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The Advantages of VoIP
There are many advantages to VoIP when compared to traditional telephone service. These advantages include lower cost, more features in basic packages and easier integration with other PC and internet-based technologies. This article will explain some of these advantages in more detail.
Lower Cost
Probably the most often mentioned advantage of VoIP service is lower cost than traditional phone service. Basic VoIP phone service includes more features at the same or lower cost than traditional phone service, and cost savings in the area of long-distance calling can be very significant. VoIP providers offer plans that include features such as call id, call waiting, call waiting id, 3-way calling and voice-mail at no extra charge. Many of these features are extra-cost options with the traditional telephone service providers.
Also, plans are available that include unlimited long-distance calling to the US, Canada and with some providers, Europe. These plans are available in the range of $25 - $35 per month. This is significantly lower in price than similar plans offered by the traditional providers. One provider, Vonage, offers unlimited calling to the US, Canada and Europe, as well as all of the features mentioned above, for only $24.95 per month.
Enhanced Features
VoIP offers enhanced features that are either very expensive or not available at all from the traditional providers. These enhanced features include virtual phone numbers, 800 service, advanced voice mail features, videophone capability and IM and chat integration.
Virtual phone numbers are made possible by the fact that VoIP is not location-specific. A virtual phone number is created when a user chooses an area code for their phone number that exists in a different physical location than where they are located. For example, a user in Los Angeles can choose a phone number with a New York area code, thus making all calls between their location in Los Angeles and New York function as local calls. Anyone calling the user from New York will not be charged for a long-distance call, and all calls the user places to New York will be treated as local as well.
A virtual phone number can be used by a business to establish a local “presence” in a distant city (or country). It can also allow a user to establish local calling for their friends and family in a particular city, thus saving long-distance charges for the user as well as their friends and family.
Toll-free 800 service is another feature offered by VoIP providers at a much lower cost than traditional providers. This service usually includes a limited or unlimited number of inbound toll-free minutes that can be used by customers or friends and family to contact the user without incurring long-distance charges.
Another feature usually included with VoIP service is enhanced voice-mail. Some providers make a distinction between basic and enhanced voice mail, with basic voice mail included with the basic service, and enhanced voice mail being a low-cost option. Most providers offer voice-mail that can be accessed by phone, internet or e-mail. When combined with other features such as call forwarding, this can be a powerful advantage for mobile users.
Videophone capability is one feature offered by VoIP providers that is either not available from traditional carriers or is very expensive. The digital nature of VoIP, in conjunction with high-speed internet access, allows providers to offer video capability at a very reasonable cost. Videophone capability will likely be one of the largest areas of growth for VoIP providers in the near future.
Another capability offered by VoIP is the ability to integrate voice calls with IM and chat software. This can allow a VoIP user to send and receive instant messages from their VoIP softphone or hardphone, as well as use text messaging and voice at the same time. This is a fairly new feature of VoIP, and this integration is likely to become more available and transparent in the near future.
Summary
As you can see, VoIP has some significant advantages over traditional phone service. As VoIP continues to grow and evolve, you can look for this list of advantages, particularly in the area of new or enhanced features, to increase as well. VoIP providers, software developers and hardware manufacturers are hard at work on improving VoIP as a technology.
Next, we will look at the types of calling plans and features offered by VoIP service providers.