What Broadband Phone Service is?

By far the biggest reason people use broadband telephone service is to save money on phone calls. Mainly long distance or international. If you're looking into the possibilities of broadband phone service, but are still unsure of exactly what it is, how to use it, or what you'll need to use it, this article will explain step by step what you need to know about using broadband phone service, how to use it, its benefits, and its limitations.
What Broadband Phone Service is
Broadband telephone uses VoIP (Voice over IP) technology to convert voice signals to a digital format that can be transferred over the Internet. You make phone calls the same way you would make a phone call from a traditional landline phone, and you answer phone calls the same way as well. You just pick up the phone and dial to place a call, or pick it up when it is ringing to answer a call.
How Broadband Phone is Different from Skype, Yahoo, or MSN Messenger
While services like Skype, or other instant messengers use the same VoIP technology, you need a computer, and you need to download software to use them. You cannot call or receive calls from a telephone or cell phone for free with those, and you need speakers, and microphone, or a headset. For all intents and purposes, broadband phone service is different because it works like a normal telephone.
What You'll Need for Broadband Phone
You must have broadband Internet service like cable, or DSL. You'll need either a regular touch tone telephone (most likely the one you already have), and a VOIP router. You plug your phone into the router instead of the normal wall jack. Another option is to get a special VoIP phone with the router built in. If you get an expandable base VoIP phone, you can have multiple wireless handsets throughout your house.
What You Don't Need for Broadband Phone
You do not need permission from your Internet provider to use broadband phone service. You also don't need permission from your cable or phone company, but you might want to make sure your phone company offers naked DSL (Internet without landline phone), before switching. How you use your Internet service, and who you use for phone service is your business. Your computer does not need to be on, and technically you don't even need a computer for it to work.
Limitations of Broadband Phone
If your power goes out, or you lose your Internet connection, you'll lose your phone service until your power, or Internet service are restored. Most broadband phone companies offer enhanced 911, but you need to make sure to always have your 911 address on file and updated with the broadband phone provider so emergency services don't go to the wrong address. Also, if you've moved your phone to another location, emergency services will still go to the address you have on file.
Benefits of Broadband Phone Service
Cheap phone service is the number one benefit. Unlimited local and long distance plans rage from eighteen to twenty five dollars per month, or around two hundred dollars for the whole year. Most times you'll get all your extra calling features like call waiting, forwarding, caller ID etc. for free. Landline companies charge or only give you a few of these. Virtual phone numbers are another feature of broadband phone. This allows you to have more than one phone number that dial to you phone, even a number in a different area code so those people call you for free. You can take your router or phone with you and connect it anywhere there is a broadband Internet connection.
Ordering Service
Unlike with traditional landline phone, broadband phone is available anywhere you have cable or DSL Internet. If you check availability for a provider, and your town or area code are not listed (such as rural towns) you can still get a phone number from a surrounding town that would normally be a local call. If you do this, make sure your town, and the other town use the same emergency services. You could aslo just try another provider all together. There may be start up costs associated, so look for providers who offer free activation, and equipment. Also look for providers that allow you to keep your existing phone number.

