VoIP Service Providers

Choosing the right VoIP service provider can be a bit of work, but it will reap much rewards in the long run. Basically, you can choose to use one of the many free VoIP services (such as Skype or Gizmo5) or you can sign up with a VoIP service provider which charges a monthly fee.

It greatly depends on how you expect to use VoIP service. If you simply want to communicate with friends and family over the Internet, one of the free VoIP services (Skype or Gizmo5) may be sufficient. However, if you're looking for a better sound quality and stable calling, or even a real alternative to your existing PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) phone service, you should consider signing up with a VoIP service provider that offers package deals based on their monthly fee. Below are some of the factors that you should look into when choosing a VoIP service provider:

Prices and Rates
Many VoIP service providers offers different package deals that allow unlimited local and long distance calling. You will have to compare various companies to see how far their unlimited local and long distance calling areas serve. For example, Lingo offers unlimited calls in US & to 22 countries for $21.95 a month, with 3 months FREE (limited time only).

Number Retention
You may wish to keep your existing phone number when signing up for VoIP service. 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. There are also some VoIP providers that allow you to choose your own area codes.

Emergency Call Service
Emergency 911 calls are one of the most difficult technical problems of VoIP service. The main problem is that it is hard to determine your physical location when you are making a VoIP phone call, so 911 calls may not be routed to the correct call center, and even if they are, the operators cannot determine your location if you are unable to speak. Some VoIP providers like Lingo, already have this issue solved.

Power Outage
PSTN phone systems always maintain connections in the event of a power outage by providing electrical current through the phone line. As a matter of fact, VoIP is dependent on household current for operating modems, anytime there is a power outage the phone line will also go dead. Look for a VoIP service provider that supply you with equipment which has battery backups or at least get a universal power supply, such as those from APC, that keep desktop PCs running during a power interruption and avoid losing phone service during outages. Alternatively, you can get an electrical generator to provide household electricity in the case of a blackout.

Bandwidth Requirements and Clarity
On the technical side, try to find out how much bandwidth is required for a particular VoIP service. This information may not be available on the company's web site, so if necessary, send them an e-mail to verify that your broadband connection is suitable for VoIP. Generally speaking, though, if you have 128 kbps on the upload side it should be sufficient for VoIP. To test whether your internet connection will suffice, go to http://testmyvoip.com. This is the best site for giving you an idea of how a call will sound on your connection. If you have a slow connection to the Internet, you should not even consider switching to VoIP service to replace conventional telephone calls.

Money Back Guarantee
Try to find a VoIP service provider that offers a money back guarantee -- that way if you are dissatisfied with the service, you can always choose to revert back to PSTN services without incurring significant monetary losses. Most VoIP service providers offer 30 day money back guarantee.

Extra Hardware
Always make sure that your VoIP service provider will supply you with the hardware that you need, for eg router, VoIP phone etc, so that you will not have to bear the costs of necessary equipment to get you started.

Additional Features
You should also compare and consider the numerous features like voice mail, call forwarding, caller identification, call waiting, call return, call blocking and video-telephony (displaying images while you speak) that different VoIP service providers are offering.

Service and Reliability
Prominent VoIP providers do not necessarily guarantee good service. Sometimes smaller companies will give you much better service. Talk to customer relations officers to find out more about the company's customer support before committing to a contract. Find out if the company is indeed customer-oriented before signing up for a plan, and in some cases, you will find that less prominent companies provide better support to consumers.

Choosing the best service means sorting through a bewildering array of options. The bottom line is not to choose VoIP service based on the price alone. Look at the features, determine how important that is to you and how often you will use it. It is also advisable to ask around and read more reviews to find out what people recommend.

There are thousands of VoIP service providers in the business, it's impossible to try and test every one of them. I have personally tested a few, abandoned a few, and below are the two VoIP service providers that I highly recommend:

Features: This all-in-one Skype subscription requires only $3 per month and you will get free calls to any phone within the US and Canada. If you travel to any of the 28 selected countries, you pay nothing for landline calls made within that country, only the connection charge of US$0.039 per call. There is also a fair-usage policy that limits you to 10,000 minutes - more than 160 hours - of call time a month. Each Skype Pro account also comes with free Skype Voicemail and a SkypeIn number (a personal online number that lets people call you at local rates).

Comments: I use Skype Pro for all my outgoing calls and audio conferences with other Skype users. The sound quality is generally better than a cell phone. The only thing is it can't be used for 911 calling yet. For $3 a month, I can talk as much as I can even during peak hours.

Features: Lingo has made a splash with its innovative services and the price is right too. With the Chatter Box plan, you will get unlimited calling to anywhere in the US and to 23 selected countries. Also, you will get FREE unlimited calling to other Lingo subscribers. And, the best is you can keep your existing phone number. Better still, Lingo offers 30 day money back guarantee too. Many features like Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding etc are included in the package. Emergency calling (911) can be done too!

Comments: I have been using Lingo for about 3 years now. It is my all-time favorite. I always make calls to my mom in the UK and my chatty friends in Canada, and I pay basically $0.00/min. I have not experienced any disconnection in calls, and the sound quality is excellent, leaps and bounds above Vonage.