How Do I Get An Internet Phone Line?
An internet phone line, essentially, aids you communicate via the internet with the aid of voice over internet protocol thus making possible the use of internet conferencing. As such kind of communication takes place over the internet, it turns out to be cost-effective in terms of access and maintenance and comes fitted with a host of advanced business-oriented services that make it all the more easy for businesses to function smoothly. But just because this facility is easily available doesn’t mean you should take it for granted. Rather, you must utilize it judiciously to make sure you make the most of it and get the maximum out of it.
One of the basic requirements for an internet phone line is the presence of a high-speed Internet connection. Without this, the calls will be very slow. There are different types of VoIP service providers who offer high-speed Internet in different areas. If your Internet connection is not of a satisfactory quality, you can opt for an alternate VoIP provider instead.
VoIP also requires a high-speed port to take part in the process. Therefore, even if you have a dial up modem, you cannot make use of the facility. Many people wonder whether they need to worry about these issues if they have a fixed VoIP number. The answer is a big no. Fixed VoIP numbers cannot be changed at any point in time and are set permanently.
There might have been times when you had to change your fixed VoIP number to an alternate one due to a changing of the broadband company or network. However, that scenario is practically impossible now. All phones sold today come with a certain amount of data plan as well. So even if you were to transfer your internet connection to a new provider, your existing phone number will still be valid. This is a great advantage for people who want to stay with their existing service provider, but who would like to use a new phone number.
The only scenario where changing a fixed top number to a different one becomes possible is when your internet phone systems have call forwarding features. These features allow you to place the same phone number on more than one location. If you are living in New York and would want to place calls to Florida, then you can do so. If you are out of the state but are still making calls to New York, you can also do so.
Internet phone lines do not usually have caller id features. This means that all calls made to this number will go to your voice mail box. But you can change this setting to allow calls to go to your email address or your mobile phone. However, Internet lines are not usually tied to a specific residential or business phone service. Thus, while your regular phone service provider can provide you with caller id, it will not be possible for Internet lines to do so.
Your regular phone company may offer Internet calling at no extra cost. If you subscribe to their service, you will be provided with an IP telephone number through which you can make calls to the Internet. This is usually done by entering the IP (internet protocol) number you wish to place on the web page into the service’s ‘call’ box. The rate center will then redirect your call to the nearest broadband Internet provider. You will then be charged the regular rate per minute, irrespective of how many minutes you request to call.
If you have a Cable Company, then it is possible for you to get VoIP service for free. In fact, many cable companies will offer you discounted plans for signing up for long-term agreements. Cable companies that provide VoIP calling also have toll-free numbers where you can call to make Internet calls. In most cases, you can also purchase a second phone number from your cable company and simply use this as an additional toll free number. This can be very useful when you have several children in your household and need to make calls all the time to keep in touch.