Web Based Video Conferencing

Widely used across the world  web based video conferencing represents a convenient alternative to face-to-face meetings. Whether you’re at home or in your business office, you can greatly benefit from online web based video conferencing by saving the time and the money involved in setting and carrying a live, flesh and bones conference.

Technical requirements

Thanks to the fast paced evolution of technology nowadays, both equipment and software requirements for hosting an online video conference are easily affordable. First of all, you’re going to need a computer equipped with a microphone and a webcam (doesn’t matter if it’s a desktop or a laptop model), a decent Internet connection and last but not least, a web based video conferencing software application. You can find all of these in several  e-shops, so it shouldn’t be an inconvenience.

Web Based Video Conferencing – How does it work?

In order to host web based video conferencing, all participants must be connected to the Internet and use the same video conferencing application. One user will host the conference and invite the others to participate.

All that’s left to do is to wait for the invited users to join the online video conference room and begin the discussion.

Pros and cons of web based video conferencing

While we can’t deny the fact that hosting online conferences has its disadvantages, the list of advantages surely shifts the scales in favor for such events.

The good ones:

• Participants interact. Unlike older applications, nowadays software allows users to communicate at the same time, visually and also spoken, without the frustration of having to wait for the speaking user to get off the voice channel in order to allow another user the right to speak. It represents a great advantage compared to older software, but it doesn’t mean it’s not considered impolite for all the users to talk at the same time.
• Slide show presentations. Applications such as PowerPoint and Keynote can greatly increase the quality and quantity of information transmitted and received through  web based video conferencing! Users can present charts and images, they can use markup tools to discuss the content of the presented images and they can use remote mouse pointers to engage the audience while the presenter outlines his or her material.
• Multimedia files presentations. Users can present video/audio files during a video conference.

• Text chat feature. Users can contact each other through private text messages during a conference, but they also have the possibility to send text messages to all participants.

• Screen sharing. While some may find this feature less useful, many people involved in the IT industry will greatly benefit from this option. Screen sharing can be used when presenting a tutorial or when there’s no other way the audience can understand better what the presenter is trying to share.

And the downsides…

To some an advantage, to some a disadvantage, the fact that web based video conferencing can take place in  cyber space will never be the same as a live, face-to-face conference. Although technology can be massively used in a live presentation as well, online video conferencing applications come with something a face-to-face meeting cannot, up to date, real time money saving features.

However, an offline conference will always provide participants with more information, for the simple fact that it’s easier to raise a question when confused, rather than private message the presenter. And hey, passing notes is not such an ancient practice!

It can end abruptly. While an offline conferences can go on and on even if some sort of technological problem arises, an online conference can’t. But software companies are working to deal  with such inconveniences, with the result being that nowadays if one or more users disconnect from the online conference room, the conference can still continue. Moreover, some applications even allow the first invited participant to become the host of the conference if the presenter fails to remain online during the presentation.

In the end, whether you’re not very technologically inclined, you should still give web based video conferencing a try. Who knows, you may actually like it and decide to settle for it instead of carrying on with expensive, dreadfully organized face-to-face meetings.

What is Hosted VOIP for Business?

A hosted VoIP for business is usually one of the more advanced features of a VoIP service where providers host a virtual PBX or telephone system for your business.  When you decide to use a hosted VoIP for your business it means you want your business to simulate important features that fortune 500 companies use in the ordinary telephone system. What this means is that you will enjoy features like having an automatic attendant and calls to your business’ toll free number will be routed to the right employee no matter where the person is or what he or she is doing. Apart from that you can set up conference calls where people from different geographical locations participate and share inputs.

This hosted VoIP technology allows small and medium sized businesses have a sophisticated telephone system without investing in telephone equipment. You can use your hosted VoIP with your existing phones no matter how many they are, with your mobile phones and all other VoIP features. These features collectively work out to help your business appear being up to date with the latest communication systems. The best way to illustrate hosted VoIP is with an example.  Let’s say you are running a carpet cleaning business.

