Risks of Changing From a Traditional Phone System to VoIP

As long as you have a corded phone attached to your landline, you can make phone calls even if you do not have power to your home. With VoIP, the phone line only works if you can turn your computer on and use your broadband connection. Without electricity, neither of these is possible. This means you could be without a phone in an emergency.

While VoIP phone lines require users to have a broadband connection, the reliability of the service is not guaranteed. Depending on how many users are accessing the Internet service in your area at a given time, you may experience reduced sound quality and disconnections. These issues occur more often during high-traffic times, which are likely the same times you use the phone. Landlines always offer the same quality and dropped calls do not occur.

Even though some types of VoIP offer E911, which provides 911 operators with your home address and phone number, this type of service is not available in all locations. Many locations still use software-based VoIP, which is the most common type. Software-based VoIP does not provide the operator with any information and if there is an emergency where you cannot relay this information to the operator, you may not get the help you need. In a situation where you require the help of 911, a landline is your best option.

Talking over your landline phone is relatively private as long as you are not using a cordless device and your phone is not tapped. With a VoIP phone, there is a risk that your conversation may travel unencrypted. If this happens, someone could intercept your call and use it to gather your personal information. While this is not necessarily a high risk, it is a possibility.

While telemarketers can be a problem with landline phones, using a VoIP line poses the risk of allowing attackers into your computer in various forms. For instance, marketing companies can develop messages that can be sent out in mass quantities, similar to the way they send spam to email addresses. These messages take up more space than spam emails do. In addition, hackers can make calls with false caller ID information that can trick people into giving private information such as bank account numbers, social security numbers, full names and addresses.