6 Important Factors You Should Consider When Selecting a VoIP Provider
The following are 6 important factors that you should consider when you are selecting a Voice over IP (VoIP) provider.
Monthly costs: A VoIP provider you savings of up to 80% on your telephone/long distance costs. There are many VoIP providers out there that have terrific offerings so it will benefit you from researching each VoIP very carefully. Unlimited calling packages can range from $16.58/month to as high as $54.95/month. Usually the lower priced providers are trying to capture market share, so it will be to your benefit to sign up with them as soon as possible. Usually, if and when they do raise their rates, they will usually grandfather your rate and keep it at the lower rate as long as you remain a customer.
VoIP Product Features: Not all VoIP providers are created equal. Voice over Internet Protocol offers a tremendous savings to the consumers because of the drastically reduced long distance costs as well as inexpensive local phone service with lots of included enhanced features. Some providers offer more enhanced features than others. Most providers will include the following enhanced features like Call Waiting, 3 Way Calling, voicemail, CallerID, Call Blocking, etc. are included in the VoIP monthly cost where as the traditional land-line telephone companies will charge up to and above $8/month for each feature. When shopping for a VoIP provider, be sure to compare VoIP providers by the included enhanced features as well as by monthly price.
Keeping Your Number: Most providers allow you to transfer (port) your current phone number to the VoIP service but some providers do not this. It is not recommended to switch your home number to the VoIP service immediately upon signup. It is recommended that you try out the VoIP service that you choose and see if you are satisfied with their service and features before you request that your current number be switched. In some cases it has been reported that it is more difficult to port a number away from a VoIP provider than it is a traditional landline telephone service. Keep in mind that if you have DSL service, you must retain a landline telephone with the DSL service provider of the DSL because the DSL service is provided over that telephone line. If you want to get rid of your current landline telephone company all together, then we suggest you use a Cable Internet Service Provider as opposed to a DSL Internet Provider.
911 Service: Most of the Voice over IP carriers offer E911 service, but not all. (All VoIP providers in the U.S.A. are required to have 911 service) Be sure to check if the Voice over IP provider offers E911 because it is not a given. If the VoIP provider does not offer E911, then we suggest that you either have a cell phone or traditional land-line to use in case of an emergency. (Note: It is also important to point out that if you take your VoIP phone while traveling and use it in a location other than the registered address, the E911 service has no way of knowing where you are when you call 911 if you are not physically located at the preregistered address.)
International Calling: If you make a lot of international calls, you will want to do a lot of research on International Rates as they vary by provider. There are a few carriers that offer unlimited calling to certain countries. Click Here for a great website with a list of the best unlimited international VoIP calling rates to various countries around the world.
Money Back Guarantee: Since VoIP is a relatively new product and most people are a little bit sceptical of making calls over the internet, most all VoIP providers will offer a free money back guarantee. Be sure to check with each provider as we have seen the money back guarantees range from a 14-day to a 60-day money back guarantee. (Note: Be sure to keep the original packaging that your equipment came in because most VoIP companies require you to mail back the equipment to avoid a disconnection fee.)
These 6 things are a great place to start when you are trying to determine which VoIP provider is best for you. We offer a free resource for you to compare the best VoIP providers by VoIP Price and VoIP Features here on our website. Good luck and happy VoIPing.