The Internet is changing the way we do a lot of things, and these are not small changes. Most used the Internet when it first became popular as a form of entertainment, and as perhaps a new way to shop. Today, business is conducted online, and some earn a living through their Internet connection. What is even more amazing is that you can get your landline phone service though your Internet connect. This is call VoIP.



Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is not really new, but is new to most consumers. This technology allows for lower prices and a range of free features that would normally cost you money through your traditional phone service provider. What is even better is that you can make many long distance calls for free, and other international calls come with a very low rate.

There are some downsides to VoIP however. One would be that if there is a power outage, or if your Internet connection goes down, you no longer have phone service. If you have a cell phone, this may not be a big deal to you, but it can cause problems. Another issue some have is that they wish to switch to VoIP, but they don't want to go through the hassle of having a new phone number. They may try to port their phone number, but it may not always happen.

Porting is the act of taking your phone number from one carrier to the other. This is common with cell numbers when moving from one provider to the next. There are some laws that require porting to be available, but it does not necessarily include companies that offer VoIP. Some may not do it for you, and if they do, the process can take weeks to take place. These companies are not required to do this for you, but you will find that some are more than willing.

VoIP is much like your home phone service, which means you may encounter some of the same problems. You will have caller ID, usually for free, and many other great features. However, the caller ID is not quite as good, and you may get numbers that come up without a name, or just the state from which the call was placed. If you hesitate to answer because you don't know who it is, you can always use a reverse lookup to find out who owns a phone number.

Voice over internet protocol is on the cutting edge of internet technology and could have a hand in changing the landscape of telecommunications as we know it. As this technology further develops, elements of convenience should grow in leaps and bounds for users.