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Wednesday, May 22nd
2024 VoIP Service Reviews
1-VoIP
- $8.97 per month for residential services
- Additional residential numbers at $2.95 per month
- $14.97 per month for Business VoIP
- Built in robocall filtering with "Nomorobo"
- 24/7 Customer Service
The telecom provider 1-VoIP has been in business for over 40 years. Transitioning to VoIP in 2005, 1-VoIP is known for their prompt 24/7 customer service and their affordable VoIP plans. With a long history of reliable service, 1-VoIP is a stable and dependable player in the VoIP field.
Three services, three plans each
1-VoIP offers three types of VoIP services: residential, professional, and SIP trunking. Conveniently, each service offers three independent plans depending on your budget and needs.
Cost efficient residential plans
1-VOIP offers 3 residential plans to choose from: For all residential plans, users pay on a monthly basis with no required term commitments. Additional numbers on a residential plan cost $2.95 per month, something to keep in mind if you're looking for multiple numbers. The 3 plans include:
- The Residential Value Plan will set you back a mere $8.97 per month, and features unlimited incoming minutes and 500 outgoing minutes.
- The US & Canada Unlimited Plan costs $17.97 per month and gives you unlimited calls in the U.S. and Canada, with the added plus of free shipping for the necessary hardware.
- The World Unlimited Plan is a good choice for cross-country callers. At $23.97 per month, it offers unlimited calls to thirty countries and free shipping for hardware. This works well for those with overseas family or friends.
Interesting extras, inconvenient app
All of 1-VoIP's residential plans include voicemail to email, an "anonymous caller" reject, whitelist and blacklist functions, a "virtual fax" service, and customizable digital call forwarding between phones. That being said, 1-VoIP does not currently support video-calling on their residential plans, and their "softphone" app for desktop and smartphone has received poor reviews. Users report crashes, inconvenient user-interfaces, bugs, and a messy SMS system. If you rely heavily on your smartphone for texting or video calling, then you may want to look elsewhere for your VoIP provider.
Robocall blocking
1-VoIP's partnership with Nomorobo - an award winning robocall blocker service - is a standout from other competitors, and a key consideration for anyone fed up with the (seemingly endless) increase in spam calls.
Affordable SIP Trunking
If your business utilizes a PBX phone system, then you may want to consider 1-VoIP's SIP trunking service. SIP trunking is similar to VoIP, but has no incoming call or extension limits, so you won't need to pay-per-extension. 1-VoIP offers a $4.97 per number SIP Trunking service, and $25 per month "minute bundle" for a total of $29.95 per month with one number. They also offer a metered toll free number should you require it, costing $5.95 per month with an additional 3.5¢ per minute meter for US calls, and 5.5¢ per minute for Canada.
Reasonable business plans...
Business plans range from a 2¢ per minute metered plan at $14.97 per month per extension, a $19.97 per extension middle plan with a lower monthly fee, and a heftier contractual " professional" plan at $29.97 per month with phone numbers for each extension and a low initial price. All plans come with the benefits of a VoIP service, and multiple options for phones included.
...but hidden "add-on" services
No matter your plan, if you want a virtual fax line, the ability to make conference calls, or a toll free number, you'll need to pay an extra monthly fee. You wouldn't know that to begin with though - the information is hidden at the end of the ordering process. We think that generally, it's better to let customers know about added monthly fees for crucial services before they are ready to complete their order. Reviews from business customers have also reported errors with 1-VoIP's call forwarding system and confusing charges involving unwanted extensions.
A good choice, but not for everyone
If you are looking for a no-frills, affordable, and spam filtered residential VoIP service at a reasonable price, you'd do well with 1-VoIP. However, if you rely on your smartphone, 1-VoIP's softphone app may leave you feeling frustrated. In addition, business customers may want to check if services they require are billed as "extras" in their chosen plan and consider accordingly.
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What's the Best VoIP System on the Market Today?
If there's one constant about standard cellular phone providers, it's that the bills add up. Since the early internet folks have been switching to VoIP services to lower their bills, and that still holds true today. Depending on your current cellular plans and needs, switching to a VoIP provider could potentially save you hundreds of dollars.
What is VoIP? VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It's a fancy way of saying that instead of utilizing cellphone towers and frequencies, a VoIP connects to your home or business internet, and sends that data over the internet.
Continue reading below
VoIP Service FAQ
Voice over Internet Protocol or "VoIP" is a technology that allows phones to make and receive calls digitally over the Internet, without the use of the typical analog phone jacks installed in homes and businesses prior to the era of the Internet. The result is cheaper phone service than with analog phone systems because the "line" is simply whatever Internet connection you currently have. Calls are routed independently through the distributed nature of the Internet rather than through a large phone company. You also get a number of features with VoIP phones that analog phones simply don't provide.
