VoIP is said to be the technology of the future because it allows us to do things that were impossible just five years ago. Now, instead of having a public telephone network the VoIP technology allows you to use your broadband connection to make telephone calls. What’s great about this is that you can use the phones you have always used; you just get to combine two services into one.

The VoIP technology works if you have a broadband connect and a device called a router. The router enables your phone to call just like it always has, but now it’s over the broadband digital connection instead of through a conventional phone line. In addition to a router there is a VoIP gateway that connects you to a voice over network so that your voice can be converted into a digital sound instead of through the analog technology of the past. Information is basically sent in packets across broadband lines to give a great sound and seamless connection to those who have VoIP service and even those who do not. VoIP really is a revolution in combining internet access and telephone service because it utilizes the same technology for two very different things.

The VoIP is great because now you can have just one bill that allows you to have phone access as well as broadband service. Luckily, most companies can even allow you to be online at the same time as you’re on the phone. There really aren’t any limitations to the VoIP service and in the future it will only get easier. In the coming years digital phones will be made so that each consumer won’t have to have a router, and VoIP service will probably be more common than those who have a public telephone network. If you already have a broadband connection you should definitely consider a VoIP phone connection because it’s most cost efficient, it’s practical, and it really is the way telephone and internet service is going!

Laura Rupert is a freelance writer who contributes to The Tech FAQ.

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As with all products and services, it pays to shop around for the best price on VoIP internet phone service before you buy. Many people believe that the best price is obtained by purchasing directly through the VoIP provider’s website. This seems logical, because the company providing the service should be in the best position to offer the lowest price right? Not necessarily. It has been my experience as a savvy internet shopper (about 80% of my purchases for home and business are made online) that most of the time you will get a discount code or rebate if you buy through a third party link. VoIP service is no exception. To get the best VoIP deals, purchasing through a reseller or affiliate link will usually net the biggest savings.

If you are thinking about signing up for VoIP service (or for that matter, purchasing anything on the internet), spend a few extra minutes and try my technique. You’ve got nothing to lose and could save quite a bit of money.

Here’s how to find the best VoIP deals:
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1 - Research and compare VoIP service providers. To get you started, here are some of the major players (and most reputable VoIP providers) in the small business and residential VoIP industry right now:

Vonage, Packet8, SunRocket, Voip.net, Lingo, AT&T CallVantage

Hint: A quick way to find easy to read, consolidated information is to Google for terms like “compare VoIP providers”, “VoIP comparison” or “VoIP reviews“. A quick shortcut would be to visit my website, where you can see side-by-side comparison of several major VoIP providers.

2 - Narrow down your choices from the information you gather. Try to pick 1-3 VoIP providers who offer packages that best meet your needs. If you stick to big name providers like those mentioned above, you can focus more on the features and price they offer and not have to worry too much about quality of service.

3 - Visit the vendor’s official website and note the cost details of the plan you are interested in. Things to consider are setup fee, monthly service fee, shipping charges and cost of any additional equipment you want. Most vendors will give you a basic VoIP adapter for free. You may want to upgrade however, to a multi-port adapter, an adapter/phone combination device, or even a video phone. These items cost extra, but it’s usually cheaper to buy them from the VoIP provider than anywhere else (easier to maintain too, because if the provider sells it he will provide support for it).

4 - With the vendor’s pricing information in hand, go back to Google and start searching for discounts or special offers. Some examples of terms to search for might be “Packet8 coupon”, “Vonage rebate” or “VoIP deal”. More often than not, you will find links to sites offering special discounts that will save you money. By clicking through the third party link and making a purchase, you get the exact same service with the exact same provider but you get it for less money!

This process might sound crazy to you, but I guarantee you will find a VoIP deal nearly every time! Here’s a little secret that explains how this works:

Most large companies that have an internet presence promote their products through resellers or affiliate links. Independent website owners partner with the vendor and receive permission to promote the vendors product (this is called affiliate marketing) in exchange for a commission on each sale. It is then up to the affiliate to do all the advertising and promotion. This gives vendors a much cheaper and wider scope of marketing because hundreds (or even thousands) of people are advertising and promoting their products for the price of a small commission.
Because it’s in the vendor’s best interest to help the affiliate make a sale, they offer him/her an incentive (like a discount or coupon to promote), that is not available to the general public. It’s a cheap and effective way for VoIP providers (and all merchants) to advertise, and everybody wins. The vendor makes a sale, the affiliate gets a paycheck and the consumer gets a discount!

I use this technique for nearly every purchase I make on the internet, and have saved thousands of dollars over the years. Sometimes the savings are small (like free shipping), but many times I save a lot of money through instant coupon discounts and huge rebates.

I used this method when I subscribed to Packet8 VoIP service (a provider I highly recommend) and received just under $100 in rebates by signing up through an affiliate link and purchasing a whole-house Uniden 1868P phone system (an add-on that I am really glad I bought - it’s wonderful). Buying through an affiliate link not only saves you money, it also helps support the folks who spend a lot of time and effort creating and sharing tons of great information on the internet. Before signing up for VoIP service, be sure to find a third party link to click through - you will get the best VoIP deal this way and save yourself some money!

© Copyright 2005, Debbie Jacobsen. All rights reserved.

This article may be used without special permission as long as it remains in original form, including live links.

To learn more about Packet8 VoIP service, visit http://www.savewith8.com. For more information on VoIP internet phone service, visit my blog: http://www.djvoip.blogspot.com Internet Phone Service - The Future is Here.

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Considering VoIP? Do you make plenty of long distance calls or just a few? Do you spend a fortune no matter what you do to lower your rates? Call after 9pm. Wait until the weekend to share your good news with those across the ocean? Perhaps you even have stopped using the services at all? You can stay connected with those that you love no matter where they are located. Have a look at the following ways to save money on long distance:

1. Do you VoIP? The first thing that you can do is to consider the service known as VoIP. This service uses a technology called voice over internet protocol to allow you to talk over the web instead of talking over your phone lines. The installation of equipment is fairly painless and the fee for the equipment is usually a one time thing. If you have a service provider that provides VoIP in your area, you may want to look into it. Why? No additional long distance fees!

2. Ready for some comparison shopping? You can compare the prices on those long distance companies that offer service within your area. Which have the best rates overall? Which will offer both high quality service and excellent prices? Narrow down your list to a few. Do some more research - check out consumerguides.com or some other online reviews.

3. Do you really need long distance? Next on your list of ways to lower your rates is to consider getting rid of any and all of your long distance all together. Many people have found that cell phones are an excellent way to make all the calls that you need to. You’ll need to compare how much you use your service and how much it will cost you to use the correct, no roaming cell service. Only keep a land line for emergency reasons.

4. Keep an eye out for deals! Some will use programs such as late night and weekend calling to get the best rates available. Many long distance companies are out there that offer excellent programs. Some allow for you to purchase long distance for only a limited area. Watch for packages and deals that are always coming out.

5. Some offer a flat rate service - Look into the unlimited long distance programs that are available in your area. Many companies are offering a flat rate service. If you make enough calls this is a great way to save money

Mike Singh is a webmaster and successful publisher of why-switch-to-voip.com. He provides more articles dealing with VoIP such as disadvantages of VoIP.

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