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Shopping For Internet Phone Provider

So you have made the choice to go with an internet phone service... where should you start? As with buying most staff today, shopping online is a good idea. Where to start, though? Here are some key features to look for, when deciding which VoIP service to go with.

Main VoIP Features:

First you will want to be sure that the company you go with offers the main features you know and love on your traditional telephone line. These include things like caller ID, three way calling, call blocking, etc.

Advanced VoIP Features:

Once you are sure that all the basics are covered, you'll want to look on some of the additional features that the internet phone company offers.

Additional Phone Numbers (DID) - These allow you to have more than one DID for your VoIP service. For example, you want to have an New York number and one that appears local to Arkansas as well. This feature might not be for everyone, but it's something to consider.

Keep the same number (LNP) - Another cool feature you'll want to check on is whether the internet phone provider gives you an opportunity to carry your telephone number with you if you decided to go with it.

Telemarketer Blocking - We all hate getting calls from telemarketers. Some VoIP services provide a feature that recognizes these types of calls and hangs up on them before they can bother you with their pitch.

Unlimited Calling - If you have a lot of friends and family and like to talk on the phone, you'll want to look for a plan that includes unlimited calling. You might pay a little more monthly fee for this plan, but if you talk on the phone a lot, you can save a lot of money this way.

E911 Service - Enhanced 911 service is a must if you're doing away with your landline phone. Pay attention to the details of the plan you decide to go with and make sure you can contact the authorities in the case of an emergency. An enhanced 911 service may just save somebody's life.

Advanced Call Routing - If you are losing your Internet connection for some reason, you'll want to make sure that your internet phone provider allows you to transfer incoming calls to another, back-up phone number. While the technology is advancing and there are less dropped calls, it's still good to know that you won't lose any calls if you lose your Internet service for whatever reason.

There are a lot of other features you'll want to consider when making your decision of what Internet phone provider to go with, but these should give you some ideas on what to look for when you're shopping for VoIP.