Business VOIP
Providers
A business VOIP phone system can reduce your monthly phone bill
tremendously compared to a traditional business phone system. A business VOIP
solution can be a hosted PBX system, as well as an on-premise PBX solution.
Residential
VOIP Providers
A residential VOIP phone system can reduce your monthly phone
bill tremendously compared to a traditional residential phone system. Most
residential VOIP systems are hosted VOIP solutions. Learn more about
residential VOIP, and view residential VOIP providers below.
For a list of VOIP to PSTN service providers, indexed by
country, please see:
- VOIP Service Providers Residential - for retail level
products
- VOIP Service Providers Business - multiline small
business products and PBX systems
- VOIP Service Providers B2B - wholesale and bulk
products, products for resale\
- Secure VOIP Service Providers - for retail level
products
- VOIP Service Providers T.38 - VOIP providers
offering T.38 fax service (very few exist)
- RIP VOIP VOIP provider cemetery
- Virtual PBX providers
- Hosted VoIP and Hosted PBX Providers
- VOIP Wholesale Providers
- DID Service Providers - Providers of DID service
- Toll Free Termination Providers - Dial any toll-free
number
- Hosted Collaboration Providers
- VOIP Providers Italy
- VOIP Providers USA
- VOIP Providers Canada
- VOIP Providers UK
- Compare Internet Service Providers
VoIP and VoIP
Service Providers
What is VoIP?
VoIP (which stands for "voice over internet protocol"
and is commonly referred to simply as an internet phone) is a highly cost
effective and reliable way for businesses or even homeowners to make calls
across the world or even just across town. The majority of major cable
companies that offer bundled internet, television, and phone services already
utilize this newer technology, but there are tons of other independent
companies that specialize in providing this service to their customers at
reasonable rates and with tons of extra features.
More Than Just
Computers
When people think of VoIP, they generally think of computers due
to the popularity of the numerous free communication services like FaceTime and
Skype, but this is truly just one aspect of what VoIP can truly offer. It is
true that VoIP technology transmits voice communication that's been converted
into digital data across a packet-switched network or the internet (what this
means, in essence, is that a user making phone calls over high speed internet
lines rather than phone lines). With that in mind, users are not confined to
only using it on a computer. VoIP technology can connect through the internet
using traditional telephone equipment just like a regular line. The phone
itself is connected to the internet using an adaptor that's plugged straight
into a home or business's internet network. Most major services offer a
softphone option as well, which allows the user to use their computer directly
as a telephone service. In addition to all that, VoIP providers will generally
also offer mobile or tablet apps that allow their customers to make calls on
the device (assuming it's connected to Wi-Fi at the time).
It Saves a Ton
of Money
Across the board, VoIP phone systems will save users significant
amounts of money when switching over from a more conventional phone system by
allowing much cheaper international and long distance rates as well as simply
lowering the monthly bill. Aside from the money savings itself, VoIP based
phones also give users a ton of additional features. VoIP phone services are
ideal for both businesses and residences, but also home offices as well.
Because it can be used on phones that are already owned, the setup costs are
very minimal.
What to Look
for in a VoIP Provider
The world is getting more and more interconnected with each year
as we keep marching forward into this internet age. Because of that,
international calling is going to continue becoming more important for all
sorts of businesses. Every VoIP provider is going to have varied plans based on
different needs such as countries allowed, the amount of minutes given in a
month, and whether or not the customer is willing to sign a long term contract
or not. Finding the right VoIP provider for your specific needs can be
difficult, as you'll need to look at a variety of different metrics. Let's see
specifically what to look at to determine if a VoIP provider is good for you.
Service
Packages
One of the biggest deciding factors that you're going to have
when choosing the right VoIP service provider is the different type of
packaging options they have for their product. There are many VoIP providers
who will offer very competitive rates to customers willing to sign up for a one
or two year contract plan but will charge quite a bit in the form of
cancellation fees if you decide to stop using their service before the time
fully expires. Users who get monthly plans are generally given the freedom to
opt out whenever they want but will generally pay a bit more for the service.
One of the biggest advantages that VoIP services offer is their highly competitive long distance and international rates. If that's one of your own big buying points, make sure to read the fine print closely on those particular features when comparing different providers. Some services will offer unlimited minutes for calling international locations while others will choose specific nations and have different rates for each one. Some providers offer plans that allow for very cheap domestic calls that only offer a limited amount of overall international minutes, which is a very good choice for businesses or individuals who don't make that many calls to overseas areas. Another big bonus that VoIP providers offer and that a lot of people like is the fact that you can choose just about whichever area code you prefer, even if you're away from home. Choosing an area code in a city that you have a lot of friends and family members in will actually allow their calls to you to be considered local rather than long distance.
