Internet phone providers

Internet phone providers are basically connection companies that offer phone service via the internet. Instead of using an analogue line, such as the one provided by your neighborhood phone company, an internet phone system uses a high speed internet connection to relay the phone call over the internet. Internet phone calling is a cheap alternative to traditional line services simply because most plans allow for unlimited local and long distance calls for one flat rate.

The difference in rates has sparked an internet phone revolution with many companies now offering these services. The largest and most successful of which is Vonage. (www.vonage.com) Vonage offers a flat rate calling plan, including long distance, for $24.99 a month. Other companies that offer phone over the internet include: SunRocket, ViaTalk, Net2Phone, Comcast, Broadvoice, Yahoo, and Skype. Skype is one of the more interesting services as most of their phone calls over the internet plans are tied to special handsets, some of which double as cellphones.

The advantage of Skype as an internet phone line over its competitors lies in the devices themselves. Working off of any WiFi connection that the phone has access to the Skype phone will make a call via the internet the same as if it was a cellphone or a cordless handset. Companies such as Sony manufacture specific Skype devices, such as the Mylo, to take advantage of the free internet phone service. Vonage has a counter product to this offer in its USB Dongle. This interesting device plugs into any USB port and acts as a Microphone. The computers speakers act as the earpiece of the phone and in this way the device allows the user to make a phone call over the internet from any computer they have access to.

Some of the disadvantages to an internet based phone have to do with the emergency dialing. Only recently was this feature enabled after a federal mandate forced it. 911 services work a bit differently over an internet phone line. Basically when you dial the service you are routed to a local municipal. You still end up at the same place as a regular analogue line but it may take a minute longer. To put the service in perspective though, some cell phone companies still lack comprehensive 911 solutions and in reality most people rarely have a reason to dial 911; still though if you want the piece of mind while still having the value you may wish to program your internet based phone with the numbers of your local police and firefighter numbers.

As for the internet phone service itself the quality is dependant upon the connection that is tied to the service. Any cable or high speed connection should do the trick but stay away from dialup, which if you were using you wouldn’t want VoIP in the first place, and you should be fine. Call quality is clear and from my own experience using my stepmother’s phone, she uses Vonage, the internet phone service is totally indistinguishable from land lines. Considering that the typical phone bill runs around the seventy five dollar mark it is easy to see why the internet phone revolution is just that, a revolution.