| Small businesses, home-based businesses, and | | | | players) can be stored indefinitely. |
| self-employed individuals have been turning to | | | | Internet Phone Advantage 3. Cost |
| internet telephone service (also called broadband | | | | * Make lots of calls? Many VOIP providers' |
| phone or VOIP) in droves. What is the attraction? | | | | unlimited-calling plans cost just $20 to $80 a |
| As a self-employed, telecommuting, | | | | month. |
| small-business-owning freelance writer, I can | | | | * Features such as call waiting, caller ID, hold, call |
| provide some insight. | | | | forwarding, and multiple ring-to numbers are |
| I switched my business to internet phones early in | | | | usually costly extras with landline service. With |
| 2005. Despite a few hiccups, I'm not going back | | | | most VOIP services, those are built-in features. |
| to landlines. Internet phone service has too many | | | | SOHO VOIP: Tips for Making it Work for Your |
| advantages, which I'll describe for you. I also have | | | | Business |
| some tips for avoiding possible rough patches. | | | | SOHO VOIP Tip 1. Test internet phoning out |
| VOIP Internet Phone Small Business and SOHO | | | | before committing. |
| Advantages | | | | Yes, some VOIP connections are so scratchy and |
| VOIP Advantage No. 1: Look bigger. | | | | patchy they sound like cell phones. That's usually |
| * If your small business has to seem large, a | | | | because of a problem in the internet connection. |
| virtual PBX with a dial-by-name directory might | | | | Such problems may not be apparent in ordinary |
| help. These systems cost thousands to install. But | | | | web browsing and file downloading. Go with a |
| many VOIP companies let you rent this service | | | | service that has a 30-day money-back guarantee. |
| for less than a hundred dollars a month. | | | | Try VOIP out where you live and work. Make |
| * Give each member of your team their own | | | | sure to try inbound and outbound calls. |
| outside line. With most VOIP companies, each line | | | | Small Business Internet Phone Tip 2. Phoning from |
| costs around $10. | | | | a laptop. |
| * Get one or more 1-800 numbers at around $10 | | | | With VOIP telephones, you don't need a |
| month. | | | | computer. But you can use your computer as a |
| VOIP Advantage No 2. Freedom of movement. | | | | phone. A piece of software called a "softphone" |
| * Freedom to travel. When I went to | | | | uses your computer's speakers and microphone. |
| Sacramento to visit a friend, I ended up extending | | | | If your laptop is running too many programs at |
| my stay to a whole month. I couldn't have done | | | | once, calls will deteriorate. Higher-end laptops |
| that without regular phone access. With VOIP, my | | | | shouldn't have this problem. |
| Massachusetts number follows me wherever I go. | | | | SOHO Internet Phones Tip 3. Go with an |
| * Tropical adventures. I regularly work with a | | | | established VOIP company. |
| virtual assistant company that takes phone calls | | | | You don't want to lose your telephone service |
| on their Quebec phone number everyday. That | | | | and possibly your number. Yet only a few VOIP |
| wouldn't be so strange except they're in the | | | | companies have roots before 2000. Choose a |
| Philippines. They're using the same small business | | | | service with deep enough roots to survive a |
| VOIP phone service sold right here in North | | | | VOIP industry shake-out. |
| America. True, VOIP companies don't generally | | | | Small Biz Internet Phoning Tip 4. Choose a |
| guarantee their services will work outside the | | | | provider carefully before putting the number on |
| country of purchase. But the internet is the | | | | your business cards. |
| internet, whether in Fargo or the South Pacific. | | | | Switching VOIP companies is at least as much of |
| With the growth of broadband to virtually every | | | | a pain as switching landline phone companies. In |
| non-pariah nation on earth, your second office | | | | fact, there is typically no outward |
| really could be in a tropical paradise--or year-round | | | | number-portability. You can bring a number in, but |
| ski resort. Isn't that the freedom you hoped being | | | | good luck taking it with you. Researching in early |
| your own boss would bring? | | | | 2005, I found no nationwide VOIP services |
| * Telecommuting. Feel a cold coming? Work from | | | | officially offering outward number portability. |
| home! With VOIP, even the receptionist may be | | | | Choose a VOIP provider with a 30-day |
| able to telecommute! | | | | money-back guarantee. Test the service out |
| * Voicemail by email. You don't have to be by the | | | | thoroughly. One thing is likely: you may want to |
| phone to get voicemail. This is the perfect service | | | | switch VOIP providers, but you won't want to go |
| for busy people and email addicts. Bonus: the | | | | back to landline. |
| message (in a file similar those used on MP3 | | | | |