VoIP Clients and Broadband Phone Service

I do a lot of snooping around on question and answer sites like Yahoo Answers to find out what kind of questions people are asking about broadband phone service. Even with all of the advertising, and TV commercials, people seem to have heard of VoIP, but are still unsure of what exactly it is, and how or if it can benefit them. Most people understand VoIP's potential for saving money on phone calls, but are unaware of the many different ways to use it.
What is VoIP?
The term VoIP is an acronym for Voice over Internet Protocol. Some pronounce it like a word, voyp, while others, including myself, pronounce it just like it's spelled, Vee-oh-I-pee. VoIP is a protocol that converts voice signals into a digital format that can be transferred over the Internet. Keep in mind that VoIP is not a service. It is a means of converting voice signals to a usable format for relaying voice messages over the Internet. For all intents and purposes it is a technical term. I felt a need to clarify that since most people do believe it is a service. For any form of VoIP to work you need a broadband Internet connection like DSL or cable.
Using VoIP with a Client
To use VoIP with a computer you can use a free downloadable client, and either a headset with built in microphone, or computer speakers and microphone. Most people have heard of Skype, a very popular VoIP client that makes it possible to make free calls from your computer to other computers or Skype users. MSN or Windows Live Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger do the same thing! When you're using Yahoo and MSN to voice chat you are using VoIP. You can also use these services to make calls to cell phones, or landline phones, but normally for a fee. In general only computer calls are free.
While making calls using a VoIP client is either cheap or free, it does have its limitations, with the biggest one being not everyone has Skype, MSN, or Yahoo messenger. Your contacts have to be online for you to call them, or for them to call you. It is possible to get a phone number for your client so people can call you from their home telephone, or cell phone, but it is not free, and you will need to be at your computer to accept the call. Even if you have voicemail, or offline messages it is still going to cost something.
Using VoIP with Broadband Phone Service
You can use VoIP to make and receive phone calls all over the world the same way you would with a landline telephone. To do this you'll need a broadband Internet connection like cable or DSL, a broadband phone service provider like Vonage or Packet8, and a broadband phone router that you can plug a normal telephone into, or a special broadband telephone.
When you use a router you can only plug one telephone into it. This creates a problem for people who need other phones connected to the line throughout the house. The solution to this is an expandable base broadband telephone. Expandable base broadband phones have the VoIP router built into the main phone, or base, and can connect to multiple wireless handsets throughout the home, eliminating the need for multiple outlets.
Replacing Your Landline with Broadband Phone
Often times you can keep your existing phone number when you switch to broadband phone. Many people use broadband telephone to replace their landline, but there are limitations here as well. If you lose power, or your Internet connection, you lose your phone service. 911 is also different from landline phone service since 911 over most broadband phone services call to the nearest emergency center, which may not even be in your area code. You also need to provide the information for your location via software or online account settings from your provider for 911 service to work. If you take your phone to another location, or move and forget to update your address, emergency services could possibly go to the wrong place when you call 911.
Benefits of Broadband Phone Service
Broadband phone service is much cheaper than traditional landline especially with unlimited calling plans. Unlike using a VoIP client, you get a real phone number, and use a real telephone for making and receiving your calls. Most broadband phone providers offer all of the calling features like call waiting, voicemail, or caller ID for free. Most landline companies charge a fee for these extra features, or you only get a few as part of your plan. Your phone can work from anywhere you have a broadband Internet connection. Yes, if you wanted to, you could take it with you.
There are a few enhanced features that are not available with other types of phone service, like virtual phone numbers. With virtual phone numbers you can get a phone number outside of your area code. One of the most common uses for this is getting a virtual number in an area code where a friend or family member lives. This way if they call you it is like a local phone call to them, and you're not charged anything over your monthly fee for the virtual number, or your normal calling plan fees. I.e. If you have an unlimited calling plan you don't get charged for the call if it's within your calling region.
Call Quality
You can be online, and make a call at the same time; However, the quality of your phone calls over VoIP whether using a client, or broadband telephone can depend on a number of factors. Since you're using your Internet connection for your calls, the speed of that connection can effect your call quality. Generally the higher your speed, the better call quality you'll experience. If you're using your Internet connection for other things while your on your call like uploads, or downloads, this can decrease your call quality. If you're using a VoIP client, applications that take up a lot of system resources such as online games, or other media can also decrease your call quality. Factors such as wireless connections, or other people using the same Internet connection can also play a role.
Quality is more often effected when using a client vs a phone since with a client you're actually using your computer and its resources. Generally broadband phone service phone calls are just as good if not better than traditional landline calls, but if you do experience an issue with quality, it may be one of the aforementioned scenarios, and is often easily corrected.
Availability
VoIP clients are available anywhere you have a computer, and broadband Internet connection. Broadband telephone service is available anywhere you have a broadband connection, but that doesn't mean a phone number for your area is available from all providers. You can get a phone number for any area code covered by your provider regardless of where you live, so if you ever check availability, and your area code or town is not listed, try a surrounding local town that would normally be a local call, or just try a different provider to see if they have your area code.

A Dummies Guide To Broadband Phone Service

Did you know that the Internet is able to completely replace your existing phone line? Telephone service to broadband, you can receive calls with a regular phone without using your local phone company. Instead, the telephone into a broadband Internet connection, either cable or DSL. You must create two things for the Internet connection into a phone: a subscription to broadband phone and all the traditional phone (analog or digital). Most service providers charge between $ 20 and $ 30 per month. Once installed and connected, broadband phone works like a normal phone: Select your phone and you hear a tone - a phone number - wait for the person to respond - and talk. In most cases, the person on the other line does not even know of broadband telephony, the quality of the service is good. Some of the benefits of using broadband telephony services: Unlimited calling to U.S. and Canada, free features like call, caller ID, call forwarding, voice mail and the ability to choose the area code. This means that you live in New York and California have a phone number. Most telephone service providers to offer broadband access also a stage or a period of 30 days money-back guarantee. Some additional features broadband virtual phone numbers (a number in another region that rings directly to your chosen home number). Virtual figures for all long distance calls that require the removal of digits in a code. Most telephone service providers to offer broadband service a free call and 411 Directory Assistance for a low monthly fee. Thanks to the recent FCC and all the phone numbers for providers of broadband services have E911. What does this mean for you is that when you connect to the telephone service to broadband, and select 911, the call is then sent to public safety with your local address of the sender first that populate information on their screen. When searching for a phone to a provider of broadband services to ensure that they offer E911.

What is Vonage?

Vonage is an all-inclusive phone service. Vonage gives you local and long distance calling anywhere in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico for one low price. Now calls to select European countries are FREE with Vonage's Unlimited plans.

Vonage is able to provide all of these great services because they use your existing high-speed Internet connection (also known as broadband) instead of standard phone lines. You'll save money and get great features like Caller ID with Name, Call Waiting and Voicemail Plus included at no additional cost

Vonage Broadband Phone Service

Vonage is the leading service provider of broadband telephone or voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services.