You can set up your business communication system in such a way that your callers can get you during working hours and get answered by an auto attendant during none working hours. When an auto attendant receives calls when it is not office hours and it can ask your callers to leave a voice message etc. Calls can be routed to different sections of your business and to the appropriate qualified employee in each section. Once your callers dial your business phone number a professional auto attendant will tell your callers that you have dialed the right company. Calls can be routed to different sections by having an automated message that goes like this: To place order dial 1, enquiry dial 2, promos dial 3, discounts dial 4 etc.

What is Unified Communications?

Here’s exactly what unified communication means. It is an industry term that describes an integration of real-time communication between two or more people with non real-time communication services across multiple devices and types of media. Real-time communication means chatting, two-way voice calls, video conferencing and data sharing like whiteboards. Non real time communication on the other hand includes voicemail, email, fax and SMS.

An individual can use these forms of communication for both business and social purposes. Unified communications can also be compared to your email inbox which you use to communicate in real-time and non real-time respectively. All other forms of interaction where users communicate for transactional purposes and integrated voice responses can also be referred to as unified communication. This form of communication makes up most standard features of business VoIP. Let’s find out what these standard features are.

What are the Standard Features for Business VOIP?

Almost all business VoIP plans from various VoIP providers come with features that set them apart from ordinary home or residential plans. As a result of this business VoIP services cost higher than ordinary residential plans. Some of the standard features that set them apart are unlimited incoming calls, low international calling rates, online control panel where calls and features are easily managed, business number and the ability to add personal phone lines and mobile numbers which can be routed accordingly. Apart from the aforementioned features, other standard features include call management, voicemail management and hosted PBX features. All these features help businesses appear as professional as possible.

VoIP business phone systems have helped many businesses save money on their communication needs. This is why businesses that have not yet taken advantage of VoIP technology are considering it in droves. You have been able to know what hosted VoIP is, unified system of communication and the standard features of business VoIP system. This knowledge will make you know exactly what to expect when using VoIP system for your business.

The Best small business VOIP providers

There are many VoIP providers that have specific plans for small businesses. The best small business VoIP providers have a good history of sound business practices and reputation, quality support, quality of voice service and excellent features. When you evaluate VoIP small business providers on these characteristics you will be sure of getting the best value for your money. Based on these some of the best providers are RingCentral, Nextiva, Viatalk, Vonage, Lingo, Voip.com, Speak easy, Jive Aptela and Packet8.

For the above listed VoIP providers the overall quality of service is excellent compared to the monthly pay. You can also make international calls at cheaper rate and carry your calls with you wherever you go with mobile phone features. Most of them have 911 and 3 way calling features which are among the in demand services for small businesses. You will find more details about each of these small business VoIP services on their individual websites.

Will a VOIP Service Save You Money?

Will a VoIP service actually save you money? Keep reading to find out exactly how. There are basically four obvious ways VoIP services can save money for your business. They include saving money by making cheaper calls, reduction of travel expenses, use of extra phone lines and use of features that would have otherwise been paid for as standalone products or services. VoIP providers normally route your calls through the internet. By routing your voice, video and data communication through the internet they are converted into data packets. The technology responsible for this conversion makes the VoIP providers save money. This extra saving is passed onto subscribers in return so that they end up paying less than what normal phone companies charge.

Another way you save money is my reducing travel expenses. It used to be that when two or more people want to brainstorm important issues they have to travel to a particular location, in most cases they must end up paying hotel bills. With VoIP these expenses can be completely avoided. Most VoIP providers allow more than one phone line for a single subscription which helps you to save money. This is not the case with normal phone lines where you have to pay for each phone you connect.  There are other creative ways you save money when you use VoIP services which only you can tell better.

VoIP have been used to save a lot of money for small businesses especially those that heavily depend on different forms of business communication to keep going. You have been able to know about some of the best VoIP providers and the qualities that make them stand out. You have also seen some of the ways VoIP services can save you money. Now you can make use of what you’ve read to make the best choice of VoIP provider when it comes to selecting one that is right for you.

