Maggie's Farm

Phone Options: Should I Switch?

(This piece from a guest writer, fellow hunter, and our local tech whiz and tech biz whiz, on whom we should rely more often for these highly-paid contributions to Maggie's.)

Times are changing. Did you know that if you have broadband internet service you now have a viable option to replace your old telephone? Why would you change?  There are some good reasons to do so, and relatively few not to. It's a real problem for Ma Bell, but not so for you and me. It is called Voice over Internet Protocol, or VOIP for short.

What is VOIP (Voice over internet protocol)?  As you may have figured out it is basically phone service over the internet, but you don't use your computer - you use your regular telephone.  Huh?  That's right.  If you get a call your phone rings - not your computer. Here is how it works: You sign up for the service using the provider of you choice (Vonage is a solid provider of voip service, but there are several to choose from). Next you receive a small interface box from your provider which you then plug into your broadband modem with one plug and plug the other end into your phone jack and you are done. Basically, anyone who can plug in a vacuum cleaner can accomplish this task. Now you are ready to make your first Voip call. Estimated install time 10 min ( less than 2 min for your average Maggie's farm reader).

Q&A

Does a call sound different? No

Does my phone ring or does my computer ring? Phone rings.

What if I dial 911? The earliest versions of Voip had some issues but today there are rules in place that require providers to provide emergency dialing, so it is no longer a big drawback.

What if the power goes out?  This is the biggest issue. If the power goes out your telephone will work but your VOIP won't (but neither will your cordless phones).  The main reason is because the modem needs electricity to work.  You can for a small investment buy an APC unit.

There are a few other small issues that could arise. For example, your alarm company may not be able to monitor your home over VOIP but these, like many other tiny issues will get resolved with time.

But why change?  The answer is money. Voip service is cheap. Usually for a flat fee like 20 p/m you get unlimited calls in the US and Canada, Caller ID and Call waiting for a flat rate. Everything is included for free.  The Bell companies charge a line fee + caller id + call waiting + usage fees. What you usually wind up with is something that looks a lot more expensive than Voip that isn't any better. Are you ready to switch?  I haven't yet, but I'm about to.

(Photo is the Western Electric Model 417, in production from 1907-1937)