Vonage has over 2 million subscriber lines as of September 30, 2006. Vonage's award-winning technology enables anyone to make and receive phone calls with a touch tone telephone almost anywhere a broadband Internet connection is available. They offer feature-rich and cost effective communication services that offer users an experience similar to traditional telephone services.

Vonage's Residential Premium Unlimited and Small Business Unlimited calling plans offer consumers unlimited local and long distance calling, and popular features like call waiting, call forwarding and voicemail - for one low, flat monthly rate.

Broadband Phone Voice Quality.

In the past year and supported by sound quality broadband phone service is significantly less than with traditional phone service. Although it can vary by provider and location in the general quality of broadband phone voice is very good. You may notice a small delay ( "lag") between when you speak and you hear the other party's voice.

Broadband Phone Service in the lock.

You signed a contract with broadband phone service may limit the ability to change service providers later. High fees may be charged to change your phone number or change the service plan to another broadband phone company. Similarly, local telephone, high compoany may charge to restore service should you change your mind later.

Broadband Phone Numbers Carry

Popular broadband features associated with the hand phone number. This feature allows you to keep the same phone number that you have subscribed to the Internet prior to the plan. However, this feature may not be available depending on the number of broadband and local phone companies. You are usually responsible for payment and requests for phone numbers carry broadband services.

Broadband Phone Trustiness

Compared with the Internet standard home broadband telephone network voice telephone network is very reliable. Calls can not do with your broadband phone home whenever Internet services. More liquid within any own Broadband Phone Service will add to the downtime caused by Internet connectivity.

Broadband Phone Service Plans

Many service providers offer broadband telephone subscription plans. As some mobile phone service plans for these features local phone call or an unlimited number of free minutes. But the cost of broadband phone service, high variable; International, long distance calls and other expenses are still used.

Before You Choose A Broadband Phone Service.

Broadband phone service enables voice telephone calls to your high-speed Internet connection. A broadband phone. (Also known as Internet telephony or VoIP) using the same IP network as your Internet Service Adapter to connect a standard phone hardware to create a high-speed broadband connection to telephone Broadband internet phone service to work. Most broadband phone service works only with DSL or cable modem Internet If you subscribe to a dial-up, satellite or wireless broadband, phone service will not work in these households.

Internet Phone Service

Internet phone service and free unlimited long distance calling drew consumers even back when call quality may be uneven. We have consistent quality, wide variety of calling features, and notably, calls still relatively cheap. This sample chapter from Internet Phone Services Simplified weight advantage of broadband phone service over the PSTN telephone service from the consumer perspective, the broad industry overview of the factors that make broadband phone service so cheap when compared with public telephone services: the cost structure. transportation expenses the cost of compliance regulations and taxes and fees.

Lingo Broadband Phone Service Slashes India Calling Rate to 7.7 Cents Per Minute.

MCLEAN, Va. -- Lingo ,a leading U.S. broadband phone service See VoIP. ..... Click the link for more information. provider, today announced that it has set a new industry low calling rate by slashingslash·ing adj.1. Bitingly critical or satiric: slashing wit.2. Dashing; pelting: a slashing hailstorm.3. ..... Click the link for more information. the costs to call India to a mere 7.7 cents a minute, including calls placed to mobile phones. Potential Lingo customers can take advantage of the new low rate of 7.7 cents per minute to India, no matter which calling plan they purchase. Unlike competitors' offerings, Lingo customers don't have to wait a full year or apply for service credits to enjoy the reduced calling rate of 7.7 cents per minute to India. Existing Lingo customers have already had their India calling rates reduced to 7.7 cents per minute. "We are delighted to provide Lingo customers with a lower rate of 7.7 cents per minute to India, which represents a savings of over 50% compared to some of our competition," said Srinath Narayan, Vice President of Lingo, Inc.
India represents a popular calling destination for Lingo's broadband phone See IP phone, softphone and VoIP. ..... Click the link for more information. customers. By reducing the India rate to 7.7 cents per minute, Lingo provides U.S. residents the ability to connect conveniently and inexpensively with their families, friends and colleagues in India. Lingo broadband phone service is offered by Primus Telecommunications, Inc., which has served the Indian and South Asian community in the U.S. for more than a decade by offering value-priced, high-quality long distance services. Customers can learn more about the service and sign up online at www.lingo.com, or by calling 1-866-546-4603.

Making the case for broadband phone services

Overview: This sample chapter, taken from Internet Phone Services Simplified, discusses the advantages of broadband phone services as either an additional phone line or a complete replacement to traditional phone service.
Internet phone services offering free and unlimited long-distance calling drew consumers even back when call quality could be uneven. Now, quality is more consistent, a wide range of calling features are available, and remarkably, calls remain relatively inexpensive. This sample chapter from Internet Phone Services Simplified weighs the advantages of broadband phone services over PSTN phone services from a consumer perspective, then offers a broad industry overview of the factors that make broadband phone services so affordable relative to public phone services: infrastructure costs, transport costs, regulatory compliance costs, and taxes and fees.