Examples include android driven mobile phones, blackberry or any other smart phone that works with VoIP apps. In this article you will know about the 3 best VoIP phones for homes, the 3 best VoIP phones for business and where to get the best prices on VoIP phones. This information will assist you in getting the best VoIP phone that will suite your need from the most appropriate source.

The 3 Best VoIP Phones for Homes

There are many VoIP phones for the home. People who use this kind of phone want convenience, ease of set up and use, features and clear quality calls. Apart from those they also look out for price, appearance and portability. We have searched online and found that the three best VoIP phones for the home are USB VoIP Skype phone, Cisco-Linksys SPA922 1-line IP Phone with 2-port Switch and Linksys CIT200.

USB VOIP Skype Phone

This phone is one of the best for Mac users who use Skype to make calls. You can use it to make cheaper local and international calls easily. Apart from that you can also use it to install as a second line in your home without installing an actual land line. It comes with a driver that you can install easily. Its portable nature, small design and cheap price is a no brainer for anyone who wants the best USB VoIP phone that works seamlessly with their computer and Internet connection.

Cisco-Linksys SPA922 1-line IP Phone with 2-port Switch

This phone is one of the best VoIP phones for the home that many people are happy with. It comes with dual-switched Ethernet ports, speakerphone, caller ID, call hold, and conferencing features. These features completely blend with most VoIP standard features to help you enjoy the best value for money.  For example the dual switched Ethernet ports allows you to browse the web when you plug in one port to your PC and the other port can be plugged to the phone which you can use to make and receive phone calls.  The phone also comes with its own IP which is an added value to the already existing range of features.

Linksys CIT200

This VoIP phone is another one of the best VoIP phones because of the following reasons. It comes with a fully charged handset which is cordless. Apart from that the screen is colourful and you can connect it to your PC through USB. This phone comes with many features that are collectively called Linksys CIT200 Cordless Internet Telephony Kit. It is fully integrated with Skype by using their Skype API to allow users to access their Skype profiles, features and contacts. Now that you know what the three best VoIP phones for home are, let’s dig into the 3 best VoIP phones for business.

The 3 Best VoIP Phones for Business

Businesses want VoIP phones that will enable them make clear calls and enjoy all the features that come with VoIP telephony. There are many kinds of VoIP phones for business and trying to go through them all before deciding which one is best for your business can be brain damage. We have simplified the work for you by doing the research on your behalf. The best three VoIP phones for business are Netgear SPH200D dual-mode cordless Skype IP wireless phone, polycom soundpoint IP 550 IP phone, and linksys SPA962 IP phone. Keep reading for brief descriptions about each of them.

Netgear SPH200D Dual-Mode Cordless Skype IP Wireless Phone

One of the best feature of this phone is the ability to make clear quality calls anywhere in the world through the Internet. The dual mode allows you to plug in the base station to your current land line and use the phone as a landline. It is wireless and this enables you to carry it about so that you can always communicate while on the move. It can store about 500 Skype contacts and calling one of those contacts is as easy as heaven. All you have to do is select the contact and dial. The Netgear Cordless phone is really great for your business’ needs.

Polycom SoundPoint IP 550 IP Phone

This VoIP phone allows you to access call waiting, caller id and all other main features of making a normal VoIP call. It is very easy to operate and the call quality and general make of the phone is intuitive and excellent. This VoIP phone is very good for your business since it allows you enjoy all the features your business needs.

Linksys SPA962 IP Phone

The Linksys SPA962 navigation system is very sleek and easy to use. Call quality is clear and you can use it to make cheap calls with your VoIP subscription both locally and worldwide. It also comes with dual switched Ethernet ports, speakerphone, conferencing and over forty other features. Businesses will never go wrong with this VoIP phone because it will meet all their business communication needs adequately.

Now that you have seen the 3 best VoIP phones for the home and business, let’s find out where to get the best prices on VoIP phones.

