What can a regular phone do that VOIP can't?

How does VOIP work?

When you pick up the phone and dial a phone number the VOIP phone adapter (black box) converts your voice into data and sends the data through the Internet in a similar manner to an email message. At some point this data is translated back to an analog voice signal and placed/switched onto the regular telephone network and then routed to the phone number that you are making the call to.

This means that when the person you´re calling picks up the phone, it sounds the same as any other call and they should not hear any difference in call quality when receiving a VOIP call compared to a regular phone call from a regular old telephone. The whole process is transparent for you the VOIP user; you use the same old telephone and dial the telephone numbers in the same manner you dialed before.

Can I still use the Internet while making calls?

Yes. Your computer and the VOIP service will share your Internet Connection

Do I have to keep my computer on to receive calls?

No, your VOIP phone service is independent of your computer, in-fact you don't even need a computer to use VOIP although someone having Hight Speed Internet without having a computer may be considered a little odd!

Do I need high speed Internet to get VOIP or can I use it on my dial up connection?

Yes, having an existing high speed Internet connection is a prerequisite for carriers such as Vonage and Packet8 that offer services that are a basic clone of regular phone service (i.e. available 24 hours, ability to use a standard physical telephone etc.) It is recommend that the minimum speed is at least 150 kbps. A new service from NetZero however, does offers VOIP for dial-up users.

If you're still on dial up you may be able a use a VIOP service like Skype and get a so called virtual telephone with some of the features of the other carries. If you're a dial-up user then don't forget when you're not online your virtual telephone can't physically ring and you will miss all incoming calles but in Skype (and similar applications) you can set it up so the incoming call will be routed into voice-mail when you are not connected to the internet.

What equipment do I need?

The VOIP provider will provide a black box that will plug into your high speed Internet connection
Simply connect your phone and to it and you're ready to make and receive calls like a regular phone.

Do the people I call need a computer?

No, they only need a regular old working telephone and they won't be aware that you're using a VIOP service.

How much will VOIP cost

VOIP service cost anywhere from $14/month for a block of 500 minutes to $44/month or more for business feature with an included fax line custom ring features. Expect to pay around $25 for a service that offers unlimited calls in the USA and Canada.

Can I keep my old telephone number?

Yes you will be able to transfer you old telephone number to your new VOIP provider. Some people like to sign up for VOIP service and initially get a new number to see if the like the service. After a few months you can then switch over your existing number (and ditch your land line) If you go this route you may be charged for switching over your number (Vonage $10) but if you opt to switch over when you initially sign up then there is no cost. (If you have an existing DSL service linked to your telephone number you most likely will not be able to transfer the telephone number)

What new telephone numbers are available?

This will depend upon the VOIP provider your choose but most have telephone numbers available in major US metropolitan areas as well as in other countries too.

Can I use my existing physical telephone?

Sure you can, just plug it into the VOIP adapter provided by you VOIP provider and you're ready to make calls. You may want to upgrade your phone to one of the exciting new cordless phones that are on the market.

Can I get a toll free number?

Yes toll free numbers are available for an additional cost per month.

What's a virtual phone number?

A virtual phone number is normally an additional phone number assigned to your telephone whose area code is in another state or even in another country. For example: say you live in Colorado (area code 303) but have friends and family in New York (718 area code). Simply get a 718 virtual phone number and your pals in New York will not have to pay long distance charges anymore when they call you.

Virtual numbers are normally an additional cost but can start out at only $4.99/month and they can only be used for incoming calls.

Can I get caller ID?

Yes, and a ton of other features for free, features that the big phone companies normally charge you extra for. Some additional free features are:

Voicemail Plus, Caller ID with Name, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, 3-Way Calling, In-Network Calls, Area Code Selection, Call Transfer, Call Return, Caller ID Block, Repeat Dialing, International Call Block, Ring Lists and Call Hunt.

What's a virtual telephone?

A virtual phone is normally a piece of software that sits on your computer that acts like a regular phone. Vonage names their virtual telephone "SoftPhone" and describe it as "A screen-based interface that works just like your telephone keypad"

Why use a virtual telephone?

Say you're a business traveler staying at a hotel with a free in room WIFI Internet connection and want to bypass the bloated long distance calling rates that hotels normally charge if you use the regular old phone next to the bed. Simply fire up your laptop and the virtual phone software and start dialing! Your virtual phone will also ring when someone dials your VOIP phone number - kool! It's normally suggested that you use a headset for better audio clarity when using a virtual phone.

