Compare Rates on VOIP in Pennsylvania

VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol (pronounced voyp), is a relatively new phone service offered that allows you to use your computer to make voice phone calls. VoIP converts an analog voice signal to a digital signal that can travel over the Internet until it reaches it's destination. It is then converted back to a voice signal for the person on the other line.

In order to use VoIP, you need to have a high speed Internet connection, also known as a broadband connection. You also need a special adapter for your phone that will change the signal your voice travels on. You can hook your regular telephone up to your cable modem or through the adapter and send calls as you normally would. Also, there is no limitation on how many phones you can hook up with VoIP.

There are approximately nine carriers of VoIP service in the Pennsylvania area. They include: Emulous Communications Inc., Advanced Production Group, Lyrio, Justin-Time-Innovations, A-TEL, Total Telcom Consulting, Allegheny Productions, Expert Service Providers, Tri-State Voice and Data Inc.

The advantages for using VoIP is that you don't have to change phone numbers--in most cases you can keep your old phone number and just switch providers. Second is the price reduction that comes along with using VoIP phone services. Because of the way that the VoIP service companies around Pennsylvania rate their calls, it is much cheaper to talk to people from around the world as long as they have an Internet connection. You can also talk to more than one person at the same time with VoIP at no extra cost.

In respect, there are a couple of disadvantages to using VoIP. The most common disadvantage with VoIP is calls being disconnected or having problems connecting because of a slow or unreliable Internet connection. The other problem is with 911 emergency service calls made using VoIP--the calls can't be traced geographically as they are with regular telephone landlines.