Where to Get the Best Prices on VoIP Phones

There are many places where you can get the best prices on VoIP phones on the Internet. Some of the best places also have reviews from actual customers so that you will know from their reviews whether you are getting the best value for your money or not. Some of the best prices on VoIP phones can be found in Amazon.com, Ebay.com, buy.com, voipsupply.com and overstock.com. These websites have good reputation that has lasted for many years. You can therefore shop with peace of mind.

VoIP phones are specially made phones that are used to make calls over the Internet. You have seen the 3 best VoIP phones for the home and business. You have also seen where to get the best prices on VoIP phones online. You can use what you have read to shop smart after ensuring that the features are just what you need for your home or business.

Do VoIP Apps work with Windows 7?

Ever since VoIP became popular as a result of their cheap calling rates which are being made even cheaper with the use of some VoIP applications, windows 7 users have been asking whether VoIP apps really work with their operating system. If this is also what you are asking, then you have come to the right place. This article will provide the answers to the question. When considering whether VoIP apps work with windows 7 you will have to consider it from three angles. The first one is softphones which are simply software programs that can be installed on a computer with the main purpose of making phone calls. The second one is by web based services that does not require you to install any software on your computer and the third is by the hardware configuration of windows 7.

There are many known problems of VoIP software apps not working well with windows 7. Most of the problems don’t really concern Microsoft, the creators of windows 7, but the issue lies with the creators of the VoIP apps. As more and more of the creators are realizing this compatibility issues, most of them are upgrading their apps to make it work with windows 7. Some of the compatible ones include VoIP apps for instant messaging. Apps like action VoIP are still known to be having issues.

Web based services like Jajah and Tingme on the other hand generally work well with windows 7. This may be because nothing is actually installed and everything is web based.  There has been no complaining about compatibility issues so far.

Windows 7 hardware compatibility issues are also well taken care of in windows 7. Unlike previous versions of windows where one driver handles audio and sound, windows 7 is specially configured with two registered audio devices; one for sound and one for communication purposes. This tells us that windows 7 operating system is configured with end users’ communication needs in mind.  The conclusion is that VoIP apps work with windows 7. As long as VoIP apps developers upgrade their apps to work with windows 7 you can use as many VoIP apps as you wish on your windows 7 OS. Now that you know that VoIP apps work with windows 7, let’s find out where to download them.

Best Download Sites for Voip Apps for Windows 7

There are many websites where you can download VoIP apps for windows 7. However, you need to know about the best sites where you can download them in order to avoid problems of downloading malicious software apps and things like that. On these websites you can read reviews and comments as well as download securely without fear of downloading fake apps that can harm your system. Based on this the best websites where you can download VoIP apps for windows 7 are

1. http://softpedia.com
2. http://download.cnet.com
3. http://windows7download.com
4. http://3cx.com
5. On VoIP providers’ websites where they list their apps for various kinds of mobile phones and computer operating systems.

VoIP can be used together with your windows 7 operating system when you use VoIP apps that are compatible with it. You have seen that the compatibility issue can be looked at from three angles that include softphones, web based services and windows 7 hardware. You have also known about websites where you can download genuine VoIP apps for windows 7. This information can help you select the best VoIP apps for your windows operating system.

What are the Best Android VOIP Apps?

Android enabled phones can be used to make VoIP calls at a cheaper rate. When combined with android VoIP apps you make even cheaper calls. You also get the ability to share videos, graphics and other kinds of messages in real time easily and fast. Most times you need wifi internet connection and some applications will help you make calls without an internet connection. You can download VoIP apps from the UK and US marketplaces for android.  After downloading them from the market place you can just install them on your phone. There are about 150 android VoIP apps in the android market place. However some of the best ones are Truphone, Skype Lite, Voxofon and Iskoot. This article will briefly review them to see what really makes them stand out.

Truphone

One of the things that make truphone a cool VoIP android application is the fact that you can use it to send instant messages to your friends and contacts across different kinds of network like Google talk, MSN, Yahoo, Facebook, Aim and Twitter. Apart from that you can also lower your international and local call rates. Another fascinating thing about truphone app is that you can make free calls to other users who also have truephone installed on their phone. It does not matter whether they are located in Europe or Africa, all calls are free.

