Should I Get Broadband Phone Service?
By Tom Downs
As VoIP gains more press and continues
to reach more consumers more and more people are asking the
question "Should I Get Broadband Phone Service'?
What may seem on the surface to be a complex question can be
answered by asking just a few more questions and then making
an informed decision about whether VoIP services are for
you.
Question One - Do
you have Cable Modem or DSL service or a T1 Line at your
business? If your answer is yes to this question you
should continue to explore. In the future a WiMax
connection may serve just as well as that technology is
deployed. If you are on a dial up internet connection
you should consider a service like Trinsic
Unlimited Local Service for unlimited
calling or perhaps
2Speak International Call Back Service. Or
just get the cheapest
long distance service you can find. If you
have satellite broadband service while your connection is
fast enough the distance that your signal has to travel to
bounce off that satellite in outer space will make latency
(delay in the conversation) a big issue.
However if you have DSL, T1 or a Cable
Modem then go on to question number two.
Question Two - Do you
want lower cost telephone services with more features and
unlimited calling areas that include the entire country and
the ability to take your service with you where ever you go
including any Hotel Room or Relatives house that has High
Speed internet access? In other words do you
want to stop being ripped off by the big phone companies?
If you answered yes to both of those
questions they you don't have to ask the question,
"Should I Get Broadband Phone Service" because the
answer is a resounding yes. All you need to do next is
pick a provider and understand the limits of the technology.
I have two resources I recommend you review to help you with
that decision.
1. Getting
the Most From Broadband Phone Services
2. The Compare
VoIP Providers page on this website
The reality is that VoIP is truly the
first wide open competition with no monopolistic
intervention by the big carriers that has ever occurred in
the US. Which there has been some competition in the
Local Services and Long Distance markets it is VoIP that has
truly opened the market to real and fair competition and the
consumer truly has the opportunity to benefit from it..
With a provider like Packet8
you can get 19.95 unlimited calling to the US and
Canada with full features including voice mail, that alone
should help you realize the only real question is do you
have a broadband internet connection. Not having DSL
is the only good reason to not get VoIP.
One last note if you are looking for
DSL or Cable Modem Check out Shop
For DSL they can quote you all the providers in
your area in just seconds.
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- Tom Downs
Independent Contributing Editor |
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