Got Voice-Over IP?
Do you even know what it is?
Here are the benefits, and drawbacks on cool new phones that run on Voice over IP.
You may have heard of Voice over IP, or VoIP, — phone service over the Internet. But, have you really looked at the benefits and drawbacks of signing up for the service?
“It’s a little bit cheaper and it’s a lot better,” said Brooke Shultz is spokeswoman for Vonage, one of several companies offering voice over IP service.
“$25 for unlimited calling throughout the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico,” Shultz said.
But, to use Voice over IP, you’ve got to have a special phone, like the ones Linksys makes.
“One of them is for your in-home use, it is a cordless handset that can also connect to your regular phone line,” said Eric Demming is product marketing manager at Linksys.
The other phone is a bit more like a cell phone.
“A Wi-Fi enabled phone that you can actually go mobile with, so you can walk to any hot spot,” Demming said.
Belkin makes a similar Wi-Fi phone.
But you do have to be careful when looking at Voice over IP providers. Features vary greatly and some don’t offer 911 service.