VoIP

What is VoIP, anyways?

VoIP is "Voice-Over-Internet" protocol. Basically you connect your phone to the internet connection you use at home, and can call anyone in the world! Not only does it allow for insanely cheap calls overseas like 3 cents a minute calls to Japan, but it is also very, very inexpensive. This is a great way to contact a new penpal, your long distance relationship overseas, or just to save money on your phone bill. Most VoIP services are the price of a dinner date. Vonage, for example, is only $25 a month for unlimited calling to the US, Canada, and Western Europe.

Setup is easy, and doesn't even require the household geek; most people can understand it fairly simply. If you use more than one computer you will have a "router" (if not you can buy one for around $30), All VoIP companies will send you an adapter to plug into the router, which your phone can then plug into, along with instructions on how to activate your new internet phone service. See? Not very hard.

Now for the different companies themselves. Vonage is the common household name, but there are other good VoIP services to consider. Leading contender number two is SunRocket, who offers rates at $199 a year, which translates to only $16.60 a month, and as of this writing on September the 22nd, SunRocket is offering one year free of internet telephony service! Buy one, get one free! So that means over the course of two years you'll have paid only $8.40 a month for phone service! Amazing! SunRocket also gives $3 credit for international calls every month, among other great features.

So go on and sign up for a VoIP service!