The quality of a VoIP phone call depends on your Internet connection. If you have a slow Internet connection and a poor-quality phone, modem, and router, you'll experience about the same call quality as with a basic analog phone connection. However, if you have a good connection and choose a VoIP vendor that provides high-quality phone and Internet hardware, your calls will be much better than with analog phone systems.
The best VoIP services and phones provide high-quality audio and video calling, call waiting, call forwarding, outbound and inbound faxing, inexpensive international calling. Great VoIP services will also include an app for your mobile phone as well as for your Mac or PC, advanced conference calling features, anonymous call rejection, call blocking via allow and block lists, and on-hold music. You should also look for free shipping of hardware, monthly billing with no contracts, and high-quality, responsive, 24/7 customer support.
The least expensive VoIP services cost under $10 per month in service fees for residential use. Business VoIP services can cost considerably more depending on the number and types of features they offer. Taxes and fees pertaining to your locality also apply. Look for a VoIP service that doesn't charge a high amount for the hardware. Services that provide free calling or free hardware do exist, but are somewhat rare. Avoid contracts whenever possible so you have the option of switching to a new service on your own terms.
Contracts do exist for some VoIP services and systems. Typically, these are non-residential business-class systems that are built, operated, and serviced specifically for small, medium, and large businesses. Residential contract VoIP does exist but is usually not worth the trouble in the event that another service provider comes along that provides better service and lower cost.
One weakness of VoIP phones is that, unlike analog phone systems, when the power goes out, your Internet service typically will also be deactivated. This is due to the fact that VoIP phones rely on Internet routers and modems that are connected to electrical outlets the same way a lamp or TV is connected to power. There is no electrical power coming from a battery or through the cable Internet wires to the phone. On the contrary, analog phone lines receive electricity from the same jack and wire that connect to the phone, so when the local power grid fails, the phone company still delivers backup power to the telephone. That is why it is important to have a backup phone or mobile phone in the event of a power outage, in case you need to call emergency services.
You do not always need a computer to use VoIP systems. VoIP phones are standalone devices that receive their signal from your Wi-Fi router or are plugged directly into your Internet modem. Sometimes you'll want to chain your VoIP phone through your computer to use certain computer-related features, but it's not a requirement for most VoIP phones. To use the "softphone" application some VoIP vendors offer, you will need to install it on your computer and then turn on your computer each time you need to use it.
Yes, most VoIP plans will include the ability to port your existing numbers to their service. Many will do it for free. However, be aware that some providers will apply a fee per line for doing so. It can also take up to four weeks for a number to be ported from one phone system to another. You may be given a temporary phone number to use while the transfer completes.
Continued from above...
One of the main advantages that people look for in a VOIP system is cost-effectiveness. VoIP calls are transmitted over the internet, which can result in cost savings compared to traditional phone systems, especially for long-distance and international calls.
Another advantage of VoIP is flexibility. Phone users can make and receive calls from anywhere with internet connectivity, using a variety of devices such as traditional land phones, smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. This makes VoIP ideal for users who require mobility and need to stay connected on the go.
VoIP also offers a wide range of advanced features such as call forwarding, voicemail, call waiting, caller ID, call routing, conference calling, and more. These features are sometimes included at no extra cost to your system, making VoIP a cost-effective solution for people who like these features.
What should you look for in a Residential VoIP provider? While switching to a VoIP can be a smart and budget-friendly choice, not all VoIP companies are the same. The field is rife with confusing plans, coercive marketing, and scammy business practices.
We've scoured what's there, and found both the best of the best, plus a few general tips for you to keep in mind:
- Hidden fees: Do you pay upfront or monthly? Is your plan contract, pre-pay, or at will? Does the company have a history of scammy policies like cancellation fees? Sometimes, upfront savings are used to hide a coercive customer structure, so watch out.
- Hardware and software: Do they offer you the necessary hardware for free, make you pay upfront, or "lease" it to you? In addition, do they offer a "softphone" (desktop and smartphone application for use with your plan), and does the softphone work? Also, do they protect you from spam and robocalls, and does doing so cost extra?
- Customer service: How easy is it to cancel your subscription? Would they let you do so without fuss, or force you into a series of sales pitches? In addition, are they responsive to technical difficulties, and do they support the easy installation of your product?
- International calling: what are their international calling plans? Do they offer unlimited plans or minutes? Do they let you set up a "virtual number" in a chosen country to receive calls and no cost to your callers? In addition, do they let you call all numbers in their offered countries, or just landlines?
There are a surprising amount of considerations for a VoIP system, but don't let that dissuade you. Top Consumer Reviews has found excellent companies offering top of the line VoIP systems and support, all of which offer significant savings when compared to their cellular competitors. Whatever your preference, from robust blackout-resistant services to extreme budget friendly competitors, with this guide you'll be sure to find a VoIP service that floats your boat.
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