Making the Switch to Voip - Choosing the Right Provider For You
April 30th, 2008When making the decision to switch to VOIP (Voice Over IP) phone service, there are many factors to consider. Educate yourself and be well informed before you choose - it can save you money and headaches in the future.
Switch-to-Voip.com took a good look at some of the leading VOIP providers and we have come up with the following list of ‘must have’s’ when choosing a VOIP phone service provider:
Keeping Your Phone Number
Some providers allow you to transfer (port) your current phone number to their VoIP service and some providers do not. This may be possible if the VoIP service provider offers local phone numbers in your city. Not all providers offer this service so if it is important to keep your number, be sure to find a provider that can do this.
Monthly Costs
A VoIP provider can save you hundreds of dollars on your telephone and long distance bill. There are many VOIP providers out there so it will benefit you to do some investigaing and comparison shopping. Unlimited calling packages can range from about $20/month to as high as $60/month. Usually the lower priced providers are able to offer better pricing because they have more customers. More customers can mean longer wait times for support however, so you have to weigh the cost against your support needs.
Remember that like regular phone companies VOIP providers have to pay state/province and federal taxes, fees and other charges that are passed along to you. Other charges to be aware of are shipping charges, network activation fees, directory assistance charges, overage charges (minutes beyond what’s specified in your plan). Some plans waive activation fees and shipping as a sign up incentive.
Equipment Required
Quite often, a phone adaptor and / or handset are included in your subscription. Sometimes too you have the option to Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) which means if you decide to switch providers later, you can re-use the equipment on another network.
VoIP Product Features
Like cell phone plans, VoIP plans vary greatly between service providers. Features offered by plans vary, but expect some or all of these in a typical VoIP monthly plan:
- Call Display (with or without name)
- Call Waiting
- Conference Call (3-5 way calling)
- Call Forwarding
- Voice Mail
- Speed Dialing
- Call Return
- Do Not Disturb
- Repeat Dialing
- Free calling between VoIP subscribers using the same service provider
- White Page Listing
- Virtual Number
- Fax to Email
- Unlimited North American Long Distance
- Web Interface Portal
911 Service
Because your VoIP is not physically tied to an address, 911 services can be a problem. In recent months VoIP service providers have been addressing this issue and now many VoIP service providers allow you to set (and change) the physical location of your VoIP service. If a 911 call is made from your VoIP line then the physical location on the VoIP file would transfer your call to your local 911 office. Be sure to check with your prospective VOIP provider regarding 911 services.
International Calling
If you make a lot of international calls, you will want to do a lot of research on International Rates as they vary by provider. There are a few carriers that offer unlimited calling to certain countries.
Money Back Guarantee
Since VoIP is a relatively new product; most all VoIP providers will offer a free money back guarantee. Be sure to check with each provider as we have seen the money back guarantees range from a 14-day to a 30-day money back guarantee. (Note: Be sure to keep the original packaging that your equipment came in just in case you need to send it back)
A comparison of the top VOIP providers is below:
|
