| There are three main categories of VoIP phones | | | | provider service. A number of providers will also |
| available. In this article we will discuss each type and | | | | include a device for free if you setup your account |
| give you some pointers on the positives and negatives | | | | with them. Check with the providers first to ensure |
| of each. For most users you can setup a voip system | | | | they provide this device if you would like to have |
| at home for a very minimal fee or even for free using | | | | phone service throughout your home. |
| services such as Skype you can read our Skype | | | | For home service, you can disconnect your outside line |
| Review for more information. | | | | and then plug in a regular phone line from your ATA |
| 1. Soft Phone | | | | device into a phone jack. This will pass the phone |
| The first type and generally the cheapest is a soft | | | | signal throughout your entire house and allow you to |
| phone. This is short for software phone. With a | | | | use the VoIP service like your normal home phone you |
| software phone, you run a program on your computer | | | | are used to having. You will want to find a nice place |
| that acts as the VoIP conversion device and you input | | | | near your internet router and a phone jack to make |
| the sound via a microphone and output sound via your | | | | this work properly. If you are using DSL this is not a |
| speakers. This setup is preferred by users who are | | | | great option for you as you would have the active |
| always on the go but take their laptop with them. | | | | phone line (DSL requires one). In the case of DSL I |
| There are a number of voip providers who allow you | | | | recommend a cordless phone that has a base unit and |
| to setup a soft phone account along with your regular | | | | multiple handsets. Then you just plug the base unit in |
| account. You simply enter in the data your voip | | | | and setup handsets throughout the house. |
| provider gives you and you are ready to begin sending | | | | 3. VoIP specific phone |
| receiving phone calls. The downside with a soft phone | | | | Many companies are not producing VoIP enabled |
| is that you have to be at your computer or a | | | | phones that plug in directly to your internet network or |
| computer with the soft phone software installed in | | | | can connect wirelessly using 802.11b/g (I would only |
| order to make/receive phone calls. This is not always | | | | recommend G or N for this as the connection is much |
| the most convenient method to use. | | | | better). You will also want to make sure your phone is |
| 2. Regular Analog Phone | | | | not placed near another device that uses radio signals |
| With the use of an ATA device, you can plug in your | | | | in the same mghz frequency as your phone to limit the |
| normal home phone handset into a small box that acts | | | | amount of interference. These phones are quite |
| as the translation unit between the digital internet | | | | expensive for what they are, so if you have the option |
| signals and the analog voice signals. These devices | | | | I would recommend using the base unit and cordless |
| are relatively cheap (do a search on eBay for pap2 | | | | handsets as described in option 2. |
| device and you can find a number for less than $50). In | | | | Good luck in your search and enjoy the great savings |
| most cases these devices require you to have a voip | | | | that can be had with VoIP. |