VoIP phone service is far less costly than traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) service.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is the most sought after telephone system by the business community for a variety of reasons. VoIP software is used to conduct voice conversations across internet protocol (IP) based networks.
For business enterprises VoIP channelizes both voice and data traffic through the IP network while giving the telephony user a range of advanced capabilities.
Subscribing to a VoIP service is the pre-requisite to start availing VoIP facility. In other words,
to communicate through VoIP, you need to use a service provider. For this, you will have to select a reputed and reliable VoIP service provider who understands the nature of your business and is sensitive to your communication needs and offers unfailing 24X7 back-up services.
Basically, anyone with a fast cable or DSL connection can sign up for VoIP services. There are different types of VoIP services and which type and features you choose will depend on your specific communication needs. VoIP service providers can be broadly categorized as:
Residential VoIP Providers - You can avail residential VoIP service if you want to substitute your conventional home phone system with a VoIP phone system.
Device-Based VoIP Providers - This type of service offered by the VoIP providers is also known as no-monthly-bill services. They merely sell a device to you that you can use with your phone system to make free calls within the US and drastically reduce your monthly telephone charges.
Software-Based VoIP Providers - Software-Based VoIP Services are the most rampantly used services the world over. They generally work with a software application that uses a softphone.
A softphone is a piece of software that simulates the functions of a phone on a computer. It makes phone calls to and also receives calls from other computers or phones. Softphones are client devices for making and receiving voice and video calls over the IP network.
The application is deployed on a computer to send and receive calls, using audio input/output device to speak and listen. Some software-based VoIP providers work web-based and instead of installing an application, they offer the service through their web interface.
Mobile VoIP Providers - Mobile VoIP Providers are surfacing all over ever since VoIP invaded the mobile market. This extended service allows millions of people to carry the power of VoIP into their pockets and make free and cheap calls regardless where they are.
Business VoIP Providers - Many businesses - regardless of their size - want to save operational costs on communication and yet enjoy the host of valuable features of VoIP. There are many top business VoIP solutions and you can choose the one that best meets your requirements.
Many service providers offer VoIP service through the personal computer, very often starting with computer to computer calls and extending to computer-phone calls. Some provide a softphone application to their subscribers while others offer the service through their web interface.
Skype, Gizmo, VoIPStunt, Yeigo, PeerMe, Fring, iChat, Jajah, iCall, X-Lite Softphone, Bria Multimedia Communicator, Talkety, Raketu, Nimbuzz, Jaxtr and Wengo are some of the most common VoIP softphone services and applications.
