Traditional and Internet Phone Comparison - Options

Internet phone refers to services that allow you to place calls through your home computer. Most require your computer to be on in order to make a call. With some internet phone carriers, you must use a microphone and speakers, headset, or speakerphone connected to the computer. Some carriers now offer specialized telephone equipment that allows you to use a cordless or corded phone to make internet phone calls whether your computer is turned on or off. To use the service, you must install special software onto your computer and permit it to use a small amount of your computer's processing power.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), sometimes also referred to as internet phone service, operates through your high-speed internet connection, but isn't connected to your computer and doesn't require your computer's processing power. You don't need special software or a special phone, but you do need a VoIP adapter to connect to your internet router.

Traditional home telephone service, also called POTS or plain old telephone service, is available in any home with a telephone jack. POTS service is provided by local telephone providers.

Digital cable phone service is now offered by some cable television providers. It works similarly to POTS service, but may require an additional visit by a technician to install the service at the outside box and confirm installation in your home.

Wireless (cellular) service is also available in nearly all corners of the US. Several carriers offer wireless service, a selection of handsets, and a variety of packages. Many people are opting to use their cell phones as their primary phones to save money.

Each of these options has advantages and disadvantages. Review this chart to compare each option and decide which is best for you.

	VoIP	Internet Phone	POTS	Digital Cable	Wireless
Cost	$10-30/ month plus set-up fee and per-minute fee	Low monthly fee varies by service, additional low per-minute fee	$6 and up, depending on income level and chosen features	$6 and up, depending on income level, chosen features, and bundling with cable service	$20 and up depending on chosen features and number of calling minutes.
Availability	Anywhere broadband internet access is available	Anywhere broadband internet access is available	Everywhere	In most places were cable television service is available	Anywhere cellular signals can be transmitted
911 Access	In most cases, may require additional fee	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Internatio nal Calling Available	Yes, with low per-minute fee	Yes, with low per-minute fee	Yes, rates vary	Yes, rates vary	Yes, rates vary
Requires Special Equipment	Yes, broadband adapter	Yes, computer	No	No	Yes, cellular telephone
Number Portability	Yes, in most cases	In some cases	Depends how far you move	Depends how far you move	Yes
Local Telephone Number	Yes, in most areas	Yes, in some areas	Yes	Yes	Yes
Requires Internet Connection	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Requires Contract	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Available in Power Outage or Disaster	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Choice of Carriers	Yes	Yes	In some areas	Yes	Yes
Can Send & Receive Faxes	Yes, in some cases	No	Yes	Yes	No