WhichVoIP Articles and Guides Index

This index provides access to ALL of the WhichVoIP published articles and guides. Each article is assigned a topic, for example "Business" if it is related to business phone service, or "Residential" if it is related to residential phone services.

To help you find articles that are of interest to you this index is split into the following topics. Use these quick links to access the group of articles that relates to your research.

• Residential Service Related
• Business Service Related
• SIP Trunking Related
• Mobile VoIP Related
• Broadband Internet Service Related

Residential Articles

The following articles and guides relate to residential phone services and are sorted by date, starting with the most recently posted.

	VoIP Voicemail Service VoIP based voicemail service offers significant advantages over traditional analog voicemail answering machines. In this guide we discuss the differences and the benefits to using modern digital techniques for voicemail.
	Portable VoIP Phones In this article we cover options to consider for portable VoIP phones at different budget levels. From basic analog cordless devices using an ATA to true cordless VoIP phones and also WiFi desk phones, see which works best for you.
	MagicJack Competitors MagicJack has become a household name for its low cost VoIP phone service. In this article we will look at some of the strengths and weaknesses of the magicJack product and service, and also introduce some alternatives and how they compare.
	How to Stop Robocalls and Telemarketers In 2019 Americans received 58.5 billion robocalls. In this guide we provide some ways to counteract these rogue calls using standard features available in VoIP along with some third party services such as Nomorobo.
	Skype vs Facetime vs Google Hangouts Comparison Skype, Facetime and Google Hangouts are three of the most popular messaging applications for voice, video and even texting in certain cases. There are pro's and con's to each solution so it is time well spent to perform a comparison prior to utilizing any of these products, especially if you are going to transfer your home phone number to one of them.
	No Dial Tone Troubleshooting If you have ever picked up your phone handset only to find there is no dial tone, you know how frustrating it is. Learn about some troubleshooting tips to fix no dial tone problems for landline and VoIP service.
	Ghost Call Prevention Have you ever had a ghost call on your phone at home or business? Your phone rings in the early hours, you jump out of bed to answer and nothing but silence on the other end. It's so annoying. Well there are a few reasons why this occurs and only a few ways to stop them. Learn more in our guide to preventing ghost calls.
	Top 10 Landline Replacement Options It's time to join the masses and cut your landline phone service. You will save a small fortune and love the new features that come your way. In this guide we focus on the top 10 landline replacement options for home and business users.
	How to Block Phone Numbers and Stop Unwanted Calls Learn how to block phone numbers and stop annoying callers from every reaching you in the first place. This in depth guide looks at the various ways you can stop unwanted calls on different devices and services.
	Seattle VoIP Phone Companies WhichVoIP is based in Seattle so we created a page for local visitors to our site so they could find a list of phone companies that base themselves in the greater Seattle area. You will find providers for both home and business service.
	Top 10 Messaging Apps for 2021 Messenger apps on mobile devices are extremely popular around the globe and are starting to really take off in the US. This article investigates the world's top 10 messaging apps for 2016 and their reach among mobile users in the US.
	10 Tips on Caller ID Spoofing that help you Fight Back Scammers are on the increase and they are using caller ID spoofing to trick you into answering the phone. They will then attempt to fool you into parting with some sensitive information that they can use for fraudulent activities. Unfortunately, in many cases they succeed and can leave the unsuspecting person with some major headaches. Find out how you can protect yourself from these scammers.
	Ooma vs Vonage Ooma and Vonage are two popular options for home phone service. There are also many other services to choose from which makes finding the best provider a somewhat challenging and often frustrating task. This article takes an in depth look at these two services and provides recommendations on which to choose depending on your specific requirements.
	Top 5 Phone Power Complaints and How to Solve Them Phone Power is a popular residential VoIP phone service provider. But, like many things in life, not everything is perfect. In this article we take a look at the top 5 complaints from Phone Power users and ways to fix them.
	Is It Time To Park or Forward Your Phone Number? Are you thinking of getting rid of your land-line but don't want to lose the phone number you have had for years? If so, then phone number parking or forwarding services could be the right solution to meet your needs. These services are not only helpful to consumers but also for any business that changes location and wants to use a different phone number, while ensuring they can still be reached on the old number.
	What is WiFi Calling and How to do it for Free A good example of WiFi calling is using a Skype app on your Smartphone to make calls while connected to a wireless network. Cell phone carriers have recently been enabling this functionality on certain devices such that an app is no longer required. VoIP providers are also pushing this technology as a value add for their regular hosted services. This article discusses what WiFi calling is, why it is becoming more popular, and how it is being packaged by different service providers.
	netTALK vs magicJack The netTALK DUO (II and WiFi) and magicJack Plus products are popular with consumers as they offer the promise of home phone service at a comparatively low cost. While these products can potentially work great for some, they can be a complete nightmare for others. Read this in depth comparison to decide if either service is right for you, or avoid them altogether.
	Top 3 Google Voice Competitors in 2021 Google Voice provides an interesting option for phone service. Before you decide to go down that path though you should consider other unlimited calling phone service options. This article introduces 3 top competitors and provides a comparison of all 4 solutions.
	Cheap International Calling Options for 2021 You no longer have to spend a fortune to make phone calls to friends and family in other countries. There are now multiple ways that you can easily make free or cheap international calls, send text messages or even have a video call between two different countries. If you make an international call more than once a month, check your bill and see how much it costing you, then compare some of the options in this comprehensive article.
	Obihai and Google Voice for Free Calls Obihai makes Analog Telephone Adapters (ATAs) that transform your regular home phone into a VoIP capable telephone. The true power is when you add Google Voice to the mix. You can then make and receive calls anywhere in the US and Canada, completely free of any charge. Learn how to do this with our WhichVoIP guide.
