VoIP has changed the way we communicate both at offices and at homes. It has become more efficient, economical and easier. Just getting and internet connection and subscribing for a VoIP service is not enough if you are using the VoIP service for the first time. There are several things that you will need to consider in order to get the best available service in the market. You need to ensure that you have the perfect infrastructure at office to deploy VoIP. Often it has been observed that the call quality in VoIP based communication system fails to match up to the landline.

This is primarily due to poor Internet connection, which implies that the speed of the Internet connection or the bandwidth is just not right for handling VoIP calls. Another major factor that might affect VoIP services is the choice of your VoIP service provider.

You need to choose the VoIP provider very carefully as a good provider will go a long way in providing you a good quality of service. You need to grill your service provider before signing up for their services. Some of the important things that you should always clarify with your VoIP phone service provider are:

Do you need to get a contract signed?

Even before you choose the VoIP provider it is imperative that you enquire about the dreaded contract. Yes, if you have to oblige to a contract then it is better you learn about all the details included in the contract. You need to know the time period of the contract and also the cancellation period. You cannot get stuck with a poor quality service provider just because of a silly contract.

Are there any upfront costs?

While signing up for a VoIP service, there are many service providers who take installation charges. So find out that besides the monthly charges, whether you need to bear other upfront costs or not.

What features are included?

Majority of the VoIP phone service providers do not include all the features at the rates they advertise. You need to find out whether the package contains both the local as well as long distance calls or not. You also need to ask if you will have to pay any additional charges for availing the advanced telephony features like call waiting, voice mail and caller ID. You do not wish to be surprised with telephone bills that were actually meant to be lower. In order to cut down such unpleasant surprises, it is better to clarify everything with the service provider.

Are there charges on the 911 number or is it included at all?

Not all VoIP service provider offers the emergency 911 calls and you need to find out whether your provider has included that in your subscription package or not. It is better to get it included and if your service provider does not have it on offer it then it is wiser to look at other providers.

Can you retain your number?

You must ensure that you are able to retain your number and at the same time ask the service provider whether they can do it for you or not. In case you are allocated a new number, you will need to ensure that it is within your local area code. Opt for the provider who can provide you a number within your local area.

There are several service providers in the market and you need to make an informed decision while choosing the one for your office or home. Just do a little research on the company and find out as much information about their services as possible. This will help you choose the right VoIP provider in your city and enjoy seamless VoIP calling.

About The Author

Michelle Patterson is excited with the new technologies that are threatening to change the way we stay in touch and communicate, particular in business. She works with companies that are introducing these technologies to make understanding them easy for regular people.