Skype Lite

Skype lite is another application that allows users enjoy communicating with others. You can enjoy skype to skype calls on your VoIP android phone. You can also use the app to see when your contacts are online and initiate instant messaging with them. All you need is a calling plan and data plan to in order to communicate cheaply.

iSkoot

Iskoot application is one of the first VoIP applications in the android market. It makes you enjoy high quality calls at cheaper rate. Once you install the app on your phone it works on the sound quality among other things.

Voxofon

When travelling abroad this application helps you to determine the call rate for that area as well as helping you to initiate a call. All you have to do is to enter the international phone number on your phone and you will see the rate you will pay display immediately. Your costs will be claimed by your phone’s local provider while voxofone will re-route your international calls to the number you wish to call.

VoIP on android phones have been known to help people save money on phones and enjoy the features of VoIP service. You have seen the best android VoIP applications and what they can do for you. This knowledge will help you select the most important android applications that will save you even more money when making local and international calls.

One of the benefits of using VoIP headsets is that calls can be more private while conversing and people around you will not hear everything you are talking about with the person at the other end of the line. Apart from that you can make calls while on the move. A high quality headset will allow your VoIP call quality become even better. Advances in VoIP technology has brought about many more kinds of headsets that enables VoIP services to be used in more creative ways. In this article you will find out about wired headsets and wireless headsets as well as the top 5 VoIP headset providers. You will also know what noise cancelling microphone is all about. This will help you know the kinds of VoIP headsets available for use and who to buy from when shopping for one.

Wired Headsets vs Wireless Headsets

If you want to know exactly how wired headsets compare with wireless headsets then keep reading to find out ways they compare and contrast. First of all the major difference between wired and wireless headset is that the connection between a wired headset with another device like phone or computer is done with wires while a wireless headset is the connection that exists between a headset and a phone or computer without the use of wires. Instead of wires Bluetooth technology in mobile phones and computers is used for connection while hearing and receiving sound.

Secondly you can wear a wired headset loosely around the back of the neck or looped around the ears while in a wireless headset you can wear it on your head so that the weight rests on your head. In using both kinds of headset you don’t need to use your hand to hold any device, instead you use both the wired and wireless hands free.

Thirdly you can be limited by distance when using the wired headset which is about 8 feet. When using the wireless headset you will not be limited by distance. This means you can be anywhere listening and making calls or playing your video game like xbox 360. You can also pack the wireless headset in your pocket or bag and move about with it.

Fourthly many people testify that the sound quality for wireless headset is far better than those of wired headset in terms of sound quality, comfort and durability. Your wires can be affected if you have pets that chew on wires if you don’t take good care of them when using wired headset. This will never happen with the wireless alternative.

Finally the cost of wireless headset is higher than the wired headset. Many people prefer to sacrifice cost in order to get comfort, durability and quality especially if they can afford it.

These are just a few of the comparisons between a wired headset and a wireless headset. Let’s find out about the top 5 VoIP headset providers.

Top 5 VOIP Headset Providers

VoIP headsets are either single earpiece or double ear piece and they are specially designed to walk with VoIP calls. As a result of this they are made in such a way that voice conversion from digital to voice increases the voice quality of the VoIP calls because they do not use your PC’s sound card at all. Based on this criterion the top 5 VoIP headset providers are Plantronics, Sennheiser, Jabra, Logitech and Audio. The VoIP headsets they produce can be plugged into a USB and they are very easy to use. You will find more details of their uses, easy instructions and other features when you visit their website. Many people who have used the VoIP from any of these providers have had very little or no regret at all. One of the things that make the VoIP headsets that these providers make is that they use noise cancelling microphone on the headset.

What is a noise-cancelling microphone?

A noise cancelling microphone is a microphone that is attached to a headset and it does not pick up unnecessary noise from your surroundings. They are designed in such a way that only sound closest around the microphone (front and directly behind it) can be picked up. The reason is that you can have better quality sound calls with least interference from the environment. Noise cancelling microphones are also called bi-directional microphones because sound is picked up from only two directly opposite sources around the microphone which is your voice.

