Networking For Dummies

VoIP service has several compelling advantages over traditional telephone service. Here are a few:

• Long distance calls over VoIP are cheaper than they are over traditional phone service. With VoIP, you typically pay a fixed monthly rate of $25–$35 for unlimited calls-long distance or not. If your phone bill now runs more than $35 per month, you may want to consider VoIP.

• You can take your ATA device with you on the road and use it anywhere that you can plug into the Internet. For example, you can go on vacation and take your ATA with you. Then you can plug into the Internet and receive or make calls by using your home phone number. (Of course, you don't have to take your ATA with you. After all, avoiding calls from your in-laws may be the reason you're going on vacation in the first place.)

• Because calls are carried over the Internet and not over the public switched telephone network, your phone isn't tied to a specific area code. In fact, VoIP lets you choose any area code you want. For example, if your small company is located in Fresno, you can get a VoIP service with a 415 area code so that your customers will think you're in San Francisco.

  Tip

  An enterprising small business in Fresno can set up two VoIP lines with a 415 area code and a 212 area code. Your customers will think that you have offices in San Francisco and New York, even though both numbers ring phones in sunny Fresno.

• Tip

  Choosing a local area code saves on phone charges. Suppose that your office is in Fresno, but nearly all your clients are in San Francisco. Setting up a 415 VoIP number lets your clients dial your number as a local call. Choosing an area code other than your real area code isn't always just for looks.

• VoIP services have more features in the standard package. Features, such as call waiting, call forwarding, caller ID, 3-way calling, and voice mail, usually don't cost extra with VoIP.

• Modern VoIP audio quality is as good as traditional phone service. Sometimes, it's better.

• VoIP services have additional features that you can use if you connect a computer to the ATA device. For example, some services can send your voice-mail messages to an e-mail account as attachments. Then you can use Microsoft Outlook or another mail program to listen to your voice mail.