| Long Distance |
| Residential |
| Small Business |
| Broadband/VoIP |
| International |
| Conferencing |
| Calling Cards |
| Dial Arounds |
| T1 / Dedicated |
| Local Service |
| Bundled Plans |
| Broadband/VoIP |
| Wireless |
| Cellular |
| Prepaid Cellular |
| Internet Access |
| High Speed DSL/Cable |
| Clear Wireless |
| Questions? |
| Contact Us |
| Referral Service |
The emergence of voice-over-internet (VoIP) technologies has created a new opportunity to save even more on your phone bill. VoIP providers use your internet connection to route your calls, bypassing your local phone company. In many cases, by using a VoIP service you can fire your local phone company! To help you determine which service is best for you, VoIP or traditional long distance service, we developed the following comparison to help you make a more informed decision. Once you decide which type of service is best for you, use our Long Distance Comparison Service to find the lowest cost traditional long distance or use our VoIP Comparison Service to find the best VoIP service for your needs.
| Comparison of VoIP Technology Versus Traditional Long Distance Service |
||
|
Fire Your Local Phone Company!
VoIP phone services rely on a high-speed internet connection to bypass your local phone company and supply you with local and long distance calling at a fraction of the cost of traditional services. By using a VoIP service, most people can get high-speed internet service and unlimited calling for less than they currently pay for their traditional local phone, dialup internet, and long distance services combined. |
||
| Comparison Issue | Traditional Long Distance | VoIP Broadband Technology |
| Cost |
Based on national averages: Local Phone: $25.00 Dialup Internet: $18.00 Long Distance: $15.00 Total: $58.00/month Costs vary widely, based on the number of "premium" services such as caller-id, call waiting, etc. on your local plan and your monthly long distance usage. |
Based on national averages: High-Speed Internet: $30-45.00 VoIP (unlimited): $20.00 Total: $50.00 - $65.00/month Costs are predictable. Internet service and VoIP service are flat rate services. The VoIP service usually has a one-time startup fee of about $30. |
| Features |
Local: "Premium" services are extra Internet: 56K max speed and slow connection times Long Distance: Pay as you go Works best for those who don't want high-speed internet service and who make few long distance calls. |
Local: "Premium" services included: Voicemail, Caller-id, Call Waiting 3-Way Calling, Call Forwarding, etc. Internet: 256K - 768K max speed and instant-on (no wait for connection) Long Distance: Unlimited calling Works best for people who would like high-speed internet service or those who make many long distance calls. |
| Voice Quality | Excellent |
Excellent Most people do not notice a difference in voice quality. |
| Reliability |
99.99% reliable. Can make calls when power is out. |
99.5% reliable. Cannot make calls when power is out. When your internet service is down, so is your phone. |
| 911 Services | Full nationwide support | Supported in most states by Packet8, but not other VoIP carriers. |
|
Additional Factors |
Should not be used for monitored security
services |
|
| Detailed Comparisons | Long Distance Comparison Service | VoIP Comparison Service |