In June, CLEAR revised their Early Termination Fee policies. In addition to revising the policies, they added their fee schedule to their website under the title of "Early Termination Fees" CLEAR's earlier ETF policies and fees were confusing at best, and difficult to find. ETF charges from customers who faced them for cancelling a contract early and reported them in numerous forums, varied wildly, apparently with no rhyme or reason.

So now CLEAR has a publicised list of early termination fees, and has placed them on their website for all to see. So what do the new fees mean to those that are contemplating signing up with CLEAR? Well, for one, you can now understand what it will cost you if you decide to terminate a contract early. Fees for purchased devices are pro-rated by the number of months you have the service, going down each month until you reach zero at the end of 24 months. Fees for leased devices remain the same and are not pro-rated.

CLEAR's new policy is much improved over the previous one. The ETF on a contract cancelled just after the 7-14 day trial period use to be a minimum of $120 regardless of the number of devices you had such as a home modem or usb modem. Now, if you are leasing your equipment and decide to cancel early, the fee is called a "restocking" fee, and runs $40 per device being returned. Fees vary depending on whether you lease or purchase the equipment when signing a contract, with fees running higher on purchased equipment. Purchasing the equipment when signing a contract may work for those that are sure the service is going to be good at their location, but for those that have doubts about keeping it long term, leasing makes much more sense, especially since CLEAR recenly raised the purchase price of all modems.

With these changes in CLEAR's ETF policies, customers can now feel a little more at ease when signing that 2 year contract. The fees are lower, and if you have your fixed (residence or business) location checked for signal strenth and speeds prior to purchase, the 2 year contract does make it much cheaper to get started using CLEAR's services. AusTex VoIP recommends always having a free signal check performed at fixed locations, and you should have no problem finding a CLEAR retail outlet or CLEAR Authorized Reseller that will do this in any city with CLEAR service, especially if you are willing to go with a 2 year contract. For a comparison of costs over a 2 year period, check our "Cost Comparison" menu here on the AusTex VoIP website.

We have seen signs that cause us to believe that CLEAR is listening to feedback from customers, whether they are pleased with the service and making recommendations for improvement, or are customers that have a complaint about certain aspects of the service or support. CLEAR's user forum on their website is growing every day, and many of the concerns being brought up are being addressed. Our service at our location has always been very good, and our use of the mobile usb around town has been extremely useful, as we are frequently traveling around town. It's nice to see CLEAR make it less painful to get information that allows an interested consumer to make a more informed choice.

As the price of unlimited, or high minute cellular plans continues to become less expensive (but not cheap), many people have already cut their landline service to their home. Even more have at least thought about it. Let's face it, if you have unlimited minutes on your cell phone, or you don't use all of your included minutes each month, why have two phone services? You could save $25-$50 per month by dumping your landline service.

But things are getting interesting in the telecommunications markets. VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol is becoming more widespread. Why? Well, for starters, it's generally much less expensive than the analog POTS (plain old telephone service) plans offered by the big telcos. With a decent broadband connection, VoIP calls are equal in quality to those of the analog services we've used for years, and with the emergence of high definition codecs coming into the VoIP mainstream, the sound quality can be absolutely amazing.

Now, VoIP is starting to make more headway in the mobile industry as well. As the wireless companies start to soften their stance on allowing VoIP over 3G and other networks, the usefulness of using VoIP instead of wireless minutes starts to become much more attractive. Where you were once limited to using VoIP calling while on Wi-Fi only, now you can make those calls anywhere there is 3G coverage. These calls go out over the 3G data network, and do not count toward your cellular minutes.  So, what does this have to do with making a good case for not ditching a landline? It has a lot to do with the fact that, now, there is the opportunity to converge your home landline service with that of your cellular service among other things.

It is now possible to have VoIP phone service for your home, and use that same service to make VoIP calls using your mobile smartphone. If you own an Apple iPhone, you have many available apps that will allow you to do this. Our favorite is the Acrobits Softphone as it has a very nice user interface, is easy to set up, and uses "push technology" to allow you to receive calls without running the app. It also allows you to use the VoIP service provider of your choice, and does not limit you to the software developer's service, as many of the others do. So why keep a landline service and merge it with the mobile service? Here are just a few of our main arguments:

• Use VoIP instead of cell minutes and take your cellular minutes plan down to the lowest tier available.
• Use your VoIP plan to make calls while anywhere in the world when connected via Wi-FI.
• Since you're now using VoIP on your smartphone, you can use that same plan for you home landline at no additional cost.
• Make international calls on your home or mobile VoIp service at very attractive rates.
• There are a lot of COOL, new products available or coming out that will make you the envy of your non VoIP friends.

