Voice Over Internet Protocol - VOIP

These days people are hearing a lot about VOIP phone services, especially the leading service provider, Vonage. Voice Over IP is a way to route telephone calls over the Internet, which makes it much less expensive. You don't have to worry about the technical details at all, but essentially sending data over a packet networks consumes a lot less resources and is therefore cheaper than using a switched network like traditional telephone companies use. The main requirement for using VOIP phone service is to have a broadband Internet connection, such as DSL or cable.

VOIP Phone Service ProvidersThere are quite a few service providers to compare before you make your final choice, and we offer comparisons of some of the leading companies here. With some providers you use special software on your computer to make calls. However, most people want to use their own telephones like normal, and the top services we list here support that. With these you generally just need a phone adapter device to plug your telephone into, and you can sometimes even transfer your phone number to the Voice Over IP company so you don't have to change numbers.

Vonage This leading provider was rated #1 by CNet, and their goal is to help you save 50% or more on your phone bill. Vonage has a basic plan for $14.99 a month, but the Premium Unlimited plan for just $24.99 is most popular because you get unlimited local and long distance calling, plus many features included such as caller ID, voicemail, call waiting, call forwarding, etc. Calls to Canada and Puerto Rico are considered local in all plans, and they have low International rates worldwide. It's quick and easy to sign up and use, since you just need to plug your phone into a Vonage adapter, which you also plug into your high speed internet connection. You get exceptional sound quality and you can even keep your current phone number in most cases. Joing the Vonage VOIP phone service now and get your first month Free! If you are Canadian, try Vonage Canada.

ViaTalk Another broadband phone service is ViaTalk. The vt_500 plan is their value offering, which is just $9.95 per month. Step up to vt_unlimited, for just $15.95 per month, to enjoy unlimited calling to anywhere in the US and Canada. They have really low International rates, with 3 - 5 cent per minute charges for many common countries. With Via Talk plans e911, voicemail, caller ID, call forwarding, call waiting, *69 call return and other features are included. Take advantage of the Internet phone special, where you get 6 free months, no initial equipment fee and fast & easy installation with the 24 month plan.

VOIP.com If you are interested in saving 50% or more on your phone bill, check out Voip.com. They offer low rates for a monthly unlimited calling plan. Sign up for the yearly plan, for an even lower effective monthly rate. Visit their site to check out the useful tools where you can check if you can keep your existing phone number, calculate how much you can save and take a speed test so that you can find out how many internet phone lines your broadband connection can support. There are very low international rates, and they offer tips and a blog so you can make the most of the voip.com service. Check it out now to see if you can get the first month free.

NetZero Voice NetZero Internet is a leader in free and cheap Internet service, and they also offer a service for cheap calls. Netzero Voice Unlimited is just $14.95 per month and you get unlimited computer to phone minutes, unlimited computer to computer minutes, free incoming calls, voicemail, caller ID, call waiting and more. Plus it works over dial-up or broadband. NetZeroVoice features great International rates starting at just 2 cents per minute. With NetZero Voice, calls are made to and from your computer, which means you cannot use your regular phone like you do with Vonage or ViaTalk. Subscribe today to get your first month free!

Verizon VoiceWing Another voice over Internet protocal calling service is Verizon VoiceWing. With them you get unlimited nationwide calling for as low as $24.95 per month. Calling to Canada is now included with all Voice Wing plans, and low international rates are available. They are loaded with calling features, including voice mail, caller ID, etc., and you have special abilities like checking your voicemail online and making calls from your home number when you are at other locations. They work like Vonage.com and ViaTalk, where you can use your normal phone, you just need to plug it into special hardware (a VoiceWing adapter) from Verizon. Order today to take advantage of an exclusive online offer: a waived setup fee, which is a $19.95 value.

While the above services can save you a lot of money with discount pricing compared to your regular telephone bill, you can actually get free service. Skype is the leading free calling service, and it plans to stay free forever. It is easy to download and use the Skype software, which allows you to make free calls over the Internet to other people running Skype on their computer. The downside with Skype is that you can't use your regular telephone or number, and you can't call landlines or mobiles for free either (except that now, for a limited time until the end of 2006 you can make free calls to the US and Canada).

Many reviews have shown that VoIP technology can be a very useful means of telephone communication. It allows you to communicate to others at low rates. However, many people are finding that purchasing prepaid phone calling services provide a very affordable means to utilize the VoIP services for long distance, without the hassle and risk of converting your main phone connection to these technologies. One quality prepaid phone card provider that offers cheap and low costs rates, that work from home and cell phones, that you can compare to Vonage coupons is Pingo.

When it comes to Vonage coupons there are a few things to look out for. As people find ways to make money online they are drawn toward affiliate programs. Since Vonage coupons are a hot item these people start to promote Vonage coupons. This can be a very bad situation as these people are only looking for money, and cannot support your questions or other needs.

