|
by Juzaily Ramli
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 selecting your customer's
area code, you can increase your sales, as well as your productivity by having a local number for
your customers to call. Nobody wants to call New York if they live somewhere in Texas. They might
as well call a local company in Texas.
Installing the Features and Accessories
As mentioned before, different VoIP providers offer different plans. Therefore, it is important
that you always check with the service provider of your choice for a detailed listing of all the
features provided by them. For residential customers these include Call Forwarding, Caller ID, Call
Block, Do Not Disturb and Voicemail. For small businesses these include free fax lines, multiphone
users and web integration. So, choose your VoIP provider wisely by taking into consideration the
features and services that best fit your needs.
As VoIP technology advances, many other features will be introduced on the market, not to mention
accessories that you can incorporate with your VoIP service such as VoIP phones, headsets and
videophones.
Choosing the right VoIP plan is not that hard. All that is required is a little bit of research
yourself and choosing the one that fits your requirements. You can always upgrade it later once
your requirements change. One thing for sure is that VoIP technology is continuing to advance and
revolutionize the way people communicate. It is such a shame if no one is taking the advantage of
this great service. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and jump on board the VoIP
wave.
Juzaily Ramli may be contacted at http://www.voip-revolution-info-site.com Click here to view more of Juzaily Ramli's articles.
Juzaily Ramli has been writing about http://www.voip-revolution-info-site.com
upon discovering that a lot of people have no idea of where to start. His website can be found
at http://www.voip-revolution-info-site.com
|
