What is VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)?

VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. It transmits your voice over a broadband internet connection. There are many VoIP software and services that are used to connect voice calls. The rates for the service is cheaper than the rates of an analog phone. VoIP converts your voice to a digital signal and sends it across the internet. There is no additional equipment needed to establish a VoIP connection.

VoIP also includes more features than traditional phone lines:

1. Adjustable bandwidth saver. You can increase and decrease the quality of your calls to save on bandwidth. This is good for the environment and it’s good for your mobile phone battery if you’re using VoIP calling when you’re on the go.

2. Auto-Attendant. If you’re going to be using your VoIP system for business calls as well as personal calls then it might be nice to have a secretary sort through incoming calls. This service isn’t quite a secretary but it acts as a virtual receptionist which can organize the calls that you’re receiving as they come in.

3. Basic calling features. Make sure that your VoIP system provides all of the basic calling features that you already use with your phone. Your VoIP system should add to your phone not detract from it.

4. Call blocking features. There are many different types of blocking that you can use and you’ll want to make sure that you choose the right one. Individual blocking by number is possible. Automatic telemarketer blocking is another option. VoIP spam (called SPIT) is on the rise so make sure that you do what you can to prevent it.

5. Call Center Features. Do you have a busy social circle? If so, you might have a lot of incoming phone calls and need a way to divert them and take them as they come in. These features can help.

6. Call log records. You can choose a VoIP system that will log your calls for you so that you can keep track of what’s been going on with your phone.

7. Call transfers. This is a feature that allows you to answer the phone wherever you are at and then transfer the call to any of your other phones at any time during the call. This makes it convenient to switch between desk phones and mobile phones.

8. Caller ID. Just like with your normal mobile phone, you want to know who it is that’s ringing you through the computer.

9. Choose your area code. There might be some reason that you want your personal or business phone to have a specific area code. For example, if all of your family is located in one place and you want them to be able to place calls to you locally then you’d want a phone number with the area code that they are in.

10. Click-to-Call Widgets. We’ve mentioned these before because they’re an important new feature of computer calling. Add them to websites and social networking profiles so that people can automatically call you without requiring access to your personal phone number. This keeps your calls coming in but your number private.

11. Conference calling. You’ll probably also want a VoIP plan that includes video conferencing although that’s going to depend whether you mostly use your VoIP on-the-go or in the office.

12. Directory services including blocking. You should be able to decide whether or not you want your VoIP number included in telephone directories. Get a plan that lets you include if you want and opt out if you desire.

13. Do Not Disturb. Tired of hearing your phone ring? Turn it off and send VoIP calls straight to voice mail for awhile.

14. Fax number. You might as well streamline everything at once and get a fax line that is associated with your VoIP phone number. Get a virtual fax so that you can fax through your computer if you want to do so.

15. Forward to mobile. You don’t want to be tied to the office just because you have a VoIP plan. Get a service that will let you seamlessly transition between your home, office and cell phone using just the one phone number. For example, Vonage has an “enhanced call forwarding” plan that allows you to forward incoming calls to up to five different phone numbers so that you’re never in the position of missing something important. Other providers call this feature “Follow Me” or “Find Me”.

16. In-Network Calling for Free. Many cell phone providers offer a plan where you can place free calls to anyone who has a phone in the same network. VoIP providers often do the same thing. This further reduces the cost of VoIP calling.

17. Integration with Outlook. One of the best features of VoIP is that it integrates data from your computer. Get a plan that lets you make calls using information stored in your Outlook address book.

18. Messaging alert features. Maybe you don’t want to have phone calls automatically forwarded to your mobile phone. However, it might be convenient to know when those calls have come in. You can get a simple alert about the call instead of receiving the call itself.

19. Network Unavailable Forwarding. One of the problems with VoIP is that it goes down if your computer goes out (such as during a power outage). With this service, you can pre-set your cell phone number into the system so that your calls will still come through to that number automatically even if the system has gone down.

20. Ringtones and individualized messages. If you’ve gotten used to the way that your mobile phone will easily let you know who is calling with a personal ringtone for each caller then you might want to get the same sort of service with your VoIP plan.

21. Tech support. You’re probably going to get a VoIP system that is hosted at the site of the phone carrier (this is known as a virtual PBX or hosted VoIP system). Make sure that it comes along with the tech support you’ll need if your VoIP system goes down.

22. Voice Mail Folders. Choose a VoIP system that forwards all of your voice mail messages to an email account and then allows you to sort it into different folders. This is a great way to keep all of your important information on hand.

23. Voice Mail Transcription. This is a service that takes your voice mail messages and turns them into text. That text can be sent as an email which you can then read from your mobile Internet. It can even be sent as an SMS message through some providers. This lets you get your messages when you’re not in a place where it is appropriate to actually be on the phone.

24. VoiceMail with Personalized Messages. You aren’t always going to want to pick up your VoIP calls so you want to make sure that people can leave you a message. Personalize the machine greeting just like you have on your cell phone.

25. Web interface. The benefit of VoIP is really that it takes calls through your computer so you can more easily organize all of the information that you receive over the phone. This is increasingly important as we start to regularly use features like online location mapping. Choose a VoIP provider that gives you an online interface that is easy to understand and organize.

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