| You may have heard the acronym VoIP and | | | | It is also possible with VoIP to take your home |
| wondered what it is and what all the hype is | | | | phone with you when you go on a trip. The |
| about. VoIP is a telephone service that works | | | | incoming calls are routed to your VoIP phone |
| over the Internet instead of through your | | | | where ever you plug into an Internet connection, |
| traditional telephone. If VoIP doesn't sound familiar, | | | | like at your in-laws home or your hotel room. |
| you may have heard one of its other names such | | | | Depending on your service provider, some |
| as IP Telephony, Internet Telephony, Broadband | | | | features may cost extra or not be available with |
| Telephony or as the acronym means Voice over | | | | VoIP, such as call forwarding, auto redial and 3 |
| Internet Protocols. If you are considering using this | | | | way calling. VoIP is almost always less expensive |
| service for your home, then there is information | | | | than the local phone company. There is no more |
| that you need to help you find the best VoIP for | | | | long distance charges or certain times that we |
| your money. | | | | have to call to get a discounted rate. Calls are |
| There are cost saving advantages to using a | | | | crystal clear, no static and have all the features |
| VoIP service. There are many companies that | | | | and more that you would get with traditional |
| offer a discounted rate for service if they are | | | | phone service. |
| able to bundle a package for you such as Internet | | | | Another possible downside and a reason some |
| service and phone or cable service and phone. | | | | homes still keep a land line or cell phone handy is |
| This is great if the quality of your Internet | | | | because the phone with VoIP is powered by |
| connection is reasonable or above. Many people | | | | electricity. If the power goes out, so does your |
| have this service in their homes, where the | | | | phone. Likewise, if your highspeed Internet |
| package is bundled with Internet. In many cases, | | | | connection goes down, you will not be able to |
| people have reported savings of $30 or more | | | | make or receive calls, since your VOIP service |
| every month over what they had before. That is | | | | uses your Internet connection. |
| almost $400 per year! | | | | When you are looking at a VOIP phone service |
| Another advantage for having VoIP phone service | | | | and deciding which service to go with, you need |
| versus traditional phone service is that usually you | | | | to do your homework. Make sure that the |
| pay a flat rate per month and that includes long | | | | provider offers the services you need and want |
| distance and local calls. VoIP eliminates the toll | | | | where you live. Make sure that you have a good |
| charges that you incur with traditional telephone | | | | Internet connection, since a good and reliable |
| phone service. VoIP does not require that the | | | | Internet connection will be one of the major keys |
| person you are calling also have the service, it | | | | to the quality of the VOIP service. |
| works in conjunction with traditional phone service. | | | | |