Phone-based vs. Computer-based VoIP

When it comes to VoIP, you have 2 options: phone-based and computer-based service. With phone-based VoIP, you don’t need a computer at all, although of course you need a modem or a wireless router to connect to the Internet. With computer-based VoIP, you need a computer either to plug a device to or use a softphone (phone software) on to make and receive phone calls over the World Wide Web. VoIP providers usually provide one of these services. It says a lot of a VoIP name if they can offer you both. To pick from the VoIP providers who can only provide one of the two services, you should know which type will suit you best.Free calls are typical of most Voip providers already, especially for PC-to-PC calls (made of course with a computer-based service). If you can get free calls when you get in touch with people abroad, it would be a great plus.Call quality can differ with each type. Phone-based systems generally provide better quality because there would be no interference due to computer software issues (such as when the software or the system freezes up).Ultimately, it will depend on your lifestyle which of the two types you pick. If you’re on the computer all the time anyway, such as for a business, you can go for computer-based VoIP. The software must be compatible with both Mac and PC, however, and is easy to configure so you won’t have trouble when you transfer to a different computer. If it needs a device, it has to be plug-and-play for the same reason. It would be great if you can get a softphone for your smartphone too, and this is something you can do with VoIP providers such as Skype.