Personally, I hate using a cellphone when making calls from my home office. It gets hot after a few minutes, I can't rest it on my shoulder while talking and using the computer, and the speakerphone is less than adequate for many purposes. There's just something nice about having a decent desk phone when working at your computer, whether it be a fancy home office, or a little niche in the corner.

Even if you have already ditched your landline, it might be time to think about adding one back. Since you now have a VoIP plan to use with your mobile service, all you have to do is get an analog telephone adapter or a true IP phone to utilize that same service at home. Besides, who's going to be able to resist having some really cool gadgets around the house that work with VoIP. Although, not yet out on the market, we will personally be first in line to get our hands on OpenPeak's OpenTablet 7, and a couple of handsets as seen below.

If nothing else, using VoIP with your smartphone deserves a try. VoIP is the future. With the opening up of VoIP over wireless data networks, it is now much more convenient to use it. VoIP over data networks is only going to get better and more prevelant as the WiMAX and LTE 4G networks become more widespread, and manufacturers gear up to deliver 4G enabled handsets into the smartphone market. So what are you waiting for? Try VoIP on your smartphone, and then, add that landline back into the mix.

You might say that AusTex VoIP is going "on the LAM". Don't take that literally, as we aren't really going anywhere, we just mean that we are excited about combining our landline and mobile (LAM) phone services into a single VoIP solution. AT&T and Apple have recently removed all roadblocks for allowing VoIP on the 3G network using the iPhone. It's now possible to combine your home or office VoIP service with your iPhone to make VoIP calls from just about anywhere.

While it is possible to have a home or business VoIP account with a provider such as Vonage, and tie a cellphone into that service, it's generally not possible to have several landline phones, and several cellphones (as in family plan) all tied in together using the same account. The best way to bring ALL of your phones together, and use a single VoIP account (or several if desired) is to have a VoIP server running at your home or office. It is now possible to install an Asterisk based VoIP server for very little money. Not only is it fairly economical to install a VoIP server, it brings with it a huge list of calling features, and the ability to easily add as many telephones to the system as desired.

With an IP PBX server, when you add a phone to the sytem, you set it up as an extension. Similar to a corporate PBX, an extension is given a description, either the name of a person or possibly a department or location, such as "Sales" or "Support". Have a home office? Let's assign that as extension 100. How about the cordless phone base with three handsets? Let's give that an extension of 101. The two kids each have landline phone (lucky kids), so we'll assign them extension numbers 103 and 104. That takes care of the house, but what about the cellphones. Because we'd like to easily distinguish the difference between a house phone and a cellphone, we'll use the 200s for cellphone extensions. All four family members have a cellphone, so we'll use 201 - 204.

To get those cellphones integrated into the server, we need to get a SIP application from the Apple Store (assuming the phones are all iPhones). Once we have the app on our cellphone, we can set up a generic SIP account that will register the cellphone with the server and allow it to make and receive VoIP calls using one of our VoIP provider accounts already on the server.

After quite a bit of research on SIP applications available in the Apple store, to determine which might offer the best experience, we chose the Acrobits Softphone. This application was easy to install, set up, and has a fantastic user interface. It also offers "push" technology, which allows the iPhone to receive VoIP calls without the application running.

Once you get the SIP application set up for registration to your Asterisk server, and have each of the phones set up as extensions as described in the example above, you can now dial the extension number of any phone (including iPhones) to make calls to that particular phone. Bring up the Acrobits application on your iPhone, and you willl get a dial pad as seen in this image to the left. Dial any other extension on your system, or use it just like the normal iPhone dial pad to make calls anywhere your VoIP provider allows.

We've been testing the Acrobits on three iPhones over the last few days, and we can say with some confidence that AT&T will definitely see customers moving from plans with high cellular minutes to the bare minimum plans if folks start using VoIP. These SIP apps have been available for some time, however, they were limited to being used only when there was a Wi-Fi connection available. Now that the 3G network is open for VoIP, calls can be made from anywhere there is 3G coverage, which makes using VoIP much easier and useful.

So how it the call quality? We will say that the quality over Wi-Fi is outstanding, and will depend somewhat on the VoIP provider you are using on your Asterisk server, along with the Wi-Fi signal level. This won't be a problem when you're sitting at home or in the office, or most other locations that offer free Wi-Fi, and your VoIP provider should be a reputable one known for high quality.

