VOIP Phone Services - A Quick Overview
Vonage, Lingo, VoiceWing, CallVantage - if these names aren't familiar to you yet, they will be before long. They are the top four current VOIP (voice over internet protocol) service providers.
Two of them, Lingo and Vonage, are new companies in the business of communications. The other two are new services offered by communications giants Verizon and AT&T. All of them promise to give you unlimited long distance and local phone service for prices ranging from $24.95 to $49.95 a month.
Vonage isn't the only VoIP service, but it is the most well-known, thanks to an enormous marketing push. According to a spokesperson from Vonage, their business is growing at the rate of 1500 new subscribers a month. Those new subscribers are enjoying unlimited local and long distance phone service for as little as $39.95 a month for business service and $24.95 monthly for residential. Is VoIP phone service a good choice for you? The answers to a few simple questions can help you decide.
What equipment do I need to take advantage of VoIP phone? You'll need either a DSL or high-speed cable internet service and a telephony device - or the 'box'. Vonage provides you with the box when you sign up for an account with them. Simply plug your phone and your computer into to box, and you're ready to go.
Is VoIP reliable phone service? VoIP has been around as a low-cost way to make phone calls from your computer for a lot of years. In general, your VoIP service will work as long as your internet connection is up and running and, your electrical service is on. It won't operate during a power outage, and losing your DSL or cable will also put your phone out of service. If your internet carrier goes down even occasionally, you'll want to keep regular phone service at least as a backup - or get an uninterruptible power supply.
But is it any good? Sound quality, reliability, the works? From all reports, the sound quality and reception is akin to that you can expect from a good cell phone. You'll have occasional drops and hiccups, but no worse than you'd see if you were using a cell and moving.
Can I use my VOiP phone number when I'm traveling? In a word, yes. You'll have your phone with you wherever you plug in your 'box', whether it's your living room or a hotel room in Naples, Florida.
However, the technology advances every day. Vonage, the acknowledged independent leader in the field, reports new subscribers at the rate of 1500 per month. That sort of growth sparks further advances nearly every day. Expect that VOIP will advance at least as quickly as the acceptance of cell phones as a fact of modern life.
Can I use multiple phone extensions with my VoIP? It's tricky, but it's doable. The easiest way is to use a cordless phone with multiple handsets. Again, it's another area that's being worked on, so expect that to change over time.
Where can I find out more about VoIP phone service? You can check the home pages of these VoIP providers: Vonage (www.vonage.com) At&T CallVantage (www.callvantage.com) Lingo (www.lingo.com) Verizon Voicewing (www.voicewing.com)
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Fawn Rawson is the webmaster at FR PhoneFor stacks of comprehensive information including articles, resources and a free newsletter, go to: http://www.frphone.com
