Is an Internet Phone a Good Fit?

There’s a lot of hype surrounding internet phones. For many people, it might seem like the next step in the evolution of technological advancement. But, is that kind of phone right for you? In order to make an informed decision, we should first define what it is. An internet phone (often called a WiFi phone) is a phone that has the capabilities to connect to a standard cell phone network as well as a local wireless network (or wireless LAN). These phones use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to convert analogue signals into digital signals and transmit them over the internet. Now that we know the basics of what an internet phone is, let’s break down its features to find out who might be a good candidate to own one.

One of the main selling points for an internet phone is that it can work wherever there is an available wireless network. Since it can function on either a standard or a wireless signal, there are probably very few places where a call cannot be made. If the standard phone network doesn’t have reception in a particular area (but there’s a wireless network in the area), the phone will automatically switch onto the wireless network. With the ubiquity of standard cell phones, their network can become bogged down with millions of users - creating slow service. Having an internet phone can sidestep this hassle because the local wireless network can often have fewer users and therefore a faster, more stable connection.

Having a standard phone means that if the specific network you’re using goes down or doesn’t have a signal in an area, you won’t be able to make a call. An internet phone won’t have that dilemma, because as long as there’s a wireless network in the area, a call can be made. If you travel a lot or are frequently in an area where standard phone reception isn’t reliable, this might be a good alternative. Since it doesn’t require constant access to a standard network, it’s a flexible option.

If you do not loom under the constant danger of dropping a call and you are rarely in a place where there’s no service, then an internet phone would probably be classified as a luxury item. Since it’s a relatively new technology, the prices might be higher than if it were old news. Surfing the net is a good way to get the lowdown on companies (typically cable TV providers), that offer service at a reasonable rate. TheCableStudy.com is an entire site dedicated to telephone, Internet and cable comparisons. We list the cable companies, small and large, that operate within the country. On our site, you can search by state or cable provider and we’ll give you everything you need to know about each company: how large it is, its prices, the features they offer in a given area, and much more.