VOIP Information

How to Choose VoIP Service Without Losing Your Shirt


Voip.

Just mentioning the word to yourself either brings up images of walking in a new city where the grass is greener, or it brings up fear of the unknown. Some will tread carefully around the subject, waiting to hear others opinions about a specific service and some may charge fearlessly into a service that they know little about. Which way is the right way to choose a VoIP service? I say neither.

Is there a safe way to choose a VoIP service? You bet there is, but it does take some work and careful research to make sure that you don't get stuck with something you cannot use or worse yet, be forced into a scenario in which your telephone communications is impaired.

There are 3 general steps to choosing Broadband Phone service. They are:

1.Qualify Yourself
2.Qualify a specific Provider, and
3.Research the provider.

1.Qualify Yourself
Ask yourself "why do I want voip?" Is it because you want to save money? are you attracted to voip by all of the features that it offers? Maybe you're sick of your local telephone company. Whatever the reason, make sure that the benefits are better than what you're already getting now. For instance, you might want to save money on long distance with a voip provider but don't want to give up your old phone number. In this case you would have to ask yourself whether it would be acceptable to lose your old phone number to save a few extra dollars. These days, most providers (but not all) will allow you to keep your old phone number. Do you have a secondary means of communication such as a cell phone?

When your internet connection goes down, so does your voip line. That means that if a large storm knocks out power to your house, then your internet connection will also most likely be down. Another thing to consider when qualifying yourself for voip service is that 911 service is not as robust as a land line service would be. You may have to give the dispatcher your name and address. The good news is that the larger providers are working with the dispatchers to provide 911 service that is just as robust as 911 on a land line.

Last but not least you must make sure that your your internet connection is suitable for voip. Sorry 56k'ers but dialup just isn't gonna cut it for voip. If you do have a broadband connection, head on down to http://www.testyourvoip.com and do a quick test.

2.Qualify a Specific Provider
Your voip provider means everything when it comes to reliability and sound quality. You should choose a provider that has the features that you need (call waiting, 3 way calling, extra lines, distinctive ring, etc.). One thing to definitely look into is the 911 service that's offered and don't be afraid to ask lots of questions to the customer service department of the prospective provider. Number portability (if you need to keep your old number) is something else to be looked into. The rates should be competitive and don't forget to look at international rates if you do any international calling. The most important thing to look for in a voip provider is a money back guarantee. If there is no money back guarantee, then pass on that provider; just about all voip companies have a guarantee.

3.Research the provider
Just because everything looks OK from a customer service angle, the service is cheap , and does what you need it to does not necessarily make it a good service. What does make a service good is if they have happy customers. The best way to do this would be to search the better business bureau for complaints against the company, search google with something like reviews, complaints, opinions, etc. A great place to get real world opinions on voip service is at the forums at http://broadbandreports.com.

Choosing the right voip service can be a bit of work, but it will pay off big time in the end. You'll have service instead of headaches, clear calls instead of garbled gobbledygook.

Jason Stewart is a programmer, Unix Administrator, PBX Administrator and webmaster of http://www.voip-university.com. For more articles like this and for time and money saving voip tips go to http://www.voip-university.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Dialog Semiconductor VoIP Technology Adopted by VTech for S-Series Desktop Phones
MarketWatch (press release)
KIRCHHEIM/TECK, Germany, Feb 07, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Dialog Semiconductor plc (fwb:DLG), a provider of highly integrated innovative power management, audio and short range wireless technologies, has announced that its ultra low power Green VoIP ...

and more »


Gaming Examiner

Battlefield 3 VOIP now fixed on PS3
Neoseeker
Battlefield 3 players on PS3 no longer have to suffer in silence: a fix for broken VOIP is now available via PlayStation Network, so head there and download away, then chat it up with your squadmates and teammates. GamesBeat notes it took a grand 104 ...
Battlefield 3: PS3 VOIP issues addressed in latest fixGaming Examiner
Battlefield 3 Update Brings VOIP, Mortar, Flare FixesNowGamer
Battlefield 3 patch goes live on PS3, server maintenance almost finishedEL33TONLINE (blog)
Eurogamer.net -Attack of the Fanboy -GameZone
all 19 news articles »


MoIC submits VoIP proposal for ratification ahead of licence allocation
TeleGeography
MyRepublica.com reports that Nepal's Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) has submitted plans to the Ministry of Law and Justice (MoLJ) looking for clearance for its proposal to open up voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) services to any ...
Nepal moves forward on VoIP servicesTelecompaper (subscription)

all 2 news articles »


LiveVox Announces ARM Eliminates Premised Dialer and PBX
MarketWatch (press release)
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 06, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- LiveVox Inc., the provider of Private VoIP Cloud(TM) contact center applications, today announced that Accounts Receivables Management, Inc. has signed a multi-year agreement for use of the LiveVox Cloud ...

and more »


Pervasip Signs Agreement to Pay $1.7 Million to Retire $13.9 Million of Debt
MarketWatch (press release)
(otcqb:PVSP) (the "Company"), a provider of Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP") telephone services, announced today that the Company's secured lenders have agreed to sell $13949086 of the Company's debt to JDM Group, LLC ("JDM Group").

and more »


RealWire (press release)

Telappliant rolls out VoIP system to support 2.5 million people
Telappliant VoIP News
Some 2.5 million people around the world are now in a position to enjoy faster and more reliable communications with a company after Telappliant rolled out the very latest voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology in its headquarters.
Telappliant implements scalable, cost effective VoIP system for AngloINFO to ...RealWire (press release)
Telappliant deploys hosted VoIP platform for AngloINFOTelecompaper (subscription)

all 7 news articles »


Compare VoIP: ITP VoIP Promotes IP Telephony with Enhanced Features for ...
ABN Newswire (press release)
Voice over IP provider ITP VoIP is now promoting its telephone and cable phone service for international callers, available online at http://www.ITPVoIP.com. Boasting a range of plans for both business and residential IP telephony users, ITP VoIP is ...
ITP VoIP Reaches Out to Travelers Looking to Make Internet Phone CallsPR.com (press release)

all 4 news articles »


MyBroadband

Qualcomm demos first VoIP-over-LTE call with single radio
MyBroadband
MyBroadband's Staff Writer is directly plugged into the South African Internet backbone, and spits out press releases and other news as he receives it. ... The first voice-call-handover from an LTE mobile network to a WCDMA network using Single Radio ...
Qualcomm unveils VOLTEITWeb
Qualcomm completes voice call handover from LTE to WCDMA networkComputer Business Review
Qualcomm, Ericsson just brought mobile calls into the IP ageGigaOm
FierceWireless -Engadget -AnandTech
all 20 news articles »


VoIP solutions users to benefit from BT developments
Telappliant VoIP News
Businesses running web-based technology – such as voice over internet protocol (VoIP) solutions – have been handed a boost by news of future developments from BT. The company has confirmed progress has been made with both its fibre to the premises ...

and more »


Phone Equipment Supplier TelcoDepot.com Launches New Low Price Offer on ...
PR Web (press release)
TelcoDepot.com, a supplier of VoIP phones, Business VoIP Service, Hosted PBX solutions, Conferencing Systems, general phone equipment and telephony support solutions for businesses, has introduced a new low price for Panasonic Cordless Analog DECT ...
Business Phone Supplier TelcoDepot.com Offers New Discount on Vertical SBX ...DigitalJournal.com (press release)

all 7 news articles »

Google News

home | site map | Voip Friends | Resource Directory
© 2006