VoIP headsets help people have better quality voice calls because of the way they are made. You have seen the two kinds of headsets available and the comparison between them. You have also known about the top 5 VoIP headset providers and what noise cancelling microphone is all about. This knowledge will help you to decide the best VoIP headset to get when shopping for one.

The numerous VoIP services out there can overwhelm and make you lost for choice. This is why this article will look into the top 3 VoIP providers out there by comparing them against criteria that most end users value most. After reading you will be able to know more about VoIP service providers and what to look out for when shopping for one.

Who are the top 3 VoIP Providers?

Are you curious to know about the top three VoIP providers around? If so get comfortable and read through this article for a quick and dirty breakdown on what many consider to be the 3 best VoIP providers. The three companies will be compared and ranked based on a number of criteria. The criteria are popularity, price, call quality, features, ease of use and customer care. You will agree that these criteria are really what matters when subscribing to a VoIP service in order to get the best value for money. Based on the criteria above including comparisons between various customer reviews which we have researched the top three VoIP services are Vonage, Lingo and voip.com. We shall now review them one after the other below.

Vonage Service

Vonage takes up about 50% of the VoIP market share. This shows that Vonage is really very popular. The pricing for Vonage service is divided into various plans that can suit any budget and it starts from $9.99 per month. The higher the plan you select the more advanced features you get at a higher price. The price covers both domestic and international call rates. The call quality for Vonage is quite good especially when you are on broadband internet connection. This means that you can make and receive calls even when your computer is not on just like you will do on a normal phone.

Vonage service offers many features that include call waiting, call forwarding, voicemail, toll free 800 numbers, 411 and 911 services, 3 way calling, video phone calls and many other smart features that will make your business appear really professional if you are using it for business. Once you get the Vonage device which you will use to connect one or more phone lines to your internet router, set up is a breeze. To make customer service really easy Vonage has provided many channels of getting support from them.

You can contact their support team by submitting a ticket on their website, using the online forum, email, facebook page and twitter channel. You can always check their knowledge base for help. Apart from these Vonage has applications for smart phones that will enable you have a pleasant experience when using their service. You can find out more about Vonage by browsing through their website.

Lingo

Lingo is another popular VoIP service whose popularity is partly due to the first 3 months free promotion, the cost and unique features. Lingo is priced from $21.95 per month and you get free equipment when you sign up for their service. Their annual plan at $195 per year enables you to make unlimited calls to the US and Canada all year round while calls to other Lingo users are free of charge.

They are the only VoIP provider whose standard monthly plan allows you to make free calls to 40 countries including Australia and New Zealand and some Asian and European countries. Some of their features are 3-Way calling, 69 last caller details, keep your previous number, voicemail sent to email, 911 service, do not disturb, call waiting, caller ID and many more. Most people say that the call quality and customer service is top notch. Visit their site for more cool features that will surprise you.

VOIP.com

Voip.com is also among the top three most rated VoIP services because of their call quality, features, price, customer service and popularity. The pricing starts at $14.95 per month when you select the 24 month plan and each plan covers all the 45 smart features of the service. When you subscribe to voip.com you get a free device that enables you to save even more.

Some of their unique features include failsafe which allows you to route calls to an alternate number in case you have internet outage or power failure. Their enhanced 911 also allows 911 to locate your address even if you did not speak a word. Their customer service is up to date and they make it very easy for you to get your problems resolved by getting help through the live chat on their site fast. This is just a tip of what voip.com can do for you. When you visit their website you can find out more for yourself.

There are over 50 VoIP services out there and more are coming up every time. Making a choice on which VoIP to go for can be a tough decision to make. This article has been able to highlight the top three VoIP services based call quality, features, popularity, customer care and ease of use. This will enable you to know make the right choice when trying to subscribe to a VoIP service.

4 VOIP Services

Four VoIP services are Vonage, RegCentral, Voip.com and Viatalk. They all offer features and support that allows their subscribers to use many smart features while reducing cost for phone bills.

