VoIP Services Plans and Features

VoIP Calling Plans Availability and Features

VoIP phone service providers offer different calling plans and features. But, most VoIP services providers have many similarities in their plans and offerings. Providers like Vonage offer several different types of plans. The two main types of calling plans are:

• Basic VoIP Calling Plans
• Premium VoIP Calling Plans

Basic Calling Plans

Basic calling plans can include a set number of calling minutes, or they may provide unlimited domestic calls. These plans also include a feature set with advanced voicemail, three-way calling, caller id and call waiting id. Basic plans are for those seeking low cost phone service and who don't require unlimited minutes. For example, Vonage Domestic Plan in United States offers unlimited calls to U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico. The plan is packed with calling features for the lowest price available. A second example is AT&T's Digital Phone Plan that also provides unlimited nationwide calling within the U.S. and to Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Marianas.

Premium Plans

The difference between basic and premium plans is that some basic plans may have a set number of minutes. Plus, they usually don't include long distance and international minutes, while premium plans feature unlimited calling (monitored for abnormal usage), long distance to some countries included such as the U.S. and Canada, and finally international calls. Again, we'll use the example of Vonage premium calling plan that include calling to the U.S., Canada, and many other countries worldwide. Vonage World Prime premium plan has the most value as it includes local and long distance calling, international calling to over 60 countries, and a full set of calling features. Same is with AT&T Phone International Plus II plan.

Additional VoIP Features

There are several additional calling features available from VoIP that are otherwise expensive or not offered by traditional phone service providers. The following are just some of the extra calling features you can get with VoIP service from most broadband phone service providers:

• Virtual Numbers
• Three-Way Calling
• Toll-Free 800 Service
• Dedicated Fax Line
• Adda a Line

Virtual Numbers

Virtual numbers are unique to VoIP. Virtual numbers allow you to pick and use a phone number with an area code that is different from where you geographically reside. This is possible because VoIP services and technology are not location based, so you can live in Florida and have a Colorado area code for your VoIP home phone number for example. The same works for some countries. You can get an international number, so your family and friends can call you without incurring international long distance rates.

Three-Way Calling

This feature allows you to add a third caller to your conversation. This is basically a conference call for up to three numbers. Great for making plans among three parties. This feature is available with AT&T Digital Phone, Vonage, and other VoIP providers.

Toll Free Plus®

This is a feature of Vonage Phone Service. Having a Toll Free Plus® service lets others call you without the callers incurring any long distance calling charges. Toll Free Plus is good for businesses with customers calling from all over. Vonage broadband phone service offers first 100 incoming minutes with a toll-free 800 number (888, 877, and 866 toll-free area codes) for $4.99 a month. Each additional minute is 4.9 cents.

Dedicated Fax Line

Another feature of Vonage phone service that lets you add a dedicated fax line to your account. Having a dedicated fax line is useful for businesses and home based businesses where having separate stand alone fax and telephone lines are necessary. In addition to adding a dedicated fax line you can add an additional phone line and number to an account.

Add a Line

This feature lets you have multiple phone lines to your account. This may sound as a feature for businesses, but home users can take the advantage of such as well. You may want to have two or more phone lines for different purposes. Being able to receive multiple calls at the same time is something many people need. Multi-line should not be confused with multiple phone numbers. Multi-line applies to a single phone number with a capability to receive multiple calls at the same time.

Advantages of VoIP Service Features

VoIP phone service has many enhanced features that are either offered for much less than by a traditional phone service, or are VoIP exclusive. No matter how you assess the VoIP phone service, it always comes out as cost-effective. Further, this type of phone service is mobile. Since it works over the Internet, you can "take it" with you when you travel. Plus, you can check your messages from anywhere. Next, VoIP is easy to setup. Plug it in, and use it.

Vonage broadband phone service offers discount VoIP services through low priced Vonage calling plans. In addition to discount VoIP services, Vonage offers many of the advanced features mentioned above for a low price. In addition to discount VoIP service calling plans, get low Vonage rates international for long distance calling outside the country. Vonage premium calling plans are the best value in VoIP. Try Vonage and see how much you can save every month, and experience the best in broadband phone service.

Next, we will discuss the hardware required to use VoIP service with your existing analog telephones.