The last post we covered using VoIP as primary line. This post will be about using VoIP as a second line in your home or small business.

So why should you have VoIP as a second phone line if you akready have a traditional line in your home or business? VoIP probviders typically can save you a tone on long distance charges. If you have family located across the globe, then this is a great option and can save you a tone of money. Some VoIP providers even provide free calls to some countries. Typically all calls within the U.S. and Canada are free.

As we stated in the previous posts, VoIP can provide features that traditional phone service cannot. Features like call forwarding, caller id and e-mail notification of voice mail sets VoIP apart from traditional lines and makes it a great option for a second line in your hime or business. These features are free and included with th monthly service charge, while traditional phone companies charge extra for those features, that’s if they even offer the features.

VoIP or traditional circuit based systems? VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is considered to be the best telephony system today in comparison with the switched circuit based analog systems. VoIP is an IP telephony that manages the transmission and reception of voice information over the Internet. It uses broadband Internet connection for routing the calls. The voice information is managed in the digital form in separate packets using IP (Internet Protocol) rather than using the previously used circuit based transmission. VoIP has become more popular over the last few years because of the quality and reliability of the transmission of voice data, along with the cost advantages over traditional telephone networks.

The special features provided by the VoIP service providers are likely to be voicemail, call waiting, caller ID as well as some advanced features like call tracking, video conferencing and online system management.

Benefits of VoIP for Home based business

• Cost Effective

Cost savings is one of the main reasons for people to use VoIP rather than traditional circuit based system. In this system, you can place a VoIP call using the broadband Internet connection. The call cost remains the same even if you call across the street or across the country. Thus, the users can benefit a lot on long distance charges. The maintenance charges for using VoIP system are very less and are charged as a monthly rate. 

• Small business to look bigger

If you wish to make your home business look and feel like a bigger one, then a virtual PBX (Private Branch Exchange) with a dial-by-name directory can help. These systems may cost thousands to install but, many VoIP companies provide a hosted virtual PBX and you pay based on the time of plan, the cost can sometimes be as low as $2 USD a month. You can provide a separate line to each member of your team, view and print usage reports that show frequency and number of calls from and to each member of your team. 

• Freedom of Movement

Using VoIP service, you can place a call from anywhere you go where there is an Internet connection. The same number can be used even if you move to another city. 

What is the operation of VoIP for Home Office?

When it comes to business VoIP services, whether it is for home based business or a large business, there are options available according to the requirement of every company. The type of VoIP service plan to choose depends on the number of employees using this system. The business VoIP providers provide the Analog telephone Adapter (ATA) which converts the analog signals from a telephone into the digital bit stream for the transmission over the Internet. The ATA can handle up to 2 telephone lines. A fax machine can also be attached with one of the ports as it requires its own private number and phone line. 

With home office VoIP solution note that the extra phone lines and PCs can be attached by connecting them to the LAN side of the router.

For home office environment on small scale, this plan is well suitable and additional phone lines can be attached to it which costs the same monthly rate.