VoIP calls over 3G can be quite good, and we would say most have been acceptable although this is a little bit hit or miss. VoIP is heavily dependent on having a decent latency, and getting good latency on an AT&T cell tower can vary greatly. We've seen anything from about 58 ms (milliseconds) upwards of 300 ms. VoIP needs for the latency to be around 150 ms or less to offer good call quality. Once it reaches the 300 ms level, you will start noticing some cut outs, and choppiness. Our testing so far indicates that for the most part, the VoIP call quality over 3G isn't any worse than what you are used to when making a normal cellular call.

So what's the biggest advantage of having a VoIP IP PBX server in the home, home office, or business? Well...by tying your landlines and cellphones into one system, you could stand to save a lot of money each month. A family of four with a FamilyTalk Unlimited plan could go down to the FamilyTalk 550 plan and save $60/mth right off the top. If you had an AT&T landline service for around $35.00/mth, you could switch that over to an Unlimited US and Canada VoIP plan for around $19.95/mth and save another 15 bucks a month. Even bigger savings are possible if you make any calls to Canada. Adding Canada minutes to an AT&T plan is very expensive, and can easliy add $20-$60/mth to your bill.

In addition to just saving you money, you now have the option of making international calls using your cellphone as well. As long as you have international calling set up in your server, you can make those calls using your cellphone just as easliy as you can using a landline. And finally, if you travel internationally, you still have full VoIP calling functionality in any country as long as you can find a Wi-Fi connection. Your phone will function in another country, just as easliy as it does here in the US. With all the advantages VoIP calling on a cellphone can give you, don't you think it's time you went "on the LAM" too!

AT&T's announcement late last year that they would now allow VoIP calls over their 3G network is BIG news for the VoIP industry. Better late than never, Apple, has finally started approving VoIP apps for the iPhone. The VoIP industry has generally seen strong growth in past years, but that growth has typically been from consumers making the switch from analog PSTN lines to VoIP for their home or business. This growth has expanded as broadband internet service (a requirement for VoIP) has become more widespread.

Let's face it...we all make calls one of two ways for the most part. We use our landline service, or we use our cell phone. Since most wireless cellular carriers have been reluctant to allow (as in block) VoIP traffic over their data networks, the usefulness of VoIP on a cell phone has been limited to those times when you have access to a Wi-Fi connection. This is fine if you're at home or in the office, but doesn't work when you're out and about, unless you stop by Starbucks or McDonalds. Because of this, VoIP on a cell phone has been a hard sell, reserved more for techies than mainstream.

Now, with the allowance of VoIP over 3G, VoIP for cell phones becomes much more attractive, as you can make VoIP calls anywhere AT&T has 3G coverage, while still utilizing VoIP over Wi-Fi in areas with no 3G. While VoIP is not likely to work over AT&Ts 2G Edge networks due to speed and latency, 3G coverage areas still encompass a vast amount of potential VoIP customers. One thing to keep in mind is that AT&T will someday upgrade their wireless networks to include the 4G LTE  technology, which essentially gives you a Wi-Fi like connection covering entire cities. Once handsets incorporating 4G become available, the ability to use VoIP reliably in more places makes it just that much more attractive.

Consider a single, heavy user with an iPhone. Let's say they have the Nationwide Unlimited Plan for calling minutes at $69.99/mth. If they had a low cost VoIP plan with unlimited minutes, they could reduce that to the Nationwide 450 plan at $39.99/mth. While that's a savings of $30 per month, they would need to sign up for a VoIP provider that would allow use of VoIP on their phone. Unlimited VoIP plans with calling anywhere in the US and Canada can be found for less than $19.95 per month. Of course, if a user has to get a VoIP plan at $19.95, they are only saving around 10 bucks a month, but this scenario is a bare bones base model and it only gets better from here.

If you're a road warrior, and/or make calls to Canada or other international destinations, the cost savings and usefulness of your cell phone only gets better. In addition, if you travel to international destinations, you no longer have to worry about how you're going to make your cell phone work in other countries. In the past, you would have to have an unlocked phone with GSM capability, along with purchasing a SIM card from another country's cellular provider. With VoIP, all you need is a Wi-Fi connection, and you'll be making calls back home with no additional expense.

Going back to our heavy user example with an unlimited plan, additional cost savings can be realized in other areas. First, most VoIP plans allow for unlimited calls to Canada. Adding Canada to an AT&T cellular plan is very expensive, depending on the number of minutes you'd like to have. Just adding the ability to call Canada with AT&Ts service will add $20 to $60/mth to your bill. Having a VoIP plan also gives you the ability to use your cell phone for low rate international VoIP calls. If you're already using VoIP with a landline to make international calls, chances are, you're ready to transfer that technology over to your iPhone.

Many cell phone users have never considered using VoIP instead of wireless minutes. Others have considered it, but have discarded it as having limited usefulness due to the constraint of needing Wi-Fi for it to work. With AT&T opening up the 3G network for VoIP traffic, now is a great time to think about using VoIP whenever possible. With a good VoIP application on your iPhone along with a good VoIP service provider, you may be pleasantly suprised at the voice quality, while saving money, and adding more functionality to your smartphone.

Our next article will be dealing with converging your landline service with your cellular service. The best way to do this is by using an IP PBX style of server in your home or office. With the availability of low cost installations of this technology, it is possible to save a great deal of money when dealing with family plans, and business situations where the company pays for all or part of an employee's wireless bill. Although, the popularity of "ditching the landline" for wireless service has increased as more unlimited plans have come online, converging landline and cellular may be about to change that. Stay tuned...

Ok... so adding a sixty foot tower to try an get a better 4G wireless signal is a bit much. We don't do that, but...AusTex VoIP has come up with a method of mounting the the CLEAR WiMAX indoor modem outside. For those struggling with a weak signal from CLEAR's 4G wireless internet service using the residential modem, this could be key to getting a strong enough signal to once again enyoy your internet browsing experience.

Because CLEAR does not have an external antenna or CPE (customer premise equipment) for outdoor use, we decided to take the indoor modem and find a way to mount it outdoors. We've heard of CLEAR users trying to do this themselves, but it does present several problems that AusTex VoIP has overcome. There are users placing the modem in the attic, under the eaves in zip lock bags, and even stranger attempts at getting a decent signal.

Our solution involves placing the home modem in a weatherproof enclosure, getting power and ethernet to that enclosure, and then running the cables back to a location that works best for you. At the indoor location, we will add a wall mount that allows you to plug your power adapter and ethernet cable right into the outlet. This install is very clean, and very professional. The outdoor mount is placed on the side of the house closest to your primary CLEAR antenna (base station), and can be fine tuned inside the enclosure for reception of the strongest signal available.

This process is intended for those that would really like to increase their CLEAR WiMAX signal strength indoors. Maybe your signal has never been that good at your location, or your combination of stucco and energy efficient windows is doing a great job of blocking the signal. Whatever the reason, AusTex VoIP can can work with you to get a better signal.

Below, are the results of a recent outdoor mounting. This person has only "Fast Home" which limits the download speed to 3.0 Mbs. The CINR (carrier to interference plus noise ratio) strength is what drives the number of lights on the modem. Anything above 19 will generally get you 5 lights on the modem. The CINR is a measusre of signal strength with noise calculations factored in for an overall signal effectiveness. A CINR of less than 12 is not going to allow for a great internet experience, and would not allow for use of CLEAR Voice.

By mounting outside:

-- Lights went from 2-3 to 5 full time.
-- RSSI went from -73 to -63
-- CINR went from 8 to 25
-- speedtests (speedtest.net) have consistently been at or greater than 3 megs down, which is my plan

For more details on this unique offering from AusTex VoIP, give us a call at (512) 600-0990.

The folks over at engadget.com have been posting information on the rumored HTC Supersonic coming to Sprint in 2010. The exact time frame is unknown at this time, but let's hope it's soon. This device is said to be compatible with the Sprint/Clear 4G services.

As a heavy VoIP user, I'm looking for a phone that allow me to dump my expensive "Everything" plan with Sprint, and possibly go to just a low cell minute plan. Between the WiMAX and Wi-Fi capabilities, making pure VoIP calls from just about anywhere in the Austin area should be breeze. Here's some of the specs for this phone found over at engadget:

• Codename is "Supersonic" -- a name we've heard at least once before.
• Feels a lot like you'd expect an Android-powered HD2 to feel thanks to a 4.3-inch non-AMOLED display and a svelte shell. (For reference, the HD2 is 11mm thick, but we don't have exact dimensions here.)
• It's got a kickstand on the back. This wouldn't be a first for HTC; the Imagio on Verizon has one, for example.
• Runs Android 2.1 with HTC's Sense UI.
• Our tipster saw it in white; production devices could be available in different colors, of course, but white seems like it'd be an intriguing choice for a phone of the HD2's size and shape.
• The phone's software stack is buggy enough right now to suggest that we're not looking at a release any time soon, but we don't have details on the projected launch window.
• It's fast -- Snapdragon fast, it seems, though our tipster can't confirm the processor under the hood.

To check out more of the story you can visit engadget.com here.

CLEAR USB Performance Dock (left):  This is a great accessory for the new PXU1900 USB modem, and the first of its kind for WiMAX! The Performance Dock provides increased signal and performance to the PXU1900, and is super portable and easy to use. Instead of connecting the modem directly to your computer, you simply place it in the Performance Dock and then connect the Dock to your computer via USB. Best of all, the USB Performance Dock is a bargain at just $9.99!

IMPORTANT: the Performance Dock is ONLY compatible with the new Mobile USB WiMAX Modem; it is NOT compatible with the original CLEAR USB modem or the 4G+ (U300) modem.

This is the successor to the CLEAR USB modem, and offers some nice benefits over the original. Its internal antenna has been improved for better reception, and it consumes much less power (very important if you're using it in your laptop and your laptop is not plugged in). It also has a hinged/swivel design, meaning you can flip it up instead of having it stick straight out of your laptop. The most exciting aspect of the PXU1900, though, is that it can be used with the optional USB Performance Dock, which also debuted today, for better signal.

Like the original CLEAR USB modem, the Ubee PXU1900 is compatible with both Macs and PCs. As far as routers go, at launch it is only compatible with the PHS300 and MBR 1000, but we anticipate that it will be compatible with other Cradlepoint modems in the near future.

Just plug the CLEAR 4G Mobile USB into any standard USB port on your laptop to get online anywhere in CLEAR coverage. This portable device is small enough to fit in your pocket for the ultimate in mobility and is also compatible with the Cradlepoint PHS300 and MBR 1000 routers so that you can share your WiMAX connection with multiple computers/devices!

Month-to-Month Price: $59.99 (plus taxes)
Lease Price (2-year contracts only): $4.99/mo (plus taxes)

Product details:

• Compatible with the new CLEAR USB Performance Dock
• Enhanced internal antenna for improved reception
• Reduced power consumption
• Requires Windows XP/Vista or Mac OS 10.5/10.6 (or you can use it with the Cradlepoint PHS300 or MBR 1000 router)
• Compatible with CLEAR Mobile plans

What's in the box:

• Clear 4G Mobile USB
• Installation USB Flash Drive
• Right Angle Connector
• Quick Start Guide
• Welcome Letter

Here are a couple of feature-rich WiMAX 4G modems with integrated ATA that will be available to new CLEAR customers. The built-in ATA capability for VOIP of these upcoming WiMAX 4G offerings obviates the need for an external device. With these devices, users can upgrade to VOIP without new equipment being installed or shipped

Let's take a closer look at these upcoming VoIP-enabled modems:

Motorola Series M Home Modem (CPEi 725): This consumer modem comes with a high gain omni-directional antenna that provides good signal strength. This WiMAX 4G modem also offers built-in quality of services (QoS) features, which should provide better data and VOIP performance. The Motorola CPEi 725 will launch in Portland, Oregon for $69.99 or $4.99 monthly on a lease.

Gemtek Series G Home Modem: Specific details about this device are not released yet but it will come with a omni-directional antenna and integrated. The Series G Home Modem will be available in the Las Vegas market for a final price of $69.99 when purchased outright or $4.99 monthly when leased.

It is unknown whether these VoIP-enabled WiMAX 4G modems will be made available as an upgrade for current Clear customers. These modems are only available in limited markets.

There are still a substantial number of existing small businesses and new business start ups that have really never looked into VoIP as an alternative to their local, legacy telecom company. The reasons are varied, but many just don't understand what VoIP technology is, and what it can do for them. Others may have heard more of the negative aspects of VoIP technology that don't necessarily hold true today, such as poor call quality, lower reliability, and the possibility of losing phone service when the power goes out.

With the right network infrastructure, use of high quality VoIP service providers, and a reputable installer, VoIP telephony systems can meet and exceed the quality and reliability found by using the more traditional PSTN telecom companies. In addition, the use of VoIP can result in substantial cost savings in the communications budget, while providing feature sets that greatly improve the perception of professionalism within a company. Every business should at least consider the possibility of using VoIP for their communications needs, and a quick call to a local VoIP consultant can help you to better understand the technology, while highlighting the particular features and available functions your business could benefit from.

So what does VoIP have to offer that should encourage every business to at least consider the technology when it comes time to think about changing current phone service, or installing new phone service in a start up business? Although, there are a great deal of money saving methods, and feature enhancements that a VoIP system can provide, we will focus on a few of the more popular, and frequently used options here.

Stop Paying for Multiple POTS Lines

Many companies are paying for multiple analog or digital phone lines (numbers) from a traditional telecom provider or ISP to handle their incoming or outgoing call volume. Many times, these multiple lines are placed in a hunt group, and only a single number is given to the public. This is a big waste, as VoIP can handle multiple incoming or outgoing calls on a single line.

Reduce Your Outgoing Long Distance Rates

If your business makes a lot of outgoing long distance calls, you can usually reduce your monthly costs significantly by using VoIP over traditional POTS lines. Monthly unlimited fixed rate plans are available, as well as pay as you go plans, where the per minute charges are much less than traditional telecoms. If you don't use much outgoing long distance, consider a pay as you go plan where you pay nothing except for minutes actually used.

Set Up a Toll Free Incoming Number at Incredibly Low Rates

Traditional telecoms charge as much as $10 per month and up to 10 cents per minute for an incoming toll free number. With VoIP, you can choose from many different providers and pay as little as 99 cents per month, and 2.4 cents per minute. Unlike a traditional line, you can handle multiple incoming calls with just a single VoIP line.

Set Up Remote Extensions for Off site Locations or Telecommuting

Using an IP Phone, soft-phone on a laptop, or an analog telephone adapter (ATA), you can hook into an internet connection anywhere in the world and instantly register with your VoIP phone server. This allows you to remotely use your phone in exactly the same manner, with all the same features you would normally have when sitting back at the office.

Reduce Your Monthly Business Related Cell Phone Minutes

You can set up an incoming number on your VoIP phone server that gives you an outgoing dial tone when you phone in. By adding this number to your cell phone's "Friends and Family" list, or Pick 5, Pick X list, you can make outgoing calls using your cell phone for free. By taking advantage of this feature, you can possibly reduce your cellular bill by lowering your outgoing plan minutes.

Use Your Cell Phone to Make VoIP Calls When Wi-Fi is Available

Many of today's smart-phones can utilize available SIP (session initiation protocol) software that will allow your cell phone to register with your phone server whenever there is Wi-Fi available. Once your phone registers with your server, you can use it just like any other remote extension on your system. You'll use the internet to make calls vs using cellular minutes. Once WiMAX and LTE phones start to make an appearance, you can do this all over town, instead of trying to find a hotspot in order to use this feature.

Take Advantage of Several FREE Calling Methods

If you list your VoIP telephone number with ENUM, you can make and receive calls from other VoIP users that are registered utilizing only the internet. You will completely bypass both your VoIP provider, and traditional PSTN telcos when making or receiving a call. In addition, the open source VoIP community is constantly coming up with ways to utilize free calling methods. For instance, there is currently a method of using Google Voice to make and receive free calls. You can also place a Google Voice widget on your website (seen on our home page), which allows web visitors to click and make a free call to your business. This call is also free for you.

Get Cheap, Virtual Numbers Anywhere in The World

Do you do business in one or more distant cities or countries? Depending on your incoming call volume, you might benefit from acquiring a local number in that city or country. These virtual numbers will allow your customers to call a local number, which is then routed to your server. You can get domestic virtual numbers for as little as $2.95 a month, and international numbers for as little as $8.95 per month. This could be a better option than using incoming toll free minutes. You could justify a domestic virtual number if you receive as few as two hours of incoming toll free minutes from a particular area code.

Save Big on New Installations

If you decide that VoIP might be right for your new business, you can save a few bucks by not installing the traditional copper line outlets (RJ11) throughout the office. VoIP phone service requires only ethernet connections (RJ45), even if you decide to use traditional analog phones. You can also hook up multiple phones (as well as computers) in one room or office by adding a switch to that location. You can even use a bridged wif-fi router to provide network connection to locations without a wired outlet.

These were just a few examples of some of the more popular cost saving measures and business enhancing features that can be used to convince a company that VoIP really is a better alternative to other methods of telephone service. With the right installation, and selection of stable, quality service providers, all of the inherent issues that have surrounded VoIP phone systems in the past can easily be overcome, providing exceptional value and quality for all your telecommunications needs. Give your local VoIP consultant a call, and give them the chance to provide you with an affordable, feature rich, solution to your communications requirements.