I have been using a VOIP service for about 2 years and have been pleased. Their website is http://www.viatalk.com. Whether you use that company or another one, the basics are:

You sign up with the company. They send you a small adapter box which you plug into your internet router or modem. You must have a high-speed internet connection (DSL or cable). You plug a standard phone into the back of the adapter box and that’s it. Monthly fees vary with the provider. Some also have a BYOB offer (Bring Your Own Box) which is usually a discounted price if you provide the adapter box.

Another option is the Skype service at http://www.skype.com . I have used it as well. There are several different ways you can use this service, but with the least expensive, you can talk to other Skype customers for free. Both people would install Skype on their computers. You are given a phone number and you simply call them (or in computer lingo, “Skype” them).

The advantage to Skype is that it’s free. The disadvantage is that it can be limiting if you wish to call landline phones. They do have pay services to call land or cell phones. To me, the clarity of the Skype calls are not quite as good, but free is hard to bargain with!

Overall, Voip has come a long way and I have been very pleased with the provider I chose. I plan to continue to maintain a Voip line since I can make unlimited long distance calls for one monthly price. Since I have family and do business in a different calling area, I chose to get a Voip number that was local for my family. That way, I can call out free and they can call in free (because it’s local for them). It works beautifully.