You have probably heard of VoIP but do you know what it is ? VoIP basically stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. So what is it then ?

With the advent of broadband internet it has become possible to use this new VoIP technology to make regular phone calls through that internet connection. You must have a broadband connection though. Dial-up just won't do it. It is too slow.

The benefits of making the switch to Voice Over Internet Protocol phone systems are mainly significant savings in call costs, and superior call quality. For example, you can expect free continental US calling (including to Canada in some instances). It isn't like with cellphone companies where you have to wait until the evening or weekends to make free calls. If you have ever used Skype to make calls you will better understand what it means to experience amazing calling quality. It is much clearer than a phone as we know it.

As with your regular telephone service you get the usual standard features such as:

Caller ID

Call Waiting

Call Forwading

With a VoIP connection you can expect very favorable monthly rates starting as low as $6.99. A lot of businesses are catching up with this technology due to its associated costs.

Most VoIP providers require three main things to get connected, and these are:

Telephone

Broadband connection

Home Router

The good thing about using this service is that the person you are calling need not be a VoIP subscriber too. You can call anybody that has a telephone, be it a landline or a cellphone.

Do you make frequent international calls ? Voice Over Internet Protocol technology would be perfect for you then. Maybe you have family and friends abroad and you want to speak with them ocassionally, as opposed to sending text messages ? VoIP providers have you covered. Some providers offer free calls to countries such as Australia, France, New Zealand, Canada, and the UK, just to name a few. You need to check with the provider for more details. Rates to other countries, such as India for example, can start as low as 2 cents a minute. That is way cheaper than using those calling cards if you ask me. At least you don't have to worry about connection fees.

Some VoIP providers do not even require you to be a resident of the United States in order to use their services. As long as you fulfill the requirements mentioned above, you are eligible to start using voice over internet protocol phone systems.