Note: providers charge additional rates for this service $9.99 for 500 mins.

How many lines can I have?

You can have as many as you want and each additional line is billed at the same rate as a single line.

Will I still get voice-mail?

Yes and some providers add fantastic features like being able to check your message not only using your existing telephone but via email and by a website.

Why is VOIP so advantageous for business Travelers?

If you're a Road Warrior simply bring your magic VOIP box and telephone along with you. Connect it to the high speed Internet port in your hotel room and talk all day long for free! An easier option might be to use a computer / Laptop based virtual phone / soft phone program. Your phone (virtual or physical) will ring like it does at home whereever you are in the world, and, you'll bypass those nasty bloated long distance charges the hotel like to tack onto your bill. (Note some horrid hotel chains are blocking VOIP traffic and so are some countries! ) See our section on 'VOIP for the Business Traveler' for more details.

Can I still dial 911?

When VOIP services came out they did not offer a 911 service but this is now required by law. Note that when traveling with VOIP you must update your physical location on the providers website for 911 to function correctly as it's technically impossible for the VOIP carried to know your physical location when using a high speed connection other than the one at your home.

IMPORTANT !!!!! Please be aware that if your high speed Internet connection has an outage - due to the cable or DSL Internet connection being down or a power outage then you VOIP 911 service will not work. This is an important caveat so please be aware of this but with the advent of cellphones I personally don't think that this is, in most cases, such a big deal. However, if your 90 year-old grandmother is going to be ditching her regular phone line to get VOIP then this is something that one should be very aware of!

Can I dial overseas and how competitive are the rates?

You can dial overseas and the rates are quite competitive (e.g.- . Calls to Canada and Puerto Rico are regarded as local calls and are free) Some providers offer plans that include free international calling to certain countries too* Generally calls to international cellphone numbers are not included.

*Lingo subscribers can opt for a plan that includes free calling to: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico (Including Mobile), the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Vatican City. (Calls to mobile phones, premium and special service numbers in these areas are not included. U.S. includes AK, HI, PR, USVI and calls to cellular phones.)

What about a fax line?

Business plans will include a fax line with a fax telephone number. Just plug in your fax machine and start sending and receiving faxes.

What about directory assistance?

This is normally available for a fee (Vonage charges 99c per call and their service offers enhanced features such as local movie times and up-to-date flight information)

Can I use multiple phones with one VIOP phone number?

A VOIP telephone adapter normally needs to be physically located near your Cable or DSL modem and therefor so does the telephone you attach to this device. It is possible to connect the output of your VOIP phone adapter to the existing wiring in your house although this should be performed by a professional and an additional line booster may be required to power more than a few phones. To route the phone into another room some distance from the VOIP box we recommend the use of a cordless phone system. Cordless phones are available with multiple handsets working from one base station. The base station of the cordless telephone plugs directly into the VOIP Phone Adapter. Multiple handsets can be placed anywhere in the house.

What happens to my service if I move?

VOIP service works on any broadband Internet connection, so your VOIP service will move with you, and you can keep your number no matter where you go.

More advance Questions and Answers

Can I supply my own VOIP box?

This will depend upon the company but it appears that most VOIP providers require you to have a custom VOIP adapter that is pre-configured for their network (e.g. Vonage and Packet8 use an identical hardware device but these devices are configured differently for each carrier) Most providers discount the box but be aware that the box will only work with that particular VOIP provider and once if you switch providers the box will be essentially useless on other VOIP networks.

Can I take my phone adapter with me when I travel?

Yes, you can plug it in and use it as you would at home. VOIP service will work anywhere you have access to a broadband Internet connection. You may be able to ditch the adapter and telephone in lieu of a new breed of WIFI VOIP enabled portable phones that some of the carriers are rolling out.

How is Skype different from other VOIP providers such as Vonage and SunRocket?

Skype is a software based VOIP solution. With Skype there is no VOIP adaptor box. A headset with microphone is normally used instead of a regular touch-tone telephone allthough you can buy a phone like device at Radio Shack that works with Skype. Skype has it's advantages and disadvantages. You can get a phone number your friends with regular phones can call (called SkypeIn) and also a voicemail feature too (called Skype Voicemail)

Advantages of Skype:

Disadvantages of Skype: