Although cable broadband internet is a whole lot faster than dialup, I usually experience a slight delay when opening a webpage. Perhaps most people don’t notice the latency associated with cable internet, but as a former DSL user it got my attention right away. I noticed a distinct difference in speed between cable and DSL, but I realized I had to live with it in order to use internet phone service in the most economical way. DSL requires a phone line, which requires telephone service – so if you want to replace your land line phone with low cost internet phone service, the only option is to use cable or T-1 for internet.

With my internet phone up and running over cable broadband, the voice quality was better than expected. I noticed no big difference between VoIP and my land line phone, but did experience “dropped” calls and “incomplete” calls periodically. This is due to the latency in my broadband connection, but since VoIP saves me over $500 a year (unlimited calling for less than $20 a month) an occasional dropped call is fine with me!

While flipping through a computer magazine, I spotted an ad for the Hawking Broadband Booster. This device is designed to eliminate the “lag” in your internet connection by monitoring the data that is coming and going and re-prioritizing the packets. It installs between your cable modem and router, and acts like a “traffic cop”, eliminating congestion by ensuring that both router and modem get nice even streams of data. In an attempt to decrease the latency with my cable modem, I decided to try out this device. Although it is a bit pricy (around $100), I figured I could always return it if it didn’t work as claimed.

The broadband booster was really easy to install (just connect two cables and restart your cable modem) and required no configuration whatsoever. The device is tiny (2″ X 4″) and weighs only an ounce or so. I noticed an immediate improvement in my internet connection, although there is still a very slight lag. In the past several weeks I have logged nearly 3000 minutes on my VoIP service and have not experienced any dropped or incomplete calls. I am very satisfied with the Hawking Broadband Booster (HBB1), and recommend it to anyone using broadband and/or internet phone service. Although I am not a gamer, the company claims it really helps with online playing as well. Many people with satellite internet cannot use VoIP due to the inconsistent satellite signal. If satellite internet is your only choice for broadband, it may be worth your while to give this little device a try.

© 2005 Debbie Jacobsen, all rights reserved
About the Author

Debbie Jacobsen is an IT professional and owner of http://www.saveonphoneservice.com – an informative website about internet phone service as well as a comparison of VoIP providers. To read more of Debbie’s articles on VoIP, please visit her blog at http://djvoip.blogspot.com.

Until recently, our options have been limited when it comes to
making local and long distance phone calls. It has been standard
to have to pay high monthly and by-the-minute charges to keep in
touch with loved ones that live far away. With mobile phones,
you have the freedom to take your communications with you, but
the reception is often sketchy, and roaming charges can take a
big bite out of your wallet. That is why VOIP is so attractive
to so many people. Quite a few people have made the switch to
this technology as their primary mode of phone communication for
work and everyday life because of the freedom it allows, and the
very low cost to subscribe to the service. And the popularity of
VOIP and Internet phone service is continuing to gain momentum.
If you are thinking of making the switch VOIP phone service,
there are a few issues that you should give careful
consideration to before making the decision.

When you subscribe to VOIP service, you are exchanging your
traditional landline for a phone that hooks up to your Internet
connection. The phone accesses the Internet over your broadband
connection, either by cable modem or DSL. Using a piece of
equipment that is plugged into the modem known as a telephony
adapter, electrical pulses from the IP telephone are translated
into data packets that move over the Internet. Thus, your phone
line and your Internet connection are one and the same. This
provides a myriad of communications option for the subscriber,
but also introduces many issues such as security breaches, power
outages, Internet service interruptions, and sub par reception
due to Internet traffic.

VOIP is gaining popularity primarily because of the low cost to
subscribe to a service. Local and long distance calling is
bundled together along with other options like Caller ID and
Call Waiting for one low monthly rate, and International calling
rates are very reasonable. Rates for calling oversees are
usually .03 – .04 per minute, and calling Canada falls under the
domestic long distance region. In addition, it is also customary
for service providers to allow subscribers to call one another
within the service free of charge.

In order to subscribe to VOIP phone service, it is necessary
that you have a broadband Internet connection. If your Internet
service is not totally consistent, and you tend to lose service
on occasion, you will lose your phone service during Internet
service outages. As a subscriber to VOIP, your service will
provide you with a telephony adaptor that you can connect to any
home phone, which you in turn connect to your modem, which will
give you VOIP phone capabilities. Keep in mind that you will pay
for VOIP service in addition to your monthly Internet service
charges. However, charges for VOIP phone service are far lower
than traditional phone company charges.

Other issues, such as power outages, need to be addressed before
switching to VOIP. In essence, if your power goes out, so does
your phone service. It is possible to avoid losing phone service
during power outages by hooking your computer up to a universal
power supply. This keeps your computer – and your phone service
- operational during power outages. The sound reception over an
IP phone is often just as clear as that of a traditional
telephone. Unless your Internet service is experiencing heavy
traffic, your calls will likely come through clear and audible.
One thing to note is that the quality of 911 services depends on
the service you decide to subscribe to. Some services route
emergency calls to different call centers than traditional 911
calls, therefore emergency response might not be as efficient as
you are used to.

With all of the questions that arise from VOIP phone service,
there are still many reasons to consider subscribing. Aside from
the attractive cost savings, you can take your IP phone with you
and connect anywhere that there is broadband Internet service,
you can more than likely keep your current phone number, and
since VOIP services is federally regulated, there are no state
fees to pay that you customarily do with traditional phone
service. And as long as you stick with a well-known service
provider that you feel confident will provide long-lasting
service to you with the best prices and options available, you
have nothing to worry about. VOIP phone service is not only
convenient and cost effective, but it is great way to make the
most of your Internet capabilities.

About the author:


Learn the essential information for picking the Voip provider /
services at href="http://www.voip-services-provider.com/voip-internet-phones.
html">Voip Internet Phones

Small businesses, home-based businesses, and self-employed
individuals have been turning to internet telephone service
(also called broadband phone or VOIP) in droves. What is the
attraction? As a self-employed, telecommuting,
small-business-owning freelance writer, I can provide some
insight.

I switched my business to internet phones early in 2005. Despite
a few hiccups, I’m not going back to landlines. Internet phone
service has too many advantages, which I’ll describe for you. I
also have some tips for avoiding possible rough patches.

VOIP Internet Phone Small Business and SOHO Advantages

VOIP Advantage No. 1: Look bigger.

* If your small business has to seem large, a virtual PBX with a
dial-by-name directory might help. These systems cost thousands
to install. But many VOIP companies let you rent this service
for less than a hundred dollars a month.

* Give each member of your team their own outside line. With
most VOIP companies, each line costs around $10.

* Get one or more 1-800 numbers at around $10/month.

VOIP Advantage No 2. Freedom of movement.

* Freedom to travel. When I went to Sacramento to visit a
friend, I ended up extending my stay to a whole month. I
couldn’t have done that without regular phone access. With VOIP,
my Massachusetts number follows me wherever I go.

* Tropical adventures. I regularly work with a virtual assistant
company that takes phone calls on their Quebec phone number
everyday. That wouldn’t be so strange except they’re in the
Philippines. They’re using the same small business VOIP phone
service sold right here in North America. True, VOIP companies
don’t generally guarantee their services will work outside the
country of purchase. But the internet is the internet, whether
in Fargo or the South Pacific. With the growth of broadband to
virtually every non-pariah nation on earth, your second office
really could be in a tropical paradise–or year-round ski
resort. Isn’t that the freedom you hoped being your own boss
would bring?

* Telecommuting. Feel a cold coming? Work from home! With VOIP,
even the receptionist may be able to telecommute!

* Voicemail by email. You don’t have to be by the phone to get
voicemail. This is the perfect service for busy people and email
addicts. Bonus: the message (in a file similar those used on MP3
players) can be stored indefinitely.

Internet Phone Advantage 3. Cost

* Make lots of calls? Many VOIP providers’ unlimited-calling
plans cost just $20 to $80 a month.

* Features such as call waiting, caller ID, hold, call
forwarding, and multiple ring-to numbers are usually costly
extras with landline service. With most VOIP services, those are
built-in features.

SOHO VOIP: Tips for Making it Work for Your Business

SOHO VOIP Tip 1. Test internet phoning out before committing.

Yes, some VOIP connections are so scratchy and patchy they sound
like cell phones. That’s usually because of a problem in the
internet connection. Such problems may not be apparent in
ordinary web browsing and file downloading. Go with a service
that has a 30-day money-back guarantee. Try VOIP out where you
live and work. Make sure to try inbound and outbound calls.

Small Business Internet Phone Tip 2. Phoning from a laptop.