One of the biggest advantages that VoIP services offer is their highly competitive long distance and international rates. If that's one of your own big buying points, make sure to read the fine print closely on those particular features when comparing different providers. Some services will offer unlimited minutes for calling international locations while others will choose specific nations and have different rates for each one. Some providers offer plans that allow for very cheap domestic calls that only offer a limited amount of overall international minutes, which is a very good choice for businesses or individuals who don't make that many calls to overseas areas. Another big bonus that VoIP providers offer and that a lot of people like is the fact that you can choose just about whichever area code you prefer, even if you're away from home. Choosing an area code in a city that you have a lot of friends and family members in will actually allow their calls to you to be considered local rather than long distance.
Important
Features
The major VoIP providers that offer the best service almost
always have the following basic features:
- Enhanced 911 dialing for
emergency calls.
- Call return by using *69.
- The ability to make a
block call list.
- The ability to forward
calls to other numbers.
- Call waiting.
- Detailed caller
identification.
- Free calls (which do not
use up minutes) to other users that have the same service provider.
- The ability to keep your
existing phone number.
- Long distance calling.
- Easy to use online
account management.
- Voicemail options.
VoIP companies all provide the basic VoIP phone services, so the area where they truly stand out is going to be in the extra features they offer. Three way calling is standard in today's world, but there are many providers who can offer conference calls that can handle even more people. Call transfer lets the user send a call to a different phone entirely, meaning that the different individual phones will each need extensions. Some services also offer a variety of local emergency or community lines, such as 411 for directory assistance.
There are some VoIP services that will give customers a second phone line for free for using the same service. While these do share the same phone number and will both ring when dialed, it will allow one person to dial a number and talk on the phone while another person can use the other phone to talk with somebody else entirely. There are also toll free or even virtual phone numbers that are offered by some providers that are great for home based businesses. These latter features are generally not standard and come with an additional charge.
While many of the VoIP service providers are similar at a quick glance and often offer some of the same basic features, the extra features they offer is where a savvy business can really increase the value of their investment.
Extra Features
There are a number of mobile apps that allow people to place
VoIP calls on their phone or tablet as long as they have an internet
connection. Desktop or laptop computers can even be used as phones (called
softphones) with VoIP technology as well.
For customers looking to keep using their business phone while traveling, there are services that allow customers to take the service with them by using a small sized physical adaptor that's very easy to travel with. Even if you've already invest in an adaptor from a previous service, many VoIP providers will still be able to use it.
For customers looking to keep using their business phone while traveling, there are services that allow customers to take the service with them by using a small sized physical adaptor that's very easy to travel with. Even if you've already invest in an adaptor from a previous service, many VoIP providers will still be able to use it.
Technical
Support
Another big spot to look at when searching for a good VoIP
service is technical support. Make sure to look around for reviews of the
company and ensure that the service the provider gives is fast, reliant, and
quick. Check the website to ensure that there is email, over the phone, and
live chat support and see if there is a knowledge base set up to help customers
work through issues on their own.
As we have seen, voice over IP phone systems are a great way to simultaneously reduce a business's bottom line while also providing a ton of extra features that weren't even possible with traditional phone lines. It's one of the best and easiest investments to make for an across the board increase to a business's success.
PLEASE DO NOT ADD NEW CATEGORIES HERE.
VOIP provider services, exchanges and other business deals belong under VOIP Service Providers B2B
Please keep your entry in ALPHABETICAL ORDER in relation to the other entries in your section.
If you add a new entry, including an 'added on dd/mmm/yy' would make it easier to notice.
Miscellaneous VOIP related services, including peer-to-peer services, are listed below.
As we have seen, voice over IP phone systems are a great way to simultaneously reduce a business's bottom line while also providing a ton of extra features that weren't even possible with traditional phone lines. It's one of the best and easiest investments to make for an across the board increase to a business's success.
PLEASE DO NOT ADD NEW CATEGORIES HERE.
VOIP provider services, exchanges and other business deals belong under VOIP Service Providers B2B
Please keep your entry in ALPHABETICAL ORDER in relation to the other entries in your section.
If you add a new entry, including an 'added on dd/mmm/yy' would make it easier to notice.
Miscellaneous VOIP related services, including peer-to-peer services, are listed below.
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