Broadband Phone Service

Many companies are now touting broadband phone service as the future for telephones. Broadband phones, or Internet phones, use the Internet rather than telephone lines to relay phone calls. VoIP (Voice over Internet protocol) converts voice to digital then back to analog between you and the receiver. Broadband telephone service sounds just like you are using a regular phone. When using VoIP you either use a special digital phone, or the company will provide you with a special adaptor to attach to your ordinary phone. As with a regular phone, you pick up the receiver when you get a call or need to call someone. In order to use a broadband phone, you have to have high speed Internet (cable, T1, DSL or better).

Service for broadband phones offers the normal perks like caller ID, voicemail, and call waiting; and most of the time these services are free. Typically broadband service comes cheaper than regular landline service because VoIP goes over the Internet, thus avoiding service charges associated with regular phone service. Regular residents are not the only ones to benefit from VoIP - businesses can also receive great benefits. Besides saving money on line fees, broadband phone calls can be directed to a phone, rather than a location. This means if you have broadband service in two locations, you can take your phone with you (just as you would your mobile phone) and calls can be directed to whatever office you are in; and internal calls using your broadband phone system would still be free!

Of course, downsides exist when using broadband phones. You have to deal with viruses and power outages and anything else that could happen with the Internet. Also, currently long distance calls are not free. Many companies which provide Internet phone service require you to use a separate phone number, complicating things a bit.

All in all, as more people turn to broadband phones the services will get better and better, making Internet phone service an ever better option.

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