Cheap Phone Services: Pros and Cons

Cheap phone services!

What's the catch?

It's a common and reasonable reaction. Most of us associate "cheap" with inferior. Technology is the exception to the rule. We expect computers, televisions, MP3 players, cell phones ... to become better, faster, smaller ... while getting cheaper all the time.

In the same way a new generation of technology has reduced the cost of establishing and operating phone services. The modern digital Internet phone service is is a classic example of how technology can reduce costs.

Online Phone Services - the Pros

1. They're cheap and can reduce the average phone bill by more than fifty percent.

2. Unlimited services at a capped cost. If you don't have an unlimited phone service, it's time to switch.

3. Features, features, features ... In the old days everything was hard wired and fixed. It's now all software and data driven. The result - greater flexibility.

4. Robust and resilient IP networks made the convergence of: voice, email, fax, video, Web ... possible.

5. Free trials, no contracts, no risk - symptoms of increased competition.

6.

Online Phone Services - the Cons

1. Poor voice quality and dropped calls. These are issues mainly associated with early VoIP systems and the cheapest PC to phone options.

2. Emergency calls - no longer an issue: E911

3. Vulnerability to power outages. It's an Achilles heal, but possibly a bigger deterrent for residential users. Businesses are all too aware that when power is lost it impacts everything: lighting, computers, photocopiers, faxes, machinery ... everything stops.

Conclusion

Today's cheap phone services will become even cheaper. The traditional landline phone companies are attempting to slow down the inevitable by spreading FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt). It's a short term strategy that will fail.

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