Home Phone Plans

Decide if you even need a home phone. Many people skip the home phone altogether and rely on cell phones as their sole means of communication. This may be the way to go for people who want to save money, but keep in mind that emergency calls can be easily traced if they originate from a landline and emergency personnel can be dispatched more quickly. In addition, many cell phone companies only offer unlimited minutes at night and on the weekends. If you make many calls from home during the day, you may exceed your minutes and wind up with a large cell phone bill.

Choose between VoIP and traditional telephone services. VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, uses the Internet to make phone calls, bypassing the telephone company. To use VoIP, you need a high-speed Internet connection and you will need to be connected to the Internet any time you wish to send or receive a call. Companies such as Vonage and magicJack offer inexpensive plans with unlimited talk time that might appeal to cost-conscious individuals. Explore the advantages and disadvantages of using VoIP to determine if this service is right for you.

Find out which companies offer service in your area. Now that you've decided between VoIP and a traditional telephone service, search the Internet to see which companies offer service in your area and make a list. Write down plan details for all the plans that appeal to you. Rather than writing down every plan offered, choose the plans that have the features you need or want and list all details, including cost, services, long distance charges and restrictions.

Once you've written all the plan details side-by-side, review each plan to find out if there is one that meets all your needs. If you find one plan that is perfect for you and you are happy with the price, you've found your home phone plan. If, the price is too high or none of the plans have everything you want, determine which features are most important, and narrow your list based on those priorities.