Voice Over IP Articles

Residential VoIP- Residential VoIP is one of the most common types of VoIP service. Before you can sign up for residential VoIP, there are certain things you should know. In this Best VoIP Review article, we are going to discuss residential VoIP.

The fact that Verizon’s residential VoIP service came and within 9 months is an indicator that careful shopping for VoIP residential service is important: you want a service with a lot of qualities, staying power being one of them. This article provides some questions to ask as you make a decision about residential VoIP to help you make a good choice for your situation.

Getting Started Questions

• Do you already have a computer and Internet connection? If so, is your Internet connection high-speed or not?

If you have a lesser connection, such as dial-up and you’re happy with your Internet Service Provider (ISP), you may wish to find out if they have a plan that can support VoIP. If not, look for a provider with broadband or DSL, at minimum.

• Is your "residential VoIP" going to stay home all the time or do you want to be able to take it out of the house?

There are a number of different VoIP set-ups, and which one will serve you best will depend on how you want to use the service. If you want to leave the house with your VoIP, you need to consider one of the following:

• a softphone VoIP client- a computer program that will travel with your lap-top, phone, or PDA

• a VoIP-ready phone enabled for VoIP in general or for one particular VoIP service, such as Skype

• a Dual-Mode phone that can make VoIP calls whenever it’s in range of an open wireless network and cell calls at other times

If you are looking for service that is simply going to replace your landline, consider these options:

• an Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) that will allow your analog phone that you’ve been using with a landline to function as a VoIP phone

• What’s the best value for the type of service and equipment you want?

Some services offer free calls; others offer some calls for free and a flat-rate plan for others. Others have a monthly fee that includes equipment rental and unlimited calling. Check the plans you are considering to see how they have organized their charges.

It’s also worth shopping around to see the variety, but also to consider expert and customer reviews and reports of service problems. Another aspect to consider is the longevity of the company/service. As the Verizon example shows, some VoIP services, even from established companies, have proved to be short-lived.

Other Important Questions

As you choose between the many available options, here are some other questions for you to consider:

• Given your typical usage, and charges including equipment, set-up fees, and per-call fees, what are your monthly charges likely to be with each option you are considering?

• What security is in place for the system? Is there encryption? A firewall? Anti-vishing protection?

• What is the service guarantee? What happens if your service goes down?

• To what extent does the service fulfill the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) 911 requirements as of now? That is,

a) Can you place VoIP 911 calls?

b) Will your location be communicated along with the call?

c) Will your call-back number be communicated along with the call?

d) Will the call be connected to your Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), which is guaranteed to be able to receive your location and callback information, in the case that the local emergency service provider cannot process the information from the VoIP connection?

e) Is there a way for you to make an emergency call if there is a power outage or the network is down if you don’t have a cell phone?

• Do the companies you are considering dealing with (for equipment and service) have impressive customer service records? How do you access technical support? Are they available 24/7 or only 9-5? Can you call, or do they prefer to interact with customers via email?

• Can you keep your established phone number?

• Is there a call quality guarantee?

• What, if any, are the limitations on who you can call?

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