Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) telephony is becoming increasingly popular as consumers look for new and innovative ways to save money on their monthly bills. VoIP telephony works by routing calls through the Internet rather than using traditional phone lines and offers some distinct advantages over standard phone service. But as with anything else, there are some downsides as well, so be sure you understand all your options when making the switch to VoIP.

Advantages of Using VoIP Telephony

The biggest benefit of VoIP telephony lies in its cost - VoIP is CHEAP! And it's no surprise that the cost is one of the primary factors that attracts many consumers to VoIP service. On many VoIP services, you can make free calls to other users on the same network, similar to how mobile phone companies operate. This can be great not only for personal use but also for businesses with employees that are geographically separated from one another.

And even when placing calls that aren't free, calls to people not using your service for instance, most people still find that the bottom line cost of using a VoIP service is significantly less than using their regular phone service.

VoIP telephony also comes packed with features. And while the specific features will vary depending on the provider and calling plan you select, most services come with quite a few standard features that you would typically have to pay extra for when working with your local phone company. This includes features such as call waiting, caller ID, three way calling and call forwarding. In fact, taking call forwarding one step further, you can have calls forwarded to you anywhere in the world when using most VoIP services. The only thing you need on the receiving end is an Internet connection and either your computer or a VoIP-capable phone. Imagine taking calls while on a business trip or vacation but having it be a local call for the person on the other end and with sound so crystal clear sound they won't even know the difference!

Some VoIP Telephony Pitfalls

Well of course that sounds wonderful, but as with any technology and especially emerging technologies such as VoIP, there are some disadvantages that might keep you from using VoIP for your home or office phone service. First, you have the typical hiccups that almost always occur with new technology. Some of the larger companies have been around long enough to have worked the bugs out of their system and get their staff fully trained, but if you sign up with a smaller or newer VoIP provider, you may have to deal with "growing pains" as they get up and running.

Also, since VoIP works over your Internet connection, network problems also become phone problems. This includes issues that firewalls and other network devices may cause. The last thing you want to deal with when trying to make a call is having to turn into an IT person to figure out why the phone isn't working.

Some VoIP providers aren't compatible with existing 911 services. This could leave you unable to place 911 calls and is definitely an issue that needs to be cleared up by any VoIP service you're considering. Most of the better companies have solutions for this so it won't be an issue, but this is still something to be sure of before signing up since it could carry some serious consequences down the road. The same holds true for homeowners with alarm systems. Since some alarm companies require an active phone line, your VoIP service might not be an adequate substitute.

All things considered, VoIP telephone service is certainly an option for your home or business. If you're interested in saving money on your monthly phone bill, enjoy having advanced calling features and already have an internet connection, you should certainly get more info on the various VoIP services available and see if they have a calling plan that meets your needs.