What to Look Out for in Voice over IP (VoIP) Home Phone Service

The growing number of internet-enabled smartphones and Voice over IP (VoIP) services has seen millions of homeowners ditch their landline phones over the last decade. According to a 2017 survey published by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) on the wireless-only trend, over 50% of US homes had only wireless phone services.

With most homes running on internet connection today, homeowners can cut the cord and rely entirely on wireless services. That said, as a homeowner, you need to look out for specific features before going for the cheapest home phone service providers in the market.

5 Features to Consider

With so many VoIP providers today, finding the best for your home can be challenging. However, knowing what features to expect from a home phone service provider should help you narrow down on the ideal company. Here are some features to consider;

  1. Voice Clarity

This is a key feature, especially if you are going for a cordless home phone. Nobody likes being on a line that is garbled or drops sporadically.

Before checking on any other features, always ask, has the VoIP provider designed their home phone with audio clarity in mind? While voice clarity may be affected by your internet connection, you need to go for VoIP models that offer HD acoustic technology.

  1. Voicemail Monitoring

Voicemail monitoring might take various forms. One common feature entails allowing you to listen in as an unknown caller leaves a message and picking at any time.

Most VoIP providers also have a voicemail to email feature that sends you an email in audio form as soon as someone leaves a voicemail on your home phone. With this, you can easily save, share or even delete voicemail messages right from your emails.

  1. Simcard Reader

Inputting your friends and family contacts into your cordless phone can be time-consuming. The Simcard reader allows you to transfer stored numbers directly from your mobile phone to the cordless phone’s phonebook.

Most VoIP providers offer you a phone that can hold up to 250 contacts.

  1. Call Management Features – Caller ID display and Call Forwarding

These features give you direct control over who contacts you. While you can get these features in landline phones as a paid add-on, most VoIP home phones include them automatically. With the caller ID feature, you not only save names to numbers but can also see who’s calling and whose call you’ve missed.

On the other hand, the call forwarding feature allows you to redirect calls to your cell phone when you are away from home. Some VoIP services offer smart call forwarding that will enable you to route calls to several phone numbers.

  1. Security

Security was one of the main downfalls of VoIP home phone services when the tech started. However, with the advancement in VoIP technology, most providers now guarantee security through multiple encryption layers.

In addition to your personal firewall, this level of security should make it difficult for anyone to intercept your calls. Therefore, it advisable to consult your home phone service provider on their security practices before committing to their service.

Conclusion

VoIP is no longer tomorrow’s technology. However, with most home phone providers now offering this service, these features should help you evaluate the home phone deal that best matches your needs.

Check Also

Business Tips for Crafting a Winning Marketing Strategy

A well-crafted marketing strategy serves as the foundation for a business’s ability to thrive in …