Whether you are interested in Vonage coupons or Sunrocket coupons you may find that the installation of all of the equipment needed to make them work can cause an enormous headache. In many instances you have to sign a long contract, sometimes one year or more just to utilize the service. For those of us who decide to use certain prepaid calling services and cell phone calling cards over Vonage and Sunrocket coupons, there is no hassle. When you buy a product such as Pingo or other calling service that is run by a large company, vs. many prepaid cards that are sold in stores) there are no hidden fees and absolutely no contracts.

If you do a simple search with your favorite search engine on Vonage coupon codes or Sunrocket coupon codes the results will be flooded with offers to save you big money, easy setup, etc. What you are not provided with is instructions on installing the complicated software and hardware. You may also be forced to purchase the VoIP telephone.

Voice over Internet protocol can prove to be a valuable resource for communication and utilizing Vonage coupons or Sunrocket coupon codes may as well, but using something as simple as a pin-less prepaid calling card can sometime prove to be the best choice.

If you compare Vonage coupons to the many valuable prepaid calling card coupons you may see an enormous difference. When it comes down to it, communication should not be a hassle. Whether you choose VoIP coupons or prepaid phone cards, you owe it to yourself to make phone calls at an affordable rate with no binding contracts or hidden fees.

So you like the concept of 'cutting' your phone service in favour of VoIP but are hesitant to take the plunge and abandon your 'Landline' without trying it out for yourself first. Perhaps the advertised features and rates all sound a little 'too-good-to-be-true'. The terrific news is that you can make VoIP calls using your computer to virtually any telephone or computer in the world with little more than an Internet connection and a headset.

Firstly, let's look at the 'Free' way of taking VoIP for a test drive. So what's a 'Softphone' I hear you ask? A 'Softphone' is merely a 'Software' 'Phone' that enables you to use your computer like you would a telephone. Softphones are programs that generally resemble the keypad on a telephone and function in much the same way.

Softphones enable you to call other 'Internet-connected' devices or softphones for free (Free PC to PC VoIP), or conventional telephones for a small fee (PC to Phone VoIP). The reason that 'PC to Phone VoIP' calls (i.e., to conventional phones) are not free is that in order to call normal telephones, your call needs to route partially through the heavily regulated, heavily taxed Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). As long as the person you're calling is also connected to the Internet, you can talk for as long as you like across the neighborhood or on the other side of the world for free. Furthermore with PC to PC VoIP, there aren't any contracts to sign or commitments to make. Just download the softphone, and start talking.

If you'd like to try VoIP by calling conventional telephones, consider PC to Phone VoIP. Depending on the Service Provider you choose and the destination country you're calling, the cost could be as little as just a few cents per minute. As long as you purchase 'pre-paid' calling credit, you won't need to enter into a contract of any kind and can use that credit to call any telephone around the world. The smallest denomination of prepaid calling credit usually begins at $10 USD. However, at just a few pennies per minute this easily equates to over 5 hours of talk time. As an added bonus, some PC to Phone service providers also enable free PC to PC VoIP calls using the same softphone as that used for their PC to Phone VoIP calls. That way, you can call a conventional phone using PC to Phone, then arrange to meet the person you're calling online (PC to PC VoIP) to continue talking for as long as you like, free of charge.
So try VoIP for yourself before you buy. You'll get an idea of the exceptional call quality and fantastic call rates available before entering into a contract that replaces your landline.

Nathan is the owner of http://www.netphonedirectory.com and http://www.bluetoothpcheadsets.com. Netphonedirectory contains information about 'PC to Phone VoIP' and 'Free PC to PC VoIP'. The site includes a comprehensive directory of Service Providers as well as general information relating to Internet Telephony.

Bluetoothpcheadsets.com contains information regarding the use of Bluetooth (Wireless) Headsets with PCs for VoIP (Internet Telephony).

This article aims to guide you in choosing the best VOIP service provider for your needs.

The latest in communications technology, VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol), uses the internet instead of the traditional telephone for voice communications. Businesses that use this technology are seeing an increase in productivity and lower costs through the improvement in communications that this technology affords them. The bottom line is an increase in profits.

Residential users are finding that they can cut their phone bills both nationally and internationally by using their existing internet connection and taking advantage of offers by VOIP service providers of free software downloads, which enable connection to their network, and then they can talk to their friends and family with similarly enabled computers for free.

Of utmost importance is finding a VOIP service provider that will provide you with an excellent service, combining reliability, high quality equipment and connection, good customer service, multiple user features e.g. caller-ID, voice mail and 3-way calling, and reduced cost phone bills.

You should also be aware that your VOIP service provider has to adhere to certain regulations both national and international and conform to customer protection laws.

VOIP service providers are keen to get your business and some of the major players such as Earthlink and Skype are offering free VOIP services, allowing users to talk to their friends and family using the internet at no cost, plus other benefits so it is worth shopping around and getting the best value deal.

Copyright © Harry Cornwall, http://www.voipsystemguide.com, 2007 This article is copyrighted. Please feel free to use it in it's entirety including copyright information and information about the publisher. Harry Cornwall operates the website VoipSystemGuide.com. If you need to find out more about the purchasing, usage and enjoyment of a VOIP system and how it can save you money then go to: http://www.voipsystemguide.com/voip-system-guide/choosing-voip-telephone-software-14/