Number One Reason to Choose VoIP: It's Cheap

By Ashley Caputo, TMCnet Web Editor

Since PSTN relies on circuit switching, when phone calls are routed through analogy phone technology, it can be both slow and costly. Traditional phone providers also charge more per minute, whether it is a local or long distance call as opposed to VoIP technology, which uses the Internet. With over 56 million hours worth of customer conversations a day emitted from the call center industry, you could say these organizations rely heavily on choosing the right communications platform ­– otherwise they will be stuck playing hefty bills at the end of each month.

For VoIP users it doesn’t matter how far a call travels across the country, the cost doesn’t change. VoIP providers don’t charge extra per minute, rather it is just a low monthly fee for unlimited calling. Don’t believe in the benefits of VoIP just yet? Take a few minutes to read how a PSTN calling plan compares to a VoIP-based calling plan.

PSTN

Verizon (News - Alert) offers a basic calling package for $54.99 a month, which includes regional toll and long distance calling to Canada and Puerto Rico with the Verizon Five Cents Plan, which is another $6.00 reoccurring charge users can pay$0.05 per minute. For the best international plan, Verizon offers the World Plan 500 for $19.99, which includes 500 free international minutes. After those minutes are finished, users are subject to Verizon’s call rates to the country they are calling. So, in total and without going over the international minute limits, a user is paying $80.98 plus tax.

VoIP

PowerNet Global, a provider of communication solutions, offers a Digital @ Home VoIP service that sends regular phone calls over a user’s existing Internet line.  Its Digital Phone (News - Alert) @ Home Unlimited Plus Plan, which is the most expensive package it offers, offers unlimited local calls, unlimited long distance calls, unlimited calls to Canada and unlimited international calls to select countries, which is very dense, for $19.99. In total, and without the restriction of minutes per month, a user will be paying $19.99 plus tax.

Not only do PowerNet Global (News - Alert) and VoIP in general offer users an inexpensive way to communicate, there is no limitation on how many calls can be made. Most companies also offer a ton of other features like free activation and shipping, caller ID, call forwarding and voicemail.  

So, for the PSTN users out there who haven’t made the switch to VoIP yet, be sure to visit the PowerNet Global website to learn more about its packages.

(source: http://www.tmcnet.com/channels/voip-call-center/articles/338173-number-one-reason-choose-voip-its-cheap.htm)