| If you have been looking for VOIP service for | | | | But how do you find the best VOIP provider? |
| any amount of time, you are probably totally | | | | According to the marketing literature that each of |
| confused about how to select the best VOIP | | | | them puts out, you would think there was a |
| provider. Residential and small business consumers | | | | 100-way tie for the best one. |
| are attracted to VOIP because it is a great way | | | | Before selecting your VOIP service, the very first |
| to avoid long distance fees. The price point at | | | | thing you need to do is take a good hard look at |
| which VOIP service is offered is typically much | | | | your high-speed Internet connection. How reliable |
| lower for more features than what your | | | | and stable is it? You need to understand that |
| traditional phone line would cost from the phone | | | | your VOIP provider is going to assume that your |
| company. | | | | high-speed Internet connection is rock solid, stable, |
| For example, a traditional phone line from the | | | | and reliable. If it's not, it's not their problem and |
| phone company costs about $25 per month for | | | | you will not be happy with your VOIP service. |
| just basic service and dial tone, which might | | | | As far as finding the right VOIP service, definitely |
| include unlimited local calling but really not much of | | | | choose one that has implemented the E911 |
| anything else. Now compare that to the service | | | | service. This is now required by the FCC. This |
| that a VOIP provider can offer, which includes | | | | allows you to call 911 in case of an emergency |
| unlimited local calling, unlimited long distance in the | | | | and for them to be able to find you. If the VOIP |
| continental US (sometimes also Canada and | | | | provider has not implemented this for their |
| Puerto Rico), voice mail, call waiting, caller ID as | | | | service, you need to run in the opposite direction. |
| standard features, and a traditional phone line | | | | Beyond that, you need to compare the overall |
| cannot even begin to compare. Getting all those | | | | value. Do not include the cost of your high-speed |
| features on a regular phone line would easily cost | | | | Internet connection in your evaluation because |
| three or more times more than what VOIP | | | | chances are high that you would have that |
| service would cost you. | | | | anyway for surfing and email. How much long |
| In addition, two callers using the same service | | | | distance calling do you do each month? How much |
| could talk to each other for free anywhere in the | | | | do you spend on long distance calling with your |
| world as long as they both had a good high-speed | | | | traditional phone? Could your calling needs be just |
| Internet connection. It is also a great way to | | | | as adequately handled by your cell phone, or do |
| keep in touch when on the road. Take your VOIP | | | | you need to talk more than your affordable cell |
| phone with you, and then plug into the high-speed | | | | phone plans permit? |
| Internet connection at your hotel or your | | | | VOIP services can be incredibly cost effective, |
| brother's house in Denver or your aunt's house in | | | | but if you decide to implement it from a reliable |
| Chicago. Even though you might live in Houston, | | | | VOIP provider, make sure you are doing it for |
| you will still receive calls on your VOIP phone | | | | the right reasons and not just for the sake of |
| wherever you are. | | | | technology. |