Calling from the USA :Choosing and using a VOIP phone service

Learn how VOIP phone services are changing the way we communicate and can save you loads of money.

You are probably here because you heard that VOIP phone services are cheap and really do work. It's true. A new generation of VOIP phone services are ready to use in your home, office or business. They are easy to use and able to provide high quality connections. You also get many practical features and the cheapest phone rates in the world. In short, VOIP phone services offer a new level of freedom to pick up the phone and call anywhere.

Bring your home or business into the now

Like millions of others, I finally switched to a high speed Internet connection. First, I signed up with a DSL provider, then I switched to a VOIP phone service. Now all all my incoming and outgoing calls pass through the Internet.

I am calling family and friends at such low rates that I no longer worry about the charges. The connections are clear, and it's really wonderful. It's changed my attitude about the phone.

Having a good experience with VOIP will give the freedom to talk with people who seemed out of reach: family members, friends, and/or business clients and customers.

Home and personal phone services

VOIP services give you the freedom to call friends and family regardless of the distance and talk for as long as you want. If you have friends and family spread across the USA or wordwide, then you can stop depending on email to keep in touch and use the phone instead.

Business calling with VOIP

A growing percentage of business phone services pass through the Internet. Companies large and small are switching because they can get quality service at a much lower cost.

Imagine calling customers and clients across the USA without any concern about the cost? And business partners anywhere in the world at for pennies (for free if they sign up with the same VOIP service)?

It's more than just cheap rates. VOIP phone services include the features of an expensive office phone system as part of the basic service. For a small monthly fee, you can add a toll free number or additional local numbers in other area codes. If any of this interests you, keep reading.

The power of T1 business phone services

Does your office or business have multiple phone lines? An extremely high volume of outgoing long distance calls (thousands of minutes per month)? Muliple computers hooked up to the Internet? If so, consider getting a full or partial T-1 line. That's a high speed Internet connection that all your phones and computers can share.

T-1 services are probably the best choice if you represent a large office or company with high calling volume. Go to ShopforT1 and take advantage of their "broadband advisor" service. They will help you understand your options and find a provider.


Will a VOIP phone service work for you?

You must have a high speed Internet connection (cable, DSL, etc) to use a VOIP phone service. These services charge a flat monthly fee, so they only make sense if you are: a) a high volume caller, or b) eliminating your local phone service.
VOIP phone services comparison

Once again, if you're tired of reading and ready for the details, you may prefer to skip this article and go straight to my VOIP phone services comparison. Use that page to compare the costs and features of four top VOIP providers and make your choice.

Why are people choosing VOIP

Why are ten percent of business phone calls in the USA using Internet calling services, and why are millions and millions of business, office, and home users around the world switching? VOIP calling services work; they are simple to use; and you get extremely cheap rates. Here are some more reasons:

VOIP phone calls sound great.
When the service is working, which should be 99 percent of the time, the calls sound just as clear as connections over regular phone lines.
The services are easy to use.
You use a regular phone with an adaptor that plugs into any high speed Internet connection. Dial the usual way and answer when it rings. Most people won't notice any difference at all.
VOIP companies have proven themselves.
Choose an experienced provider. See my comparison for examples.
The rates are amazingly cheap for US and international calling.
Call and talk anytime without worrying about rates. Calls within the USA are included in the flat monthly fee. International calls are very cheap, or free if the other person/office used the same VOIP service.
Powerful features are included in the basic service.
Voicemail, 3-way conferencing, call transfer, call forwarding, and many more features are included with no extra charge. For a small monthly fee, add a toll free number or additional local numbers.
Get a local phone number and choose your area code.
You get one local phone number with the basic service, and you choose the area code it's in (or keep your existing number). Most providers let you add additional local numbers for a small fee. Some providers let you choose local numbers in other countries. Wherever your local number is located, anyone in that calling area can reach you for free.
Get a business phone system for less.
Replace an expensive business phone system for less. For many home offices, getting a VOIP phone service will be like a free upgrade.
VOIP phone services travel with you.
Use the service anywhere you can plug into a cable or DSL Internet connection. Take your VOIP phone/adaptor with you on the road and use it at a friend's house or in your hotel's business center. Most of these services also let you place calls with your laptop via wireless if needed.
The services offer "no risk" trial periods.
You don't have to cancel your current long distance provider. Sign up and try out a VOIP provider for up to 30 days with a money back guarantee. The "guarantees" vary depending on the provider you choose. See my VOIP comparison for more information.
How real people use VOIP services

Family, USA: A family in the USA signs up for a VOIP phone service. At first they just want a cheap way to call their daughter during her study abroad program in China. But after she returns, they cancel their regular phone carrier and use the VOIP phone service exclusively.
Keep reading...

