Take a Broadband Trip on Your Phone: Bon Vonage!
VOIP (or Voice over Internet Protocol) is a great way to make and receive phone calls using your broadband Internet connection instead of your standard phone line. VOIP converts your phone calls into data that zips through your high-speed wireless Internet connection just like e-mail. It comes out the other end just like a regular phone call. Your callers will never know that it’s any different since it sounds just like a regular phone call. The big advantage with VOIP is that you can call anywhere, anytime for less money. Using your Internet connection instead of your phone line is less expensive.
A handful of companies, including Vonage, AT&T and Time Warner, now offer Voice over Internet Protocol. To connect to the service, you plug your regular old phone into a telephone adapter connected to your cable or DSL modem. You make and receive calls as you would on a regular phone, the only difference is that calls travel over the Internet instead of over a phone line.
Vonage Broadband: A Leader in Their Field
Vonage broadband phone company is the largest in this niche industry with 260,000 phone lines running through its service. Currently, basic VoIP costs $29.99 for unlimited local, toll, and long distance calls on and $17.99 a month for 500 minutes. Sometimes Vonage is mistakenly referred to as Vontage.
Vonage Basic Features
Vonage Voicemail:
Play Back Messages Online & by E-mail - check your voicemail without checking your phone.
Access Voicemail From Anywhere - Check your voicemail by phone with several access numbers across the US, UK and Canada.
Customize Voicemail Controls - Turns features on or off anytime you want.
Know Who's Calling Before You Take the Call - You can tell who's calling you before you answer the phone.
Vonage Caller ID with Name - Caller's identity is displayed right in the subject line of any e-mail activated by Voicemail Notification by E-mail.
Vonage Call Waiting - Accept incoming calls while you're already on a phone call. This feature places your first call on hold while you answer the second incoming call. Unanswered calls go to your voicemail.
Vonage Call Forwarding - Rings up to six numbers.
Vonage SimulRingSM - Incoming calls can ring your Vonage number plus up to 5 other numbers.
Three-Way Calling - Connect with two other parties at the same time.
Free In-Network - Calls are always free with your monthly calling plan.
Free Phone Adapter
Vonage Broadband Offers These Additional Options for a Fee:
Virtual Phone Number - Dedicated phone numbers outside of your area code or country.
Vonage SoftPhone - Turn any PC or laptop into a fully functioning telephone.
Vonage SoftPhone - A screen-based interface that works just like a telephone keypad. Make a call, receive a call, and pick up voicemail.
While automatic 911 dialing is not possible with Vonage, there are numerous options to connect to emergency services. The differences between Vonage Emergency Services dialing and traditional 911 Dialing:
- Vonage 911 Dialing must be activated
- You must provide your current location
- Vonage 911 Dialing connects with general emergency services
