| It seems as if you can barely turn around these days | | | | Actually, you can get a local number for almost |
| without another company hyping their VOIP service at | | | | anywhere you want. Even if you live in West Fleatick, |
| you, claiming how it does everything imaginable, plus it | | | | you can get a Houston or Seattle or Los Angeles |
| gets whites whiter and colors brighter. How do you | | | | phone number for your phone, just by requesting it |
| wade through all that hype to find at, at its core, what | | | | from your VOIP provider. Many VOIP providers can |
| features it has that you need at the right price? | | | | also provide a "virtual number"; i.e., even if you have a |
| The very first thing you need before you consider | | | | Des Moines phone number for your VOIP phone, you |
| VOIP service for your home is a reliable high-speed | | | | can ALSO get a Seattle or Denver or Miami local |
| Internet connection. If you don't have that, if it hiccups | | | | number, all of which will ring on your VOIP phone in |
| or goes down a lot, then your VOIP service is going to | | | | West Fleatick. |
| be a nightmare. You see, the VOIP service you get | | | | Other standard features include unlimited local calling |
| already assumes that you have high-speed reliable | | | | and unlimited calling in the continental United States. |
| Internet service, and this is NOT something they | | | | Some carriers also include Canada in that, and some |
| provide with VOIP. If your only option for high-speed | | | | also include Puerto Rico and the islands. Your VOIP |
| Internet access is satellite Internet, then you are also | | | | service typically includes voice mail, call waiting, caller ID, |
| not a candidate for a successful VOIP implementation, | | | | and call blocking. What else do you need? |
| since satellite does not play well in that arena with | | | | There are other features that some VOIP providers |
| today's technology. | | | | make available at additional cost, which you need to |
| The next thing to consider is whether or not you can | | | | look at carefully. Like the ability to do conference calling |
| get a LOCAL number from your VOIP provider. If you | | | | - if they are going to charge extra for that, how often |
| live in a major city or even a semi-major city with a | | | | will you use it and is it worth the extra cost? Do you |
| population of more than about 50,000 then chances | | | | need additional voicemail boxes? If there is an |
| are pretty good that the VOIP provider can give you a | | | | additional cost, look at how often you would use |
| local number for your VOIP phone. But if you are way | | | | multiple voicemail boxes and if it is worth the extra |
| off the beaten track, then chances are good that you | | | | cost? Is there an extra cost to retrieve your voicemail |
| cannot get a local number for your VOIP phone. So if | | | | from another phone elsewhere? If so, again, how |
| you live in West Fleatick Iowa, you may have to get a | | | | much extra is it and how often would you use it? |
| Des Moines phone number. | | | | Keep in mind that you are trying to save money here. |
| Is that a big deal? That is up to you. If your next door | | | | If you add in all the bells and whistles that are available, |
| neighbor wants to call you on your VOIP phone, they | | | | you are spending MORE money than you did before, |
| will have to make a long distance call to Des Moines to | | | | which kind of defeats the goal. Determine what |
| have your VOIP phone ring, even though they live right | | | | features are needed, what is useful, how often you will |
| next door. But if your primary interest is in making long | | | | use those features, then make an informed financial |
| distance calls, then this aspect may not matter at all, | | | | decision so you can get your best overall value. |
| although it is still an aspect to be aware of. | | | | |