Ever wanted a permanent phone number? One which could follow you no matter where you moved, no matter your telephone or mobile provider; will work, even if you rent, borrow or buy a phone for a short time? A VoIP phone number can provide this and more. VoIP, Voice over Internet Protocol, has been seen by many as a means for free or cheap telephone calls, however it is so much more. Think of having your own personal telephone system similar to large corporations where you can direct calls where you wish, determine when calls are accepted, and even the numbers that can reach you, and when. VoIP providers offer a system where you can have the phone answered, and a series of prompts direct the caller where you want. On vacation? Direct calls to the cottage. Out of the country? Screen them and send them to the number of that new SIM you put in your phone, while the numbers other than your special friends are sent to voice mail, which is sent to your email box. Bouncing between the house and the office? Have both landlines and your cellphone ring simultaneously. The possibilities are just about endless.
Quality VoIP services are available at very reasonable rates. For as little as 99¢ per month you can have a number forever, and outgoing calls are as little as 1.5¢ per minute. If you receive many calls, about $6 nets unlimited incoming calls. Outgoing calls would be about 0.5¢ per minute anywhere in North America, and pennies for international calls. For little more, you can host a toll-free number, and never worry about where you move, as folks can always call you at that number!
To get started, you need to choose a VoIP provider, and purchase an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter) to connect your existing phone to the Internet, or purchase an IP phone. Most VoIP providers offer instructions to set up ATA or IP phones with their network. If you are uncertain about the set-up, consider a provider such as these popular ones, but if you feel capable of rolling your own, services such as voip.ms give you a wealth of options at a bargain price.