Internet Digital Phone FAQ

Digital phone service has a plethora of benefits. Virtually all VoIP providers offer free local and long-distance service to subscribers. This practice has forced many traditional landline phone companies to offer similar plans to customers. Digital phone subscribers can also benefit from lower international calling rates, experiencing per minute savings of up to 70 percent over traditional phone company rates, in some instances. Features such as caller ID, call waiting and three-way calling are normally included in digital phone packages at no additional cost. Many traditional phone companies still charge extra for these features.

When your Internet connection goes, so does your VoIP service. You may also experience call degradation because the data must travel across the Internet as a function of the calls you make. VoIP phone calls are subject to eavesdropping from outside parties because data encryption is not an industry standard as of the time of this article's publication. Caller ID can be manipulated by malicious individuals who may pose as representatives from your bank or credit card company in order to solicit sensitive account information from you.

You can use satellite Internet to make digital phone calls but the Rural Mobile and Broadband Alliance does not recommend it. Satellite technology suffers from latency, which causes delays in Internet data transfers. This means that you may experience annoying echoes on your digital phone calls and other issues. Most VoIP providers recommend a cable or DSL Internet connection for optimal call quality.

The cost of a digital phone service will vary by provider. In some instances, you may be able to find online VoIP providers that will allow you to make calls for free. Some providers will charge a flat monthly fee for unlimited local and long distance calls. International calls are normally billed by the minute but you may find plans that provide an assigned bucket of international minutes that you can use each month.

In most cases, all you will need is a reliable broadband Internet connection, a touch-tone phone and a phone adapter. If you're using an online digital phone service, you won't need the physical phone or phone adapter but may need to download application software to use the service.