This technology is normally cheaper than your normal phone service since your Internet connection is the main method of transmissions. As a result of this many residential and business users are switching over to VoIP services. Apart from lower cost which is very obvious, there are other reasons why people use VoIP services that many people don’t really talk about. This article will explore what these reasons are. After reading you will better appreciate the fact that VoIP is the best way to communicate for the future.

5 Reasons for Using VoIP

There are many cool reasons for using VoIP but this article will highlight the top five.

Reason 1: Low cost.  The cost of an ordinary telephone call to your neighbour a few houses away via landline is astronomical when compared to the cost of a VoIP call from New York to Los Angeles. Another great benefit of VoIP low cost is when both users are online and using a computer connection as a means of communicating. It is often very cheap and sometimes even free. This means two people connected to the internet using the same VoIP can talk all they want for free or for pennies on the dollar. Ordinary landline phones or mobile phones are rarely free and almost always cost more than VoIP services.

Reason 2: Multitasking features for group calls for business owners and clients alike.  VoIP offers immense solutions for businesses, professionals, and just people who want to communicate in groups simultaneously. Web-conferencing has never been easier with VoIP.  All it takes is an internet connection. As long as all users have the designated software they can all link to the same conversation, and it will be as if they are all in the same room together even if the sales manager is in Texas and the CEO is in Hawaii.

Most VoIP services even offer chartrooms and whiteboard applications to share information or PowerPoint presentations alongside the speaking component. This allows users to remain connected to each other sharing audio and visual information from anywhere in the world.

Reason 3: VoIP offers so many types of features! Voice mail, call forwarding, e-mail voice mail, 3-way 4-way, and 5-way calling, caller id and call re-routing are a few features.  VoIP offers voice mail like any other telephone service, but it is saved into an audio file into your email. You can send this off to others or save it for personal use at a later date. Group calling, or 3-way calling is so easy with VoIP and allows users to chat together in real time simultaneously from anywhere in the world. VoIP can even re-route calls to your mobile or landline phone.  If someone calls your VoIP line and you’re not available the call can go to your voice mail or your local cell phone or landline.

Reason 4: There are many convenient ways of getting support for any billing issues, tech support questions or general inquiries. The most common ones are through their forums, facebook fanpage, twitter support page, online knowledge base, email, telephone, help desk and online live chat. VoIP is all done on the internet so call records can easily be obtained and checked within minutes. Don’t want a service? Simply logon and cancel or add services at the click of a button. If you want to talk to an agent you can usually chat with one right away and you don’t need to wait on hold for half of the afternoon like other companies.

Reason 5: Low international calling rates. The future of communications is here and it’s VoIP. The price of international calls using VoIP is so low. Calls to anywhere in the world is cheaper than ever, and the use of calling cards and other services is incomparable. If two users have the same VoIP provider sometimes calls are free.  Calls from Tokyo to Los Angeles can be free via VoIP and the Internet, talk all you want.

There you have it. Five reasons to use VoIP. Firstly, the cheap cost of calls and operations over the internet protocol. The second reason is the business solutions, conference calls, and audio and video sharing in real-time around the world. The Third reason is the vast array of customizable features and services like voice mail to your email, caller id, call re-routing and group calling. The fourth reason is the ease of solving billing and technical problems in minutes without waiting on hold. The fifth is the exceptionally low rate of international calls from anywhere in the world for a low fee. Now you know why VoIP is great to use so get out there and start talking.

Limitations of VOIP Service

As good as the services of VoIP sounds there are still limitations. You need to know what the limitations are so that when you subscribe to any of the VoIP services you won’t be surprised when you start discovering them for yourself. The most common VoIP limitations are Internet connection, 911 services, call quality and power outages. Some of the VoIP services are working hard to minimize these shortcomings as much as they can.

Internet connection

All VoIP services need broadband internet connection before they can perform well. Once your internet connection is dial up you cannot use VoIP. It requires high speed internet connection to perform well. As a result of this the use of the service is mostly suitable for people using broadband internet.

