Top 5 Reasons to Switch to VoIP

1. Less Expensive Phone Service

By dropping traditional phone service and switching to VoIP, consumers typically save a significant amount of money on their monthly phone service. According to a recent survey by Consumer Reports, people who have purchased VoIP service are reportedly saving around $50 each month on their phone bill.

2. Affordable Long Distance and International Calling

VoIP service providers like Intalk offer unlimited local and long-distance calls to the United States and Canada for a low, flat monthly rate, which usually ranges from $15 to $30. International VoIP calls typically cost just a few cents per minute. For example, Qwest, a traditional phone service provider, charges approximately $0.14 per minute with additional $4 international rate for calls to China.

3. Free Calling Features

VoIP users enjoy a variety of free calling features which they previously had to pay for with traditional phone service. Those features include voicemail, caller ID, call conferencing, call waiting, call forwarding, and many others. VoIP users can have their voicemail messages e-mailed to them for easy playback and referencing, and with some providers, users can click to call contacts directly from their Outlook. Furthermore, consumers can obtain extra numbers (also known as virtual numbers), enabling out-of-town friends and family members to dial a local number with which to reach the VoIP user easily and affordably.

4. Convenience

What many VoIP users enjoy most about their phone service is the convenience. People place and receive phone calls in much the same way they did with traditional phone service. In many cases, they place calls exactly as they did with traditional phone service. Also, consumers can track their call activity, manage voicemail, view billing information, and change account information online at their convenience 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

5. Mobility

Most VoIP providers allow users to take their VoIP service with them anywhere in the world. With a high-speed Internet connection and the VoIP phone adapter, callers can place and accept VoIP calls from any location at any time at no additional charge. This feature is listed on VoipReview as the “Travel Globally” feature.

Potential VoIP Challenges

As with any emerging technology, VoIP has a few potential pitfalls, such as:

• Some VoIP services don't function during power outages without battery backup.
• Some VoIP subscribers must manually enter their current address online to be identified by a 911 dispatcher.
• Poor broadband Internet connections can cause call quality problems.

All of these challenges depend on the service provider, and will likely be resolved in the near future. VoipReview.org enables consumers to have peace of mind while they search for the VoIP service they desire by providing them with the information they need to make an appropriate decision.