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Types of VoIP
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How you decide to implement VoIP depends on your
specific needs and your telephony calling profile.
Here are some questions to ask yourself in
considering which solution is best for you:
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Are cost savings what mostly attract
you, or are features also important to you? |
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Do you make your calls mostly within
North America (includes Canada) or do you
make a lot of international calls as well? |
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If you call international, is it only to
one or 2 people? |
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Is an unlimited Calling Plan (domestic
or international) better for your needs or
are you better off choosing a lower cost
Fixed Minute Plan with per-minute overage
charges?
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If you want to move beyond a software-only PC-based
solution using a headset and microphone then
basically you have three choices. Either get a VoIP
Adapter free from whomever you sign up with for a
Calling Plan, or purchase a VoIP Telephone Adapter
(or a VoIP phone) directly from an equipment
supplier and have no Calling Plan, or purchase your
preferred Adapter/VoIP phone and also sign up for a
Calling Plan.
There are a number of advantages in choosing a
monthly Calling Plan from a Service Provider:
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You will get a VoIP Telephone Adapter
sent to you free as part of the sign-up
package |
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All calls between you and other people
that use the same Service Provider are free
regardless of location |
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You will get many
Advanced Features that will not be
available if you just buy Adapters direct
from a manufacturer |
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You can choose from a range of Unlimited
or Fixed Minute Calling Plans, both
domestically or internationally |
The only disadvantage of a Calling Plan is that you
commit to a monthly fee for the service, so you need
to compare plan prices and figure out if they
represent a cost-saving to you.
If you only make calls to one or 2 people long
distance (or don't make that many long distance
calls) then it may be cheaper for you in the long
run to purchase Telephone Adapters that connect your
phone to your Internet connection.
In this situation, all calls between you and another
person are free forever (if you have both bought the
same Adapter), and you then pay a lower per-minute
rate (typically 2 cents) for calls to any other
telephone within North America plus get reduced rate
International calling (if the supplier offers these
reduced rates). |
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