Small Business, USA: A small business owner selling wireless MP3 players out of a shop in Berkely creates a website. To his surprise, people all over the USA start calling in with orders. Some even want to be distributors. He needs to keep in touch with customers, retailers and potential partners, so he signs up for a VOIP phone service. He appreciates the super cheap rates and the features that will help his business keep growing.
Keep reading...

International Organization, USA: A relief and developoment organization has its field offices and workers in the USA and around the world. They equip all the field offices in major cities with the same, US based VOIP phone service. Now all these offices can call each for free. The whole organization runs more smoothly with an immense cost savings.
Keep reading...

Relief Worker, India: A relief worker is sent from the USA to India with his family. He gets a US based VOIP phone service that gives him unlimited calls to the USA for about $20 per month, and his family in Kansas can reach him for free anytime using a local number he created. He uses the same service to call his co-workers in Europe and Asia at incredibly low rates.
Keep reading...

International Business, Thailand: A man in Thailand gets a US based VOIP phone service to keep in touch with family in the USA and U.K.. He spends many hours on the telephone with a partner in the USA, and they launch a new business importing handmade Thai crafts. The VOIP phone service keeps the partners so closely connected that it's like being across town from each other. Now he is searching for a business partner in Europe.
Keep reading...

Practical questions and answers

Do T1 and VOIP based phone services really work well?

Yes, they do. Your connections should sound as clear as calls over regular phone lines most of the time. You can give VOIP a trial run to find out for yourself. All of the services in this comparison (here) offer a trial period with a money back guarantee if you don't want to continue.

My local phone service costs over $50 a month. Can I completely drop that service and use an VOIP based phone service instead for all my calls?

Yes, you can. Many people do that, while others keep their local phone company and use the Internet phone service for long distance calls.

Consider that:

You may NOT have the same level of 911 emergency phone services if you drop your local carrier. Most of these services give you a 911 dialing option that reaches a "Public Safety Answer Point." But you MUST go online and configure the service in order for this to work though.
The quality with VOIP should be very high and the service should be working close to 100 percent of the time, but you may experience some glitches and interruptions.
How do I choose the best service for my needs?

Again, I suggest starting with my VOIP comparison. The services I most recommend are Packet8 (for overall service and cost) and iConnectHere.

What is the difference between the residential and business VOIP phone service plans?

In most cases there is no difference. You can use a regular "unlimited" service plan for your business or home office, but if your calling volume is very high you may be asked to switch to a business plan.

If you want powerful business type features to replace an office phone system, then I suggest looking at Packet8. They have business plans that are designed for this purpose.

Are these services easy to use?
They are quite easy to setup and use. I read that someone who signed up his grandmother for VOIP phone service, and she never noticed the difference. If you don't have a computer, just plug an adapter into your DSL, ADSL or cable Internet connection. Then attach a phone (regular or cordless) and dial. Or buy a special phone with the adapter built in. By the way, you can take your adapter (or phone with abuilt in adapter) with you on the road. Plug it in to a high speed Internet connection anywhere, even outside the USA, and use it to make and receive phone calls.

What is required to use a VOIP phone service?

You need a high speed Internet connection (DSL, ADSL, Cable or LAN) with a minimum of 64 Kbps download and upload speed. The connection should connect via a standard Ethernet cable. (Find a DSL provider here.)

If you need to plug a computer into the same Internet connection, then you will need a router (to share the connection). Basic routers (Netgear, Linksys, etc.) are not that expensive and can be found at computer stores.

Will these services surprise me with hidden fees?

I don't think you'll have any problems like this if you stick with a proven provider. They have to treat their customers well, or they may cease to exist. See the last section of my comparison for information about the different fees each provider may charge, and double check on the provider's website when you go to sign up.