With VOIP telephones, you don’t need a computer. But you can use
your computer as a phone. A piece of software called a
“softphone” uses your computer’s speakers and microphone. If
your laptop is running too many programs at once, calls will
deteriorate. Higher-end laptops shouldn’t have this problem.

SOHO Internet Phones Tip 3. Go with an established VOIP company.

You don’t want to lose your telephone service and possibly your
number. Yet only a few VOIP companies have roots before 2000.
Choose a service with deep enough roots to survive a VOIP
industry shake-out.

Small Biz Internet Phoning Tip 4. Choose a provider carefully
before putting the number on your business cards.

Switching VOIP companies is at least as much of a pain as
switching landline phone companies. In fact, there is typically
no outward number-portability. You can bring a number in, but
good luck taking it with you. Researching in early 2005, I found
no nationwide VOIP services officially offering outward number
portability.

Choose a VOIP provider with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Test
the service out thoroughly. One thing is likely: you may want to
switch VOIP providers, but you won’t want to go back to
landline.

About the author:


Joel Walsh, freelance writer and small business owner,
recommends you check out Packet8, an established: ="VOIP”>http://www.packet8.net”>VOIP service povider:
http://www.packet8.net

I’ve been using VoIP internet phone service as my “one and only
home phone service” for nearly a year now and absolutely LOVE
it. Not only does VoIP save me a ton of money, but I get all
sorts of free features that I never thought I’d use. I never
knew how great extra features would be until I tried them, and
now there are some that I just can’t live without. The really
neat thing about VoIP service is that providers keep adding new
features for no extra charge! I’m quickly becoming a fan of new
features – especially when they don’t cost me any extra! I’m
normally not one for a lot of bells and whistles that I know
I’ll never use, but some of the new goodies that href="http://www.telebay.com/govoip/packet8.html" style="color:
blue; text-decoration: underline; text-underline: single">
Packet8 added recently are just fabulous.

For example, VOICEMAIL TO EMAIL NOTIFICATION is really
sweet. As with all features, you manage this one via the online
account management center (“command central” as I refer to it).
You simply check a button to enable this and enter your email
address. Now when I’m at work and get a voicemail on my home
phone, I get an email from Packet8 that includes an audio file
with the voicemail! I never have to miss a phone call again, and
have the added benefit of being able to file away saved messages
and forward messages to whoever I choose. This is a very cool
feature!

Another useful feature is called NETWORK UNAVAILABLE
FORWARDING. When enabled, if all phone calls that come in
while your internet connection is down are automatically
forwarded to another number. I use my cell phone for the
forwarding number and never miss a call. Interestingly enough,
my internet connection has only gone down once in the last year,
and wouldn’t you know it – it went down again 3 days after I
enabled network unavailable forwarding. Because the internet
connection was down, my VoIP phone was down too; but I never
missed a call! Again, you turn this feature on in the account
management center and enter a phone number that you want your
calls forwarded to. This is a really handy feature and I think
it will be especially great during those severe weather months
when the power tends to go out a lot.

FOLLOW ME FIND ME is an interesting new feature that has
the potential to be useful at times. When activated at the
“command central”, you can enter in up to five different phone
numbers in the order you want them to ring. The idea is that if
you don’t answer your VoIP phone, the next number you designate
(can be cell phone, another VoIP phone or a PSTN “land line”
phone) will ring. If that phone isn’t answered the next number
in your list will ring, etc… I will probably only use this
feature if I’m expecting a really important call, or maybe if
someone close to me is ill and I need to take care not to miss a
call.

Another feature that I think has some possibility for limited
use is called SIMULTANEOUS RINGING ON MULTIPLE PHONE
NUMBERS. When you activate this one, you enter in one or
more phone numbers that you want to ring at the same time as
your VoIP phone. I think this might be useful if you were
frequently traveling between two or more places and wanted to be
certain not to miss any calls. This might be a good safety
feature to use if you’re on vacation and want to make sure
someone always answers the phone. The caller will never know
that no one’s home.

All VoIP providers offer a good feature package, but some
companies give you more than others do. To quickly compare the
price and features of several top VoIP internet phone service
providers, see href="http://www.saveonphoneservice.com/Internet-phone-service-pr
oviders.htm" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;
text-underline: single">

http://www.saveonphoneservice.com/Internet-phone-service-provider

s.htm. If you’re looking into purchasing VoIP service, check
out the latest coupons and special offers at: href="http://www.saveonphoneservice.com/VoIP-deal.htm"
style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; text-underline:
single"> http://www.saveonphoneservice.com/VoIP-deal.htm.

