VoIP Service - How to Choose the Best VoIP Service Provider

In order to take advantage of the benefits of voice over internet protocol - VoIP, you need to sign up with a good service provider. Before you choose your VoIP service provider, you may want to take the following into consideration.

Reputation - Read customer reviews, testimonials, comments and feedback about the VoIP service provider before you sign up. Hearing the experiences of an existing customer will help you avoid any negative surprises.

Calling plans - Consider which countries you call frequently, then check with the VoIP service provider to confirm whether their calling plans include the countries you call most often. It is pointless to sign up to a VoIP service provider that has calling plans inclusive of countries you not likely to ever call, or only call rarely.

International tariffs - Check the international calling rates to countries which are not included in your calling plan. This is so as to avoid having to pay high rates when calling countries which are not included in your calling plan.

Tie-Ins and Fees - Check to see how transparent the VoIP service provider is with their fees. You should be aware in case the VoIP provider wishes to have you commit to a contract or if they offer a trial period, if there are any penalties in the event that you wish to cancel the service, or any admin, set-up, equipment, postage fees or any other charges; and also whether or not the VoIP provider offers a money-back guarantee, no-questions asked trial period.

Flexibility - Find out whether or not the VoIP service provider will allow you to select a dialing code - whether its a local code to where you live, just as in the traditional phone services, or one that is local to your family and business customers, as this could be an asset in the future.

Customer service and technical support - The VoIP provider should offer good client service and technical support to its clients at any time of the day. Such services and support should be easily accessed by clients via phone or email.

Features - Find out about the additional features that the VoIP service provider is offering on top of the basic calling services. You may opt to sign up with a provider that offers the basic features such as caller ID and voice-mail for free, unlike the traditional phone service providers who normally charge for such basic services. You may also want to find out whether it will be possible to keep your original telephone number should you wish to.

Add-ons - Find out whether the VoIP service provider offers any add-ons or chargeable services which you may add on to your account later should you wish to do so. These may include being able to make phone calls from a PC or laptop, add a second phone line or create a virtual phone number which rings to one's own number and therefore enables family or friends that are located abroad to call you cheaply.

Joan One is a freelance journalist and creative writer who immensely enjoys writing and researching into any topic under the Sun.