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VoIP offers so much more than conventional phone service — and that’s one of the reasons why the industry is expanding so fast. In addition, it offers all the familiar features and benefits of traditional phone service. And it can do all this for a lower cost. Is it any surprise that VoIP is altering the way that folks use their phone service at home and at the office. It is a very attractive option for nearly every segment of the marketplace — commercial and residential alike.

For example, long distance calls are going to be free or nearly free on VoIP phone systems. This is because VoIP uses the Internet to send your voice messaging. And another thing: Wherever you go, as long as you have an Internet connection, you can have VoIP service. As I said before, VoIP service offers the sorts of features that we were used to paying extra for.

Here are some things that you should investigate when you’re choosing a VoIP service provider:

How good is the sound?

The newer VoIP technologies give you better sound quality, while reducing overall noise. One can look forward to outstanding quality from their VoIP vendor. Make a test call before you make any commitments. Hear any lags? Any delays? Then run in the opposite direction.

If you think I’m exaggerating, think about a one second delay and what it can mean. It could mean that the person you are talking to is hesitating for some unknown reason. It could mean that the person you are talking to doesn’t understand what you are saying, or is simply confused. Or it could mean that you have a slow Internet connection. Before you commit to VoIP service, eliminate the possibility that the delay is due to technical reasons.

Will It Be There When You Need It?

Business owners know: if your phone goes out in the middle of a conference call, you’re losing customers. Imagine what a disaster it would be if there were 20 people on the call — 10 at your office and another 10 around the country. If the call goes down for even 15 minutes, that’s five man-hours of productivity that’s lost. So don’t cut corners with your VoIP service provider. You’ll get what you pay for — so pay for quality and reliability.

How’s the customer service?

It should go without saying that your VoIP service provider should give you 24/7 customer support. Not only that: you shouldn’t have to wait on hold — you should be able to get a straight answer quickly. Look for a VoIP service provider that offers alternate modes of tech support, like live chat.

How are the features?

A reputable VoIP service provider can give you best of both worlds — all the features you now have with conventional phone service plus extras like email, fax, web conferencing and even videophone capabilities for one low price. Some VoIP service providers may not be able to deliver, instead charging you extra for these features. Be sure of what you want — and ask for it — before making a final decision on whom to go with.

…and speaking of price

We all feel that VoIP should be free or very cheap. At the very least you should be able to get free long distance and a low monthly service charge. But make sure you’re getting more than you pay for. A low price with low voice quality is not a good value. If your VoIP service provider offers a trial. Take advantage of it to make sure that you’re getting your money’s worth.

Despite the upside potential, be aware that there are some negatives to VoIP. The most notable drawback is that you must have a high-speed Internet connection for VoIP service to work. If you have a slow Internet connection or if your power goes out and you have no Internet connection, you will not have phone service. Don’t cut corners on your Internet connection.

As for which companies are the best VoIP service providers, visit this page to find out how to make an intelligent comparison. You’ll have to do a little bit of homework and find the best VoIP service providers available to you. But you’ll find the investment of time to be worth it.

In Conclusion

Review all the issues — pro and con — before making an informed decision on VoIP service providers.

© 2007 Ara Rubyan. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 License. You have permission to use it if you include the resource information below.

For more info on VoIP service providers, visit Ara Rubyan’s VoIP Solution.

Ara Rubyan is not a part of the VoIP industry, nor does he sell VoIP services, nor does he pretend to be a guru of any kind. Instead, he is like you: a consumer, a business owner, and someone who has been researching the industry so that he could make an informed decision about the best VoIP service for his needs. Now, he’s put all his research (so far) in one convenient location and he’s sharing it with you, no strings attached.