About the author:


Debbie Jacobsen is an IT professional and creator of href="http:
//http://www.saveonphoneservice.com”>www.saveonphoneservice.com”>http://www.saveonphoneservice.com a> – an informative website about internet phone service as
well as a comparison of VoIP providers.

VoIP is a new way make phone calls. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and is the technical term for “Internet phone service.” VoIP takes regular phone calls and zaps them through your high-speed Internet connection. VoIP uses regular phones, even cordless phones. Simply plug a VoIP adapter into your cable/DSL modem line and then plug your phone into the adapter.

Internet Phone Service is a more generic term for using the Internet to make calls. Internet Phone calls include VoIP but also includes PC based calls. PC based calls use software and PC headsets (or speaker and mic) to initiate the call.

VoIP phone service providers combine domestic US local and long distance calls for one low monthly rate with unlimited local and long distance, plus features like Caller ID, Call Waiting, Voicemail, Call Forwarding, Call Conferencing, and many more – free of charge. Free calls between users on the same service is also normally included.

I reduced my monthly phone bill by 50%. You could see bigger discounts if you make a lot of long distance calls. For an overview see a VoIP comparison table.

About the Author

Bob Jones creates web sites dedicated to consumer savings including Internet Savings Network, Auto Insurance Quote Service and VoIP – Internet Phone Services

Voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP) services are certainly
becoming more and more popular and for the most part it’s
because they are a quality alternative to traditional landline
and cell phone based calling plans. I’m no prophet but the
future of the technology and how people make phone calls is
definitely pointing towards VoIP.

As is the case with most new technologies trying to decipher
through all the hype and claims is a daunting task indeed and
with companies popping up left and right to grab their share of
this ever increasing pie, it gets more challenging by the day.

So what do you do? Well, on the positive side, virtually all of
these new web-based phone services (VoIP) are packed with
features, including unlimited local and long-distance calls and
yet, they cost less than most traditional plans. Another plus is
how simple they are to set up. Most simply require that you plug
your regular phone into an adapter connected to your computer.

Of course, what is and what isn’t essential in any plan is
debatable but a few “essentials” you may want to consider when
choosing which VoIP provider to go with are outlined below.

Connection Compatibility One of the few VoIP requirements is a
high speed connection but with the ever expanding reach of
broadband into all parts of the country access to a high speed
connection is no longer restricted to just the major
metropolitan areas. That being said, all high speed connections
don’t provide enough performance to handle IP calls, so before
you start researching different service plans you should take a
look at Test Your VoIP ( HREF=http://www.testyourvoip.com>http://www.testyourvoip.com)
to see if your connection is up to snuff. The test is free and
it should take less than 30 seconds.

Assess Your Calling Needs You need to ask yourself a few
questions before you go out and select a provider because if you
don’t know what you’re looking for it’s pretty difficult to find
it. A few questions you should consider are: What do you want
most out of your phone provider? Are you looking to just cut
costs?

A basic plan that offers a bunch of long-distance minutes is
extremely inexpensive and if that’s all you care about perhaps
that’s the route you should take. On the other hand, if you want
business flexibility you should consider a small business
package that costs more, but adds services like conferencing, a
separate fax line, even an 800 number.

Want to take it on the road? Vonage ( HREF=http://www.vonage.com>http://www.vonage.com) and others
offer “soft phone” services, which let you make and receive
calls on your PC. Another option to consider is where you place
the most calls. If you make a ton of international calls, you
might want to consider one of the smaller players like Lingo ( HREF=http://www.lingo.com>http://www.lingo.com), Broadvoice
( HREF=http://www.broadvoice.com>http://www.broadvoice.com) or
CingUCel ( HREF=http://www.cingucell.com>http://www.cingucell.com) that
offer unlimited dialing to select countries. Another nice VoIP
feature is that most providers treat calls to Canada as domestic
long distance. Determine where you call the most and then match
the most appropriate service to your needs.

Feature Comparison Virtually all VoIP service packages will
exceed the minimal call waiting and voice mail bundles of
traditional phone services. One example, CallVantage ( HREF=http://www.usa.att.com/callvantage/index.jsp?>http://www.usa
.att.com/callvantage/index.jsp?) from AT&T may cost a bit
more than some but it includes a useful call forwarding
capability that will try to find you by ringing up to five
different phone numbers when you aren’t home.

