Unless you have been living on Mars lately, you might have known about VoIP. VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol is a revolutionary technology that transmits voice or audio files over the Internet. As it uses the means of the Internet to get connected, many people have seized this opportunity to enjoy unlimited long distance calls and also lower monthly phone bills.
To many who have heard of VoIP, they might not know how to get started and how much they can benefit from it. Well, in order to help you get started or make the switch, below is an easy step by step VoIP tutorial that will help you get started in choosing the best plan that is right for you or your business.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
First step before switching to VoIP is in making the decision as to whether you or your business really needs VoIP service. Being human, we tend to get scared of a new technology. If you think that VoIP can be really beneficial, then switching to VoIP is something that you should strongly consider. If, however, for any reason at all you think that VoIP will not benefit you, then you are missing on the greatest invention of all since sliced bread. Ask yourself this, \’Do I really want to miss out on the opportunity to enjoy unlimited long distance calls to anywhere in the world at a lower monthly rate?\’ If your answer is \’No\’, move on to the next step.
Choosing the Right Plan
The next step is to decide which plan is the best for you, your family or your business needs. Like most things new and unsure to you, it is always wise to research for the different VoIP providers on the Internet. Get active in VoIP forums and ask questions regarding anything related to VoIP.
Chances are you will get lots of different opinions as to which VoIP provider is the best. However, bear this in mind; even though different providers offer different plans, you will soon discover that it all comes down to being the same but differently packaged plan, in order to differentiate themselves from the pack. So, how does one choose?
You might want to consider your needs, wants and features by making yourself a written list for comparison. This will help you compare the different plans provided by different service providers. In a nutshell, there are a few things you might want to consider:
1. If you want to use VoIP for personal use, such as to call your family members, you might want to consider choosing a Residential Plan. It comes in two forms which are basic (a certain amount of minutes of talk time) and unlimited (for unlimited period of talk time).
2. If you own a small business, choosing a Business Plan will provide you with amenities such as fax, voicemail, multiple phones, unlimited calling plans, and so on.
With that being said, do not forget to check out with the company to find the plan that meets your requirements, as some features included in the business plans are also included in the residential plans for other providers. So, it really depends on the different service providers and how they want to package their offer. If you have questions, write them an email or call them for further information.
Setting up the System
First of all, you have to make sure that your computer system is compatible with VoIP service. If you are using broadband Internet connection you should not worry. If you are using dial-up connection you might want to switch to broadband first. Although, there are some providers that offer dial-up VoIP nowadays.
If you choose a business plan to use for your business or a call center, the best piece of advice is to leave the installation and set up to a professional who knows what he is doing. If you choose a residential plan the setting up is simple enough for most residents to do themselves. However, it is always best to leave it to a professional.
Choosing Your Own Phone Number
First, you have to decide whether you want to keep your old phone number or pick a new one. One of the best features that VoIP offers is the ability to keep your old phone number by transferring your old phone number to your new VoIP system.
Then you can select a different area code. The advantage of this is that, if you live in another state, by choosing the same area code as that of your family members and friends who do not have unlimited long distance callings, their calls will be charged as if it were a local call. This saves them money whenever they contact you.
If you are using VoIP for your business, you can benefit a lot from this too. Let\’s say that your company is in New York and you have customers all over the country, by s