911 Service

As an emergency service 911 will normally respond to the address you signed up with when a call is made with your phone. When you move to a different location you cannot be traced easily especially if you cannot talk. Some VoIP services have tried to solve this issue by taking care of this limitation by providing enhanced 911 services.

Call Quality

You will experience low quality calls with VoIP if the Internet connection is not high speed. People have experience of calls dropping and other issues, hearing of noise or hearing their own voice. This does not make a pleasant experience.

The VoIP service has come to stay. Despite the fact that it is growing in popularity the five reasons for using VoIP and the limitations of VoIP will help to serve as pointers in the right direction.

Packet8 Services

Packet8 offers unique services and these services enable their voice and video communication system to be used over broadband Internet. The video phone service is one of the unique features of packet8 that sets it apart from the others. Their services are classified into the following plans. The home office, small business and larger business plans. Let’s find out what the services under each plan are all about.

Home office

This service is also called business basic and it is designed for residential and small businesses that need the very basic features of an affordable communication system. For this service you get normal phone features like call forwarding, call waiting, simultaneous ring, low local rates and low international call rates including a free Uniden 160P phone. You will also get the ability to make 3 way call conferencing as well as mobile international calling at cheaper rates. There are 22 standard features and some optional features with this plan for starts from $19.95 per month.

Small Business

The small business solution is also known as virtual pro. It enables you to have fortune 500 features at a fraction of the cost. With this service you get an auto attendant, conference bridge, voicemail and many more. You and your employees can connect your mobile phone to the service which helps your business attend to enquiries even when your employees are on the move.  Their unlimited local and long distance calls enables you to save up to 50% of your normal phone bill.

You get unlimited US and Canada incoming calls. Apart from smartphone specific applications that make the service sleek, you also get an online dashboard that enables you to manage all the services from an easy online interface. There are over 30 smart features for this plan and the cost varies according to specific extra features and equipment you need. The cost for this plan starts from $39.99 per month.

Larger Business Solution

As the name for this plan implies it is for larger businesses and it is also called enterprise business solution. You get all the features of the small business solution including more advanced ones that help you to get fortune 500 features to make your business appear very professional. One of the very important features is that it can handle thousands of employees located in different geographic locations easily.

Apart from that the skills based routing will direct your callers to the right department and the multimedia queuing feature allows you to structure the distribution of phone calls, emails and web chats easily. You also get dedicated hosting and private cloud hosting that are specific to your business needs. Packet8 larger business solution will help you get a first class service for your business starting at $199 per month.

Now that we have seen what the packet8 service is all about, let’s find out what people are saying about them.

Positive Reviews of Packet8

There are many positive reviews of packet8 services. The most common ones centre on customer service, unique features and money back guarantee. Customer service is an issue to many people since after sales support is needed and it is one of the first impressions about a business. Positive reviewers claim that their customer support is top notch and they get their problems resolved as quickly as possible.

Some of the most commented features about packet8 services are the very good call quality, video and audio phone feature, enhanced support for 911, hosted PBX and many types of service plans that satisfy different budgets and needs. Some people also claim that the free phone one gets after signup is really cool. Apart from that, their 30 days money back guarantee is always honoured and it is a great way to get your feet wet about the service since you can cancel at any time. Now that you’ve seen some of the positive reviews of packet8, let’s find out about the negative reviews.

Negative Reviews of Packet8

There are negative reviews about packet8 just as there are positive reviews. Some of the negative reviews are poor customer service, technical issues and cancellation fees. When it comes to customer service some people claim that customer service is poor and some of the staff is rude. This makes it hard for some people to resolve their problems easily. People who complain about technical issues say that call quality fluctuates. If your internet connection is not high speed you will not get very clear calls. Some also claim that packet8 does not provide support for adding a fax machine and the telephone they offer as gift when you subscribe has some problems.

Packet8 service is excellent for home and business uses and the charges can suit every budget. You have seen what the packet8 service is all about and the positive and negative reviews about them. Now you can make an informed decision about packet8 VoIP.