You’ll have to decide after shopping around whether you feel
comfortable going with one of the smaller startups or if you
should stick with one of the big players. With the big players
you’ll usually pay $5 or $10 more per month more for the “peace
of mind” of a well-known brand name like AT&T or Vonage ( HREF=http://www.vonage.com>http://www.vonage.com) which are
currently the two largest VoIP providers in the market.

Verizon VoiceWing ( HREF=http://www22.verizon.com>http://www22.verizon.com) is
fairly new to this ever increasing niche but with its merger
with MCI it operates under one of the biggest brands in the
telephony world. Once again, it’s clearly up to you and your
comfort level but if a service has fewer than 100,000
subscribers, you may want to look closely before jumping in.

Cold Turkey Like all new technology VoIP continues to improve
and the result is better call quality and service levels but
switching cold turkey may not be the best idea. With many
providers offering 30-day money back guarantees (always read the
terms carefully) you can test the waters and ease into the
transition. Initially, you may want to consider switching to
VoIP on a second line and then, if you’re happy, make the full
transition.

This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.

About the author:


Kevin Erickson is an entrepreneur and writer. You’ll find more
of his work at: VoIP
Solutions | Wireless
Internet | Trade
Shows

There are many advantages of VoIP broadband phone service. Over the next couple of years phone over Internet will be the norm for most homes and businesses.

Internet Phone Benefits. More than likely you receive many VoIP phone calls in the course of a week without realizing it. This is because the phone line quality for VoIP is the same as traditional phone services. If you are considering Internet phone service, you are making a good choice. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as it is called is quickly becoming the best value for telephone service. Most companies like Sprint and AT&T are already offering VoIP within their internal networks and are starting to offer it as a complete service offering.

How VoIP Phone Calls Work and Voice Quality.

The simple answer is that your voice is digitalized and transported over the Internet as well as over the phone company’s private network using Internet Protocol (IP) service. A broadband phone call happens in real time just like on a digital TV, except you are using your broadband Internet service (DSL, Cable, or Satellite). Traditional phone services use analog, circuit technology. Because of improvements in voice quality and throughput of VoIP, small idependent carriers have already started offering VoIP to residents and businesses. Now most phone companies are using Internet phone technology over their private networks. This means that most of your calls today go over, at least in part, VoIP networks. This change in technology is a major factor in the drop in long distance rates in recent years. Now that many phone companies are extending VoIP service to the homes and businesses, we can now enjoy additional savings, great voice quality, and great features.

Price.

Low Price. Prices for broadband phone services start at under $10 a month. VoIP service is available to anyone in the world who has an Internet broadband connection. International and in-country rates start at 1.1 cents a minute or even unlimited for some VoIP monthly plans.

Broadband Phone. When signing up with a carrier you will normally have the option of using your own broadband phone, buying a broadband phone from the carrier, or getting a special adapter to connect your existing phone to your broadband connection. You can also elect to make VoIP phone calls using your PC. PCs normally do not need any special equipment, but many people purchase a wired or wireless headset. Broadband phones start under $40 and phone adapters cost under $10 depending on the VoIP carrier. Broadband phones look much like regular phones, but usually have a full range of digital features. Watch for promotional offers and you may get your broadband phone or adapter free when you sign-up with an broadband phone carrier.

No Contract, It’s Prepaid. The other great pricing feature for most VoIP phone carriers is that there is no contract. You just pre-pay. This eliminates the risk of unexpected high phone bills.

No Regulatory Fees. Currently, there are no regulatory fees or special taxes with Internet phone call service. This can be a significant saving as many traditional phone plans have a 20% or more in fees and taxes added to the bill each month.

Features

Internet phone call service has many additional features over traditional phone services. Features include: most traditional add-on services (call waiting, voice mail, caller ID, etc) are standard, video phone option, travel with your phone number, service available worldwide (need high-speed Internet connection), your area code not tied to your geographic area, ultra-low International calling, more… Visit http://www.accessphoneservices.com/broadband-phone-service.html for our article on the Features of VoIP Broadband Phone Service.

About the Author

Randy McClure is a web site publisher of http://www.EasyAccessClub.com. EasyAccess Club is an eCommerce resource for discount shoppers, small businesses, and churches. We feature discount online store reviews, hundreds of discount stores, e-commerce news, and resources for doing business online. Visit our other sites: Small Business Online – http://biz.easyaccessclub.com and Church Online – http://www.access-jesus.com.