How To Choose The Right VoIP Service - part 1
by Hamesh Brown
The Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service is in a state of flux, and is still a budding technology that will offer several new features as it matures. While it is true to say that there are many providers in the VoIP market with “unique” features of their own, one factor is common to all: they rely on the broadband Internet connection and do not bring the traditional telephone providers into the scheme of things. In the process, they offer price packages that are substantially lower than the traditional phone connection. So how do you evaluate one service provider vis-à-vis another, and then install the connection in your office or home? What should be your focus in selecting a specific provider?
Here are a few tips that will assist you in your choice.
Suitability to your specific requirements
For a start, you must weigh the features offered by the leading providers such as Vonage, Lingo, and Skype, and apply those features to your specific work environment and requirements. A service provider might offer the best of features, but they aren’t any good if you cannot use them. If your priority is to make a large volume of international calls, particularly to Europe and Asia, Lingo is for you. Lingo is also a good option if you travel out of the US because you can carry your US number wherever you go and call the US at local rates. Lingo also comes with the lowest price for its range of features. Skype is different from Lingo and Vonage in one important respect: it does not use a telephone as a go-between. While the Skype outgoing and incoming calls to/from a normal telephone is still to fan out in terms of dependability, Skype is the best option if you and your computer are inseparable and you have friends and family who are similarly inclined. For PC-to-PC calls, Skype is the best voice portal, and there is no price tag attached.
Voice quality and reliability
If your first priority is consistently good call quality, and you don’t mind paying a bit more, consider Vonage. Vonage comes with almost identical features as Lingo, but there is minimal in-call lag and echo experience. With Lingo, be prepared to sacrifice on the quality of calls. In the competitive marketplace, each service provider promises the best of service and voice quality, and you cannot be sure about the product. If you are investing in a monthly/quarterly/annual contract, it is best to settle for a package that has a money-back guarantee behind it. Both Vonage and Lingo offer trial periods.
Installation complicacies
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How To Choose The Right VoIP Service
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