| Are you using VoIP yet? If not, statistics indicate | | | | VoIP providers also throw in tons of free phone |
| you'll be replacing your traditional land line phone | | | | features too - like caller ID, call waiting, voicemail |
| service with internet phone service within the | | | | and call forwarding - just to name a few. If you |
| next year or so. Chances are you've heard about | | | | really want to save a lot of money on phone |
| VoIP, but you may know of it as "digital phone | | | | service, consider using a VoIP provider that |
| service". This is the marketing term cable | | | | offers an unlimited annual plan. These plans usually |
| television provider's use when advertising their | | | | run $199 a year (paid upfront). and Sunrocket are |
| version of internet phone service. | | | | two good companies that offer an annual option. |
| The terms VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol), | | | | If you make international calls, VoIP service will |
| internet phone service, broadband phone service | | | | save you a ton of money vs. traditional phone |
| and digital phone service are used interchangeably, | | | | service. International long distance rates are |
| and all refer to the technology used to make | | | | usually only pennies per minute with VoIP, |
| telephone calls over the internet. VoIP started | | | | depending on where you call. If you make |
| becoming popular as a money-saving replacement | | | | frequent international calls, consider subscribing |
| for "land line" phone service a couple of years | | | | with a VoIP company that offers an international |
| ago, and now it is quickly becoming the residential | | | | calling plan. Sunrocket, Packet8 and Vonage are |
| phone service of choice. | | | | three good providers that offer an international |
| According to the Telecommunications Industry | | | | option. |
| News, the number of VoIP users in the United | | | | The only requirement you'll need to meet in order |
| States doubled from 1.5 to nearly 3 million | | | | to use residential VoIP service is a broadband |
| between 2004 and 2005. Voip Monitor estimated | | | | internet connection. |
| there were approximately 6 million users in | | | | Most people already have broadband internet |
| September 2006, and projects there will be 24 | | | | access (over 60% of Americans), so this makes |
| million users by the end of 2008. Internet phone | | | | switching to VoIP a really easy process. After |
| service is here to stay, and it's only a matter of | | | | choosing a VoIP provider that offers the calling |
| time before you consider switching to VoIP. | | | | plan that is right for you, sign up for service on |
| Why are so many millions of people disconnecting | | | | their website. In many cases, you can keep your |
| their regular "telephone-line" based phone service | | | | existing phone number. The provider will send you |
| in favor of VoIP? To save money! | | | | a small device known as a Voip adapter (also |
| Regular phone service relies on millions of miles of | | | | known as an ATA). When you receive it, |
| telephone cable, millions of switches and millions of | | | | installation is a simple matter of connecting a few |
| technicians and support personnel to maintain the | | | | cables and dialing a special number to activate |
| telephone in your home. This costs a tremendous | | | | service. No tools or technical skills are required in |
| amount of money, and the costs are passed on | | | | order to install internet phone service, and you |
| to us consumers in our phone bills. Most people | | | | can use your existing telephone. |
| pay $40 a month or more for the privilege of | | | | If you don't have broadband internet service yet, |
| having a dial tone. When you add long distance | | | | you'll need to get this before you can use VoIP. |
| charges to that, it's not uncommon to see $100+ | | | | My recommendation is to use cable internet |
| phone bills every month. | | | | service. Although this may cost you around $20 a |
| Internet phone service relies on a broadband | | | | month more than your current dial-up service, |
| internet connection to route calls over the World | | | | you will more than make up the difference once |
| Wide Web, to anywhere in the world. VoIP | | | | you subscribe to VoIP service and disconnect |
| providers only have to maintain a room full of | | | | your land line phone. An added benefit is that you |
| servers and switches, internet connectivity and a | | | | will be able to surf the web at high-speed while |
| staff of technicians in order to provide consumers | | | | talking on the phone at the same time! |
| with high quality internet phone service. | | | | Most people who switch to internet phone service |
| Although prices differ among VoIP service | | | | save around $500 a year on their phone bill. VoIP |
| providers, you can expect to pay $20 - $40 a | | | | looks and feels just like regular "land line" service. |
| month for internet phone service, and this usually | | | | The only thing different that you'll notice is extra |
| includes unlimited local and long distance calls! Most | | | | money in your pocket! |