With the advancement in technology, one thing is for sure that our life is getting easier by the day and the world is getting closer. Gone are the days when you had to wait for days till your communication reached someone in another city. Now with the advent of internet you can establish connection with your near and dear ones on the other end of the globe instantly with just the click of a button. Now, that is what we call technology.
The VoIP is the most useful mode of communication where in you can communicate from your PC to your friend’s PC on the other end of the world through the internet. It is just as easy as that. Distance hardly matters now. All that matters is the connection or the service provider.
Most of the leading provider of this facility promises a range of features and facilities that looks very attractive at the face of it, but the truth of it often questionable. Pricing is another factor that requires scrutiny before you zero in on the right provider.
Among the many providers, Skype, Lingo and Vonage top the list of popular service providers.
Skype provides the user with 3 basic usages -
A PC to PC call, which is a free voice communication between 2 computer users across the world with the help of an internet broadband connection
Paid SkypeOut voice call from a Skype user to a landline/mobile phone
Paid SkypeIn call from a landline/mobile phone to a Skype user
For home requirement of chatting with family and friends, the Skype PC to PC free call is the best choice. It is known to deliver on most of the promises made on their official website including providing crisp and clear voice quality.
However, if your requirement is for a full scale voice service that caters to PC-to-telephone and telephone-to-PC services then you need to step up the paid categories. Skype offers a flat global rate for some of the most popular destinations worldwide and specific rates for other destinations.
The Skype cost plans are easy to understand and hence making a choice is relatively simple.
Another leader in this field is Lingo. This service provider is a great save on your telephone bill. However, to get the most of your VoIP, you need to look at the international tariffs because that is where VoIP scores over the traditional connection. If you frequent caller to Asia, then Lingo’s Asia package is sure an advantage. Lingos international rates to individual countries are lower when compared to Vonage but higher than Skype packages.
Skype has the lowest call rates but provides limited features. On the other end is Vonage which offers consistent call quality and host of features but is dearer on your budget. Although voice quality is not up to mark, Lingo provides the same set of features as the Vonage.
The features provided are many and the utility diverse. To get the maximum benefit from your VoIP provider, you need to look into the key factors of pricing and features provided and weigh them with respect to quality of the service promised. This will help you in making the right choice reaping the benefits.
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