| The summer of 2006 has been a competitive | | | | Cell phone companies are trying their best to |
| time for VoIP providers, as they battle for new | | | | convince customers that they don't need |
| subscribers within this hot new market that's | | | | traditional telephone service or VoIP service, and |
| starting to catch on like wildfire. Although VoIP | | | | that cellular service will meet all their needs. In an |
| internet phone service has been popular in Asian | | | | effort to make cell phone service seem |
| and European markets for a while now, internet | | | | cost-effective, providers now offer "family plans", |
| phone service is really starting to take off in the | | | | "rollover minutes, "circle of friends" unlimited calling |
| U.S., and we're starting to see some interesting | | | | plans, "unlimited nights and weekends", and other |
| things happening in the world of | | | | similar features designed to make cellular the |
| telecommunications. This is great news for us | | | | "service of choice" for consumers. Cell phone |
| consumers, because prices on telecommunications | | | | service plans vary, depending on the amount of |
| services are dropping and providers are adding | | | | minutes you need each month. The average |
| more free services and features. | | | | consumer using cellular as their only telephone |
| As more and more consumers think about | | | | requires a lot of monthly minutes, which can easily |
| disconnecting their land line telephone service in | | | | cost between $60 - $200, depending on calling |
| favor of cheaper internet phone calls, other | | | | habits. |
| telecommunications service providers have | | | | VoIP internet phone service costs between $17 |
| changed their strategies in order to either hold | | | | and $25 per month for unlimited local and long |
| onto market share or gain new subscribers. VoIP | | | | distance service, depending on the provider and |
| service is so unbelievably cheap however, that | | | | plan chosen. This is way below the cost of even |
| most thrifty shoppers with broadband internet | | | | the cheapest "digital phone service", cellular |
| connections will ultimately choose internet phone | | | | service, or phone company "unlimited long |
| service over anything else. | | | | distance" plan. All that's required for VoIP is a |
| Cable television companies have started partnering | | | | broadband internet connection, which is becoming |
| with VoIP providers in an effort to re-sell unlimited | | | | very commonplace. Internet phone service is |
| local and long distance service under the fancy | | | | easy to install, works just like a regular telephone, |
| new name "digital phone". In order to capture their | | | | and comes with tons of free calling features (like |
| share of the internet phone market, they're selling | | | | voicemail, call waiting, caller id, etc...), that most |
| re-branded VoIP service to current television | | | | phone companies charge extra for. |
| subscribers at a minimum 100% markup, which is | | | | If you're considering switching to VoIP service, |
| still less than traditional "land line" service. "Digital | | | | the hardest part is deciding which VoIP provider |
| phone service" can cost between $40 and $60 | | | | to use. Telephone service is an important part of |
| per month for unlimited local and long distance | | | | our daily lives, and it's important to choose a VoIP |
| calling. | | | | company that has a reputation for high quality |
| Traditional "land line" phone companies are rapidly | | | | service. In my opinion, the best internet phone |
| losing their customer base to VoIP service, and | | | | service providers for residential use are VoIP.com, |
| have now started offering unlimited long distance | | | | Vonage, and Packet8. All three are well known, |
| plans at deeply discounted rates in an effort to | | | | large, stable companies with a good reputation for |
| hang on to the customers they still have. Unlimited | | | | quality and excellent customer service. If you limit |
| long distance plans normally cost between $30 - | | | | your choices to these VoIP providers, all you |
| $50 per month, in addition to the monthly cost | | | | need to do is find the VoIP plan and price that is |
| for "basic service". | | | | right for you. |