Before signing up to a VoIP provider you need to do your homework. Sure you learn what VoIP is about and you research which provider will be the best for you, but dont make the vital error of not considering your current fixed line circumstance. First and foremost is the matter of whether the fixed line is going to be retained. In most cases it probably will be as either an backup in for emergency circumstances or where the fixed line may be cheaper for certain calls, especially if utilizing either VoipStunt or Skype which clearly point out they do not nor intend to provide emergency calling access. In certain countries you need to retain the fixed line for your broadband service so this must be factored into the overall cost comparison of a fixed line service versus a VoIP service or combination there of. A further complication occurs where bundling occurs. That is discounts if local calls, national or long distance calls and broadband service are all combined with the one provider. In the case of one provider you will pay $29.95 line rental, $49 which allows a cap of $120 of local, long distance and mobile phone calls, and $39 for broadband internet access totaling about $118 a month. For someone on this providers bundle wishing to take up VoIP, you would remove the $49 for calls, retain the line rental to provide broadband access and because the bundle is removed (no local or long distance calls retained) the cost of the broadband service increases by $20 to $59. It is clear from the above example that you would need to be making significant calls at very low VoIP rates to make the change or VoIP addition worthwhile as there would only be $29 to absorb monthly VoIP provider costs. The other alternative however in this case is to get a cheaper broadband internet service which then provides more scope to cash in on accessing telephone calls over the internet and over all reducing communications costs. Summary It is crucial to examine current telecommunication costs prior to signing up with a paid VoIP provider service. This does not however impact upon accessing free VoIP providers as a second telephone service. |
