOIP Services products

Talk is Cheap ‘n Easy over the Internet

Dump your old–fashioned phone company and pick up VOIP. Internet telephone services can provide you with all of the comforts and features you're used to for a fraction of the cost.

Click to read   "Why Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP)?"

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Ease of Installation/Setup
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Free Phone Adapter                
 
Activation Fee/ Setup Fee $29.99 $29.95 $39.95 $29.99 $32.95 $29.95 $29.99 $29.99 $19.95 $29.99
Cancellation Fee $39.99 $45.95 $39.95 $39.99 $39.95 $39.95 $39.99 $29.99 $0.00 $0.00
Service Plan Fees & Minutes
Unlimited Minutes                    
Long Distance Calls (outgoing)                    
Canada  
               
Puerto Rico  


         
Select International Calls  
 

   


Free In-Network Calls                    
Business Plans      
   

 
Calling/Service Features
Basic Calling Features









Voicemail                    
Caller ID with Name      
   
     
Caller ID


 

 


3-Way Calling                    
Speed Dial
             

Call Waiting                    
Call Forwarding                    
Call Return (*69)            

   
Enhanced Calling Features









Repeat Dailing  

 
   


Call Transfer      




   
Call Blocking              
   
911 Service                
 
Do Not Disturb                    
Free 411 Directory Assistance
   




 
Find Me        


   
Service Features









Keep Existing Number                
 
Choose Area Code                
 
Online Account Management                
 
Additional Services Available (usually costs extra)









Add a Line                    
SoftPhone                    
Toll-Free Number              
   
Directory Assistance                
 
Virtual Phone Number          

     
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Technical Help/Support
Phone Support            
   
Email Support                    
Online Help    
 
 

 
Tutorials


 





User Manual/Guide  

     

 
FAQ                    
User Forum



 




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