Free VoIP Providers and VoIP calls

VoIP calling is rising in popularity. As consumers try to choose the right provider and services, they might first consider experimenting with Internet phone technology by taking advantage of free VoIP calls.

Some providers offer free services on strictly a temporary basis. Others offer them all the time.

You may find that the free services meet all of your needs. There are several things to consider when looking at providers offering free calls.

Free VoIP providers are advertising all across the Internet. Be sure to do some thorough research to be sure that you are selecting wisely. It is imperative that you have a high-speed Internet connection. Most providers will use your existing connection to provide their phone services. If you have a slower connection, you will not experience high enough quality to make Internet calling work.

Since the desired result is a phone service that has the same quality of a land line, your Internet connection speed is key.

Some free Internet phone providers, like InPhonex offer VoIP at no cost only if both parties (calling and receiving) are using their services.

This can work well as long as you are able to convince friends and family to sign up for the same service.

Some providers offer free VoIP services only from personal computer to personal computer, not allowing you to call from a computer to a land line without incurring a fee.

Others do offer computer to land line calls.

Some free VoIP providers, like Skype and Gizmo, offer additional services like voicemail for a fee.

Be sure you clarify what is included when you are investigating any provider.

Another very important point to consider is the software to be installed. Most VoIP providers require their software to be downloaded and installed on your personal computer.

Be sure to verify the requirements, to make sure your system has the required available memory, speed and other necessities.

An important factor in any phone service transaction is your actual phone number.

Many services charge for a phone number, but some Internet phone providers offer free VoIP numbers.

You need to be sure you understand what type of number you are receiving. A DID (direct inbound dialing) number acts basically like any traditional phone number. The DID number can be called from any land line number.

Some providers may offer free virtual numbers. These virtual numbers cannot be directly dialed from a land line, and are used when calling from computer to computer. But it is important to note that many VoIP providers allow you to forward calls from a virtual number to a DID number, thus making connection to and from regular land line numbers simple and efficient.

When considering a VoIP provider, be sure to investigate their service area. Some allow free calls only within a certain geographical areas. Others offer free calls internationally, usually to and from a limited number of countries.

As with any voice over Internet protocol phone service, quality is key. With the number of viable providers offering free services, the consumer has the opportunity to try out VoIP.

With the right provider, you may even be able to try out additional services, like fax and voicemail. See how they work with your current set up and Internet provider.

Check the quality, and then make your decision. As stated earlier, you may find a provider that satisfies all your web phone needs.