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Phone Service

Author: TechShortcut Staff | Article updated: June 21, 2008

3. Next Steps

Overall, if you have a solid Internet connection and you are looking to save on long distance and international calls, consider VoIP. VoIP service is typically cheaper and includes more functionality than regular phone service. However, if your network will not support expected call volumes using VoIP you will need to consider the cost of upgrading your Internet connection or adding a separate voice network.

You can add more flexibility to the mix by choosing a different phone service option for inbound versus outbound calls or by using a separate service for long distance calling.

If you ever plan on adding an in-house phone system, check that the phone line service meets the phone system requirements first. Ideally, any phone system you add should be able to support both VoIP and traditional analog lines to give you more flexibility.

	1. Traditional Phone	2. Cell Phone	3. Phone VoIP	4. Computer VoIP
General Advice	Predictable quality.	The most flexible option but overage charges can add up and call quality can be spotty.	If you are looking to save on your phone service you will definitely want to look into VoIP.	Can be a great fit for anyone that travels frequently or is working solo hardware may not be required and configuration is typically very simple. Calls can even be placed over Wi-Fi hotspots.
Find Local Tech Specialists Search TechShortcut's tech profiles for specialists in your area	Telephone Service	Cell Phone Service	VoIP Service
Find More Information Use Research Helper to find related web articles	Phone Service	"Cell Phone"	VoIP	Computer VoIP
Examples of Products and Services These are not endorsements, simply some product or service names we encountered in our research to get you started finding your best fit.	AT&T Your local telephone service providers	AT&T MetroPCS Sprint T-Mobile Verizon	AT&T CallVantage Lingo Packet8 Verizon Vonage	Software-based AIM Phoneline ¹ GizmoVoIP Skype ¹ Yahoo Voice ¹ ¹ Calls between members within the network are free. Hardware-based magicJack Snap Communicator