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01. VoIP Technology?
02. What You Need
03. Making Calls
04. Advantages
05. Business Side
06. A Provider
07. Installation
08. Using VoIP
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Chapter 6 |
Finding A VoIP Provider |
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You have quite a bit of information at hand, now. You probably have realized that the benefits of using VoIP incorporate many things for the home user as well as for the business owner. Now, you need to find the right VoIP provider.
Not all providers are the same, as you can tell from other areas of this e-book. It pays a great deal to look at what each provider has to offer to you and then decide which one is the ultimate right choice for your needs. The good news is that you are likely to find many benefits available to you by comparing the providers offering service in your area.
In this chapter, we will look at the things that are essential for you to implement into your provider choice. Luckily, with this information you can compare what is available by providers easily and make a decision based on it.
Costs
The costs of VoIP service varies from one provider to the next more so than anything else. You can save up to 80 percent of your phone bills using VoIP, in most cases.
Shopping around will help you to find out who has the lowest rates and the plan that fits you the most. For example, you may want to consider an unlimited service plan, which allows you to make calls as often as you want, when you want to. This can start at under $20 per month but extended up to nearly $60.
Quality, features and the number of customers your provider has determines the cost of the same service options that you have. Remember to compare apples to apples in that you should compare your VoIP unlimited options to your local calling plans, etc.
Features
The second largest consideration that you have in service provider options is that of features. As we have mentioned, you’ll find that the features that a VoIP provider offers are excellent in comparison to a traditional phone service. But, not all providers offer the same ones or even come close to delivery the same number of features.
Depending on what you need and want in features will depend on which provider you select. Again, though, while these features may have cost you a per use or a monthly charge, they are included into the price here.
Your Phone Number
For many, keeping the same phone number is a must. Just like changing your cell phone number or keeping it the same when you change companies, the same happens with VoIP providers that offer it. Some providers will offer this benefit of allowing you to keep your number while others will not.
You shouldn’t want to switch your phone number right off the bat when switching to VoIP. This is especially true if you are not familiar with the service and want to give it a test run first. Nevertheless, it should be a consideration that you have when it comes to choosing a VoIP service provider. Find out which service providers will actually allow you to keep your old number and which will not.
Calling Internationally
Another important consideration that you have is using your VoIP calling internationally. Depending on your need for this, both business and personal use, you should take into consideration your needs.
If you make a lot of calls to international numbers, then you need to actually invest the time in finding out what international rates are for the locations that you call.
Some VoIP providers offer different rates for international calls than they do for local calls. In addition, there may be some restrictions on where you can call. There are some carriers, few, though, that offer unlimited calling plans to certain countries, which can be an ideal benefit for those that are looking for a way to stay connected.
Still, by far the rates of international calling using VoIP are far lower than the costs of using a traditional phone calling plan.
911 Security
You’ll find a lot of information about how 911 works with VoIP in earlier sections of this e-book. But, what you need to know about choosing a VoIP service provider is important. Most providers do offer Enhanced 911, but not all do. You need to make sure that this is something that is offered or that you have a back up plan in place for.
Trail Runs And Warranties
Another thing for you to take the time in considering is that of guarantees and trial offers. Most of the VoIP providers are offering some type of trail run to insure that you have the necessary time to determine if VoIP is right for you. If you take the time to insure this information, you’ll be well on your way to testing out the service and what it can offer to you.
You should also look for the money back guarantee. Check to find out what the provider offers in the way of a money back guarantee. You want a product that is going to provide you with quality service, but since VoIP is very new, having this type of guarantee helps considerably.
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