When considering which VoIP service you would want to use, you will come across several options, each one with its advantages and disadvantages. You will also find that some are easier to use than others, and that certain products can serve as a solution to a particular situation. Questions like "what are most of my friends using?" or "is the VoIP service free?" are usually the first ones to come to mind, but they only scratch the surface. There is much more underneath.
You will also find legions of users who have embraced "SIP" (and they can certainly show devotion to that). They will tell you that a given VoIP service is not SIP, that it is not interoperable, that it is not open, and what not. If you are seeking for connecting with friends and relatives who use a product that is not "SIP", then it will not matter to you whether a VoIP service is "SIP" compatible or not, unless you are planning to expand the service soon (but I mean, expanding it big, for instance if you want to start by talking to five or ten people and you think you will need to reach any telephone in the world in the near future).
If you are not ready to develop certain degree of expertise on networking or seek professional advice, it might be better to go for a popular product that you know will work "out of the box" and focus on its cost (if anything), quality and features. It is true that you can find VoIP services that will manage the switchboard (or, PBX) of a full blown company, but that involves putting together different providers and making use of above average technical skills, unless you are willing to put the whole operation of your business at risk in order to save a little money.
When it comes to free VoIP services, it is better to keep in mind that being free will come hand to hand with some limitation (such as not being able to make or receive calls from telephone lines) or that they are promotions (for instance, free VoIP services that allow only brief calls to given destinations, or are basic versions of a paid product that they seek to promote). Check out if the free version covers your initial needs, and what is the price of the paid features that you might need.
One thing is for sure: any VoIP service will let you communicate more, for less.
About this Author
You can take advantage of low cost and free telephone calls, as well as learn more about VoIP technology and how it can benefit you, whether you use it to contact your family and friends, or wish to use VoIP for large business applications. The author, Marc B Hughes, operates his own website.
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