The Pros - An In Depth Look
With an internet phone provider you get unlimited local and long distance calling for a flat rate of right around $25 per month. This represents a mega cost savings for most people. The national average right now is $43 per month for a traditional land line phone. Now with an internet VoIP phone you have the amazing freedom to talk with your friends and family as much as you want, as often as you want. The best part about an internet phone provider, you don't have to wait until after 9:00p when your cell phone is free because it's free all the time.
There are deeply discounted international rates that an old fashioned phone company can't even compare to. With an internet phone provider you can call anywhere in the world for pennies on the dollar. If you don't have high speed internet you are now able to use Virtual Internet VoIP Phone cards that act as calling cards but instead route your calls across the internet from a regular land line phone or a cell phone. This makes international calls mega cheap.
Internet VoIP phone cards allow you freedom and flexibility while no longer having to worry about connection charges or being overcharged on your minutes. You will have up to the minute billing which means no more wasted minutes while your call is actually being connected. You are no longer billed until you are talking to the person at the other end.
The internet has created a world of possibilities and because it's a cheaper way to do business, it creates a cheaper way to make phone calls via an internet phone provider. And with the ability to keep your same number as well as take your service with you anywhere you may travel, millions and millions of people are beginning to make the switch and recognize the amazing cost savings and benefits associated with the technology an internet VoIP phone offers. For the first time ever you have complete control over your features and functions.
Because of technology and the power of the internet, an internet phone provider is able to offer many advanced features and functions that traditonal phone companies can't provide. There are tons of them, I can't tell you how to take advantage of all of them but You can read more about the internet VoIP phone features here.
The Cons - An In Depth Look
As of right now, internet phone providers rely on an outside power source in order for the internet VoIP phone adapter to work properly. This means your internet phone provider will be subject to power outages and you may not have a phone during these times. However, with the advanced features and functionalities of your service you should be able to have your calls automatically forwarded to a cell phone during any power outages that you may experience. This way people will continue to be able to reach normally.
Internet VoIP phone service 911 dialing operates differently than traditional 911. Be sure that you check with your internet phone provider and see whether or not they offer E911. If a provider doesn't offer E911 I would suggest choosing another provider. E911 stands for Ehanced 911 and it gives the operator your name and location of an internet phone call. Today some internet phone providers even offer Dynamic E911 meaning that if you move or change locations simply let your provider know and they can update your address in order to ensure your call is routed to the proper 911 operator.
For those who aren't technology savy, installing service from an internet phone provider can be a bit troublesome for setup at times. Generally installation is plug-and-play meaning you simply plug your ATA into a router and you'll be up and running in seconds. However depending on your internet service provider (ISP), and your home set-up you could have minor problems.
If you or your ISP have a firewall built into your router, you have to configure it to allow internet phone calls. Internet calls run on different ports which are typically unused and may or may not be shut off by a firewall. It's a very simple to work around and most internet phone providers even offer step-by-step directions. For more information on how to configure a firewall visit our Internet Phone Provider FAQs section.
Even with the minor disadvantages internet phone service is an advanced technology that will slash your home phone bill giving you the benefit of amazing savings. It is certain to change the way you communicate. As time goes by we are ensured that the technology will get better and more reliable the same way cell-phones have evolved. The mega cost savings an internet phone provider can offer gives a major advantage over the traditionally over-priced telecom companies. |
