How to choose a VoIP providerHanu Nirukurti |
VoIP (or voice over internet protocol) has become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional long-distance phone calls. The reason? Cost. A VoIP provider can reduce your phone bills by as much as 80%, more than justifying the initial costs of buying the equipment and monthly or annual fees.
Choosing to go VoIP is easy; which VoIP provider you sign up with is trickier. With the number of companies and the diversity of packages to choose from, it's hard to tell if you're really getting your money's worth. Here are some things to consider as you narrow down your choices:
* How much are you willing to spend? Look at your budgets. How
much can you allot for this service? How much do you really save
by getting it?
* How much of your phone calls are long distance?
If you rarely make long distance phone calls then you won't
really feel the "savings"; but if you have friends and family
around the world, then VoIP is a lifesaver. Look at your
previous phone bills and make a rough estimate. Compute the cost
of those calls on a traditional phone provider and through VoIP.
* How good is their customer service? Customer service is
frequently the worst in companies that offer very low rates.
They usually have a deluge of subscribers whose needs or
quieries they may not be able to handle Check out how their
after-salves customer service is by asking friends who use VoiP
or VoiP sites that have message boards?
* What features are
included in the package? Some packages may appear that they are
cheaper but It could be because they have a very skeletal list
of services. Others have a higher fee but offer so many
additional services. But crucial to this is asking yourself
which services are most important to you. Do you want call
waiting? Do you need 3 way calling? Do you want fax
capabilities? By defining what your priorities are you can weigh
the overall monthly subscription fees with the kind of value you
get for your money.
* Can you keep your old number? Some
companies allow you to transfer your existing phone number to
the VoIP service. This is a very helpful feature that saves you
the trouble of informing others or, even more importantly, losng
contact with those who were not told about the change. This can
be too much of a risk to people who run homebased businesses.
*
Do they offer emergency services? Not all VoIP services allow
emergency numbers like 911. In this case it's advisable that you
retain a cell phone or land line. It pays to be safe than sorry!
* How many international calls do you need to make? There is a
wide variety of packages that appropriate a certain number of
minutes for long distance calls. Find out your typical usage and
assess how much you need.
Choosing a VoIP provider is an important decision.
For more information on VoIP companies and services, go to the http://www.voipworth.com website.
The latest information and news on VoIP :
A new report is again indicating that The Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) is being devalued due to illegal competition from long distance companies offering Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
Polycom launches SoundPoint IP 430 VoIP phone (CIOL)
NEW DELHI:Polycom, Inc., provider of unified collaborative communications solutions, has added the SoundPoint IP 430 phone to its SIP based voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) desktop phones portfolio. The newly launched phone is a two-line phone with a full-duplex speakerphone and graphical LCD.
Samsung SGH-P200 GSM/VOIP Hybrid Phone Sighted at FCC (AnandTech)
Cellular and VOIP services all in one handheld...
Consumers to flock to VoIP (theRegister via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News)
The traditional home phone number could become a thing of the past as more and more people opt for fixed-mobile services and VoIP. That's according to ...
VoIP Will Kill Off Traditional Landlines In Europe: Report (Small Biz Pipeline)
VoIP will kill off the use of traditional landlines in Europe, due to the appeal of new fixed-mobile telephone services, says two new reports by JupiterResearch.
X-Lite SIP VoIP Softphone Download (DesignTechnica)
Today's daily download is X-Lite SIP VoIP Softphone. Users who subscribe to a VoIP or Broadband service will be able to use this description.
Ennovative Commerce Solutions Installs VoIP from TelCove (CommsDesign)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Ennovative Commerce Solutions, a Jacksonville-based developer of enterprise-class marketing and sales solutions, has installed a new, company-wide VoIP solution from TelCove, a leading provider of business critical telecommunications services to enterprise customers and carriers.
Consumers to flock to VoIP (The Register)
All change The traditional home phone number could become a thing of the past as more and more people opt for fixed-mobile services and VoIP.?
Tiscali unveils VoIP service (The Register)
VoIPtastic Tiscali - which recently clocked up one million broadband lines in the UK - has unveiled details of a new VoIP service.?
Fusion Softphone Turns Computer into VoIP Telephone (IT Observer)
Fusion Telecommunications International has announced that it has completed the first version of its proprietary computer-based efonica telephone, or 'softphone,' a software application that transforms a personal computer into a VoIP telephone. Concurrent with the launch of Fusion?s new, efonica-branded VoIP services later this month, customers will be able to download a beta version of the