VoIP Service Provider
What to look for in an online telecom service
A VoIP service provider doesn’t just give you broadband Internet phone service. An online telecom service provider also empowers you with the tools for making those phone calls as convenient, cost-effective, easy, and fun as possible. The features that come with an online telecom service provider, whether included free (bundled in with your monthly fee) or for a nominal extra fee, are all designed with one goal in mind—to give you total control over your telephoning experience.
The following is a run-down of the most common and popular features that VoIP service providerss offer:
First, the usual suspects in a VoIP service provider plan, familiar to most anyone who uses a land line or cell phone:
- Voicemail
- Call Waiting
- Caller ID (with name)
- Call Forwarding
- Call Transferring
- Three-Way Calling and Conference Calling
- 411 Directory Assistance
- 911 Emergency Services
- Operator Services
- Distinctive Rings (assign separate specific ringtones for frequent and favorite callers)
There’s also free in-network calling in most online telecom service provider plans, common these days with most wireless telephone services, as well as:
- Speed Dial
- Repeat Dial
- Call Alarm/Wake Up
The phone companies these days are also starting to offer certain other features useful to today’s phone user, but where the phone company charges extra for these services, online telecom service providers generally include these services free with your VoIP service. Such useful features include:
- Caller ID Blocking
- Anonymous Call Blocking/Anonymous Caller Rejection
- Call Return/Last Number Redial
- Faxing
Beyond those tried-and-true familiar features, however, VoIP service providers go on to offer other features that telephone companies don’t (and can’t) provide because they are unique to the Internet. Owing to the fact that VoIP calls are placed over a broadband Internet connection, VoIP service providerss are able to offer their customers a bevy of Internet-based features, such as:
- Online Account Management
- Online Call Logs
- Enhanced Voice Mail - checking voicemail from any Internet-enabled PC
- Email Notifications of new calls or messages
- Contact Lists
- Bandwidth Control
VoIP service providers also allow you to do many things with your phone number. For example:
- Local Number Portability – allows you to keep your existing phone number when you switch to your new VoIP service provider
- Choose your own Area Code - select any area code you wish for your phone number, even if it isn’t where you live or work
- Virtual Numbers – take your VoIP number with you, even when dialing from another device and/or set up multiple virtual numbers, all of which are routed to the same device
- Add a Line – add as many new lines to your service as you want and answer all of them from the same device
- Do Not Disturb – to have calls temporarily forwarded to your voice mail without your phone ringing
- E911 Service – shows your address to the Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) emergency personnel answering when your 911 call is transferred to them
- Line Unavailable Forward – forwards incoming calls to a different phone number rather than to voicemail if your line is temporarily unavailable
- International Call Blocking – prevents you from accidentally placing international calls
- Call Hunt/Find Me – rings multiple telephone numbers in an effort to find you before routing the call to voicemail; a great way to never miss an urgent call again when on-the-go but expecting important phone calls
- PC to Phone – use your computer instead of a phone to place VoIP calls
View our list of the best VoIP providers