How to Save Money with VoIP
One of the most attractive features of VoIP, and the reason it is becoming the most widely used phone technology, is how cost-effective it is. One of the primary ways in which VoIP saves consumers money is that is utilizes infrastructure and technology they are already paying for (a high-speed internet connection). In addition, specific features tailored to the consumers’ individual needs frequently entail an additional charge under standard phone service. VoIP providers routinely provide a wide variety of features that are covered under the standard service fee, as well as features uniquely available to internet service.
Money Saving Method #1: Unlimited Long Distance
Using VoIP with Lingo allows the consumer to make unlimited long distance calls within the United States. In an increasingly decentralized culture of coworkers, friends and family, all of the extra minutes spent talking and coordinating from your home phone don’t count on your cell phone bill, or your phone bill. Traditional phone company long-distance rates range from .05 to .10 cents a minute. With VoIP service, its 100% free.
Money Saving Method #2: Free International Calling
Whether you originally relocated to the United States from a foreign country, have children or grandchildren overseas, have extensive business interests in foreign markets, or simply have a best friend who moved to London, many consumers find themselves faced with the option of email contact only, or a massive phone bill. Traditional phone company international rates can be as high as $2.00 a minute, and are seldom less than 75 cents a minute.
Even if you get a calling card, you are still looking at 20 cents a minute, depending on the country. With a VoIP provider, especially if you select one who specializes in the international calling market, you can drastically reduce these fees, or eliminate them entirely.
Money Saving Method #3: Virtual Telephone Numbers
This money saving method is more about saving your friends, coworkers and family money, but since the buck often gets passed back to you - it’s worth knowing about.
Many VoIP providers offer virtual numbers. Although it called different things by different companies, this VoIP feature creates for you. free of charge, either a local number in the overseas country you specify, and/or the equivalent of a 1-800 number within the United States. This makes communicating with you a free call for everyone else and almost free for you, since all you pay is a flat monthly rate. This benefit can eliminate the primary reason vocal overseas communication is so infrequent.
Money Saving Method #4: No Cost for Additional Features
Far too often with traditional phone service, call forwarding, call waiting, answering services and other features are accompanied by hefty fees. When you use VoIP, these fees go away, simply because they are covered under your standard VoIP provider plan.
Money Saving Feature #5: Complete Control of Your Bill
When you are using a VoIP provider, you ultimately control the price of your service. You will know exactly what you will be billed for any given period. If you are choosing to use services not covered in your plan for an additional cost, your usage is very simple to track on-line. There will be no surprises for high-cost long-distance/international minutes used. And if your provider wants to raise the price for their service, you always have the option to switch to an entirely different VoIP provider the next month. (Note: Some providers may have contracts that change this rule of thumb, but most fees for such are minimal.)