VoIP Phone Service vs. Traditional Long Distance Service

Alright, are those Vonage commercials right, or just unfair exaggerations. Well first lets examine cost. Most VoIP phone service providers can give you unlimited long distance in the U.S.A. and Canada for less than $25 a month. But, if you use less than 200-300 minutes per month, you will most likely spend less with traditional long distance service. Where it gets tricky is if you want all the extra features. The phone company charges extra for those and the VoIP phone service providers do not. The big drawback to VoIP however, is the need for highspeed internet service, dsl service, cable, T1, etc... This can add a lot to the equation. $30-$50 for dsl or cable, and $300 plus for a T1 Line.

VoIP and traditional long distance service both try to confuse you when it comes to the issue of call quality. The phone company will tell you that VoIP is inferior because the call is handled over the internet. And, VoIP companies will say they are superior because your calls are entirely digital. They are both wrong, neither is superior as long as you have the proper equipment and everything is set up correctly.

So, in general for consumers who use very little long distance or do not have access to highspeed internet service, sticking with traditional long distance service makes perfect sense. But if you make a lot of long distance calls or you feel you need all of those features the phone company charges you extra for, VoIP phone service is definitely the way to go!