As technology continue to evolve at break neck speed, many online users are turning to VOIP technology for higher cost savings and greater convenience. International phone calls made from traditional phones usually lead to hefty phone bills. With VOIP technology, that is a thing of the past. These days, anyone with a computer, an IP phone, and an internet connection can make an international phone call at highly affordable rates (sometimes even for free).

But in order to take advantage of this wonderful technology, one must first join a VOIP service provider. A VOIP service provider is a supplier of internet phone services. You have to first sign up as a member to use their technology to make international phone calls.

Once you sign up with a service provider, you will be provided with special software that you need to install on your computer. A special piece of hardware such as an IP phone will also be needed. This may or may not be provided by your service provider. If it is not provided, you will have to purchase one on your own.

Using your IP phone, you will then be able to connect to the network using the software that you have just installed into your computer. Your calls will be free if you are calling someone who is also on the same network as you are. You only need to pay when you make calls to someone who is not a member of the network - such as calling someone on his or her personal cell phone. However, these calling rates are often more affordable than traditional international calling rates.

Of course, when choosing the right VOIP service provider, comparing calling rates is a must. After all, you don't want to be stuck with a provider where you can only call members who are on the same network as you are. And you can't call others simply because the rates are too high. It is rare that you find rates that are unreasonable high, but still, it is wise to make the comparison as this will lead to long term cost savings.

In addition to cost, read reviews on the quality of the products and services provided by the supplier. For instance, is the software buggy? Or is the voice quality great? Asking these important questions will help you make better buying decisions.

Also, as a consumer of VOIP services, you should also compare features offered by the many different service providers. Find out the specifications for special features like call forwarding, call waiting, call return, Caller ID and so on. Check if there are any additional fees for the features that you require.

In sum, there are three general areas that you should compare before making your decision - price, quality, and features. Always try to strike a balance between these three, and never decide based solely on price alone. For all you know, there may be some important features that are not available from the supplier, which you may discover that you sorely need later.