	A Personal Journey to VoIP I first started with telephones in the 1950s. There were no numbers or rotary dials back then, in fact you had to rely on the switch operator to connect the call. My how things have changed. This article details my own personal journey from analog phones to VoIP.
	Star Wars Hologram Phones to Reshape Communications As fans of both science fiction and Internet based communication, we at WhichVoIP decided to explore this intersection of fantasy and reality a bit more in depth. We've profiled some of the most exciting hologram devices under development and created an infographic to show how communication could change in the future.
	WebRTC - VoIP using a Web Browser WebRTC is an addition to Web browsers that gives developers the ability to implement real time communication systems directly into a web page. Thanks in large part to HTML5, this technology will change how most of us utilize the web. In this guide you will learn about WebRTC and how to kick the tires.
	Local Number Portability Local number portability is a very important topic for consumers and businesses. After all, you may have had your home or business phone number for several years and given it out to friends, family and customers. You certainly don't want to give it up when moving to a new phone provider! Learn about number portability and important steps to be aware of when transferring your number.
	How to Digitize Voice for VoIP Calls This article explores the various components and engineering principles used when digitizing speech to be transported over the internet. It is aimed at bringing together the various technologies, why they are used and examine how each stage in the process affects the next stage in the process. A reasonably deep understanding of engineering principles, particular sampling theory is required to understand this article.
	How to Setup VoIP with AT&T U-verse Internet Service and Reap the Rewards An AT&T U-verse triple play bundle of TV, Internet and Voice service can be a tempting purchase to make when all the sign-up promotions and incentives are available. Despite these potential discounts, bundling your phone service with U-verse will still cost you a lot more than a 3rd party VoIP service. Continue reading for information on how to get this setup in your home.
	Options for Home and Cell Phone Services on a Budget If you ever sit down and examine your phone bills each month it is frightening. Add up your home phone bill and your cell phone bill and you are likely to be at least $75 per month. What if we said we could get that down to under $20 per month total, sound interesting? Learn about your options.
	Triple Play - TV, Internet and Phone Bundles - A Good Deal or Not? Did you know that if you have a triple play package from a cable or telecom company, you are already using VoIP for your phone service? Have you ever checked how much the actual phone service is costing you as part of the triple play bundle? Read our comprehensive research and analysis and decide if triple play is the best choice for your home.
	VoIP over Satellite - Does it Work? There are many remote areas in North America that rely on satellite service for their Internet. The question we get asked is whether VoIP can be used reliably over satellite Internet. There is no simple answer to this but in this article we delve into the problems and offer some solutions.
	E911 and VoIP - What You Need To Know Having the ability to dial 911 from your phone service is an important feature. Read this article to find out what you need to know about VoIP and 911 services.
	Home Security Systems and VoIP Discusses the potential challenges and pro's and con's of having both a home security system and VoIP phone service. Evaluates the different alarm monitoring options and presents some cost scenarios that both include and exclude VoIP.
	Global VoIP Trends in 2014 VoIP is undoubtedly the future of global telecommunications. If you are wondering where it currently stands today then take a look at this infographic to get a global look at VoIP in 2014. We break down different countries around the globe to show current trends.
	VoIP over Frontier FiOS Frontier FiOS is only available in a few states but it is worth checking availability for your home. The price is highly competitive and the speed is consistently fast. However, take a look at the double play package rather than the triple play and add a third party VoIP service for bigger savings. We have kicked the tires in this in-depth article.
	VoIP Troubleshooting Having problems with your VoIP service at home? Read our comprehensive VoIP troubleshooting guide to help you get to the bottom of any connection or call quality issues you may be having. Ask us any other questions in our comments section.
	Home VoIP Setup Arguably one of the most important items to consider when using VoIP is how you setup your equipment at home. You may have an integrated router and modem or perhaps you need an additional wireless router or a switch to handle all of the devices you have in your home network. How you connect these devices could make the difference between dropped calls and crystal clear conversations. Learn about all the different scenarios in this guide to VoIP setups.
	The History of VoIP It is hard to believe but VoIP has actually been around for over 20 years. This article documents the history of VoIP and also examines the growth of VoIP and the driving forces behind it.
	How VoIP Calls Work This advanced guide is for the tech savvy folks out there that want a deeper dive into the world of VoIP. Learn what is actually happening when a VoIP call is made including helpful diagrams to make it clearer.
	Saving with VoIP and a Real World Example Read our popular article on VoIP savings and view our real world example on the savings you can expect to see over a traditional landline service. Often it can be as much as $500 per year or more.
	Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) We get asked a lot of questions each day via our comments section and contact us page. Here are the most frequently asked questions on the residential side. If you do not see your question feel free to ask us.
	Whichvoip's Guide to VoIP Features VoIP offers a vast feature set to make your life simpler and to stay connected with your family and friends. Read our guide to VoIP features, which explains each feature along with ratings so you can get a feel for the most important ones.
	Ooma Competitors Ever wondered why Ooma is so popular for low cost phone service? Well there are a number of reasons for this, as documented in this article, but there are also many alternatives to Ooma that may actually end up being a better option especially if you want the best VoIP features available.
	Skype Competitors Skype is probably the most well known VoIP company on our planet, mainly for PC to PC communications. Now owned by Microsoft, Skype is likely to become even more popular as it gets embedded into its entertainment consoles and phones. However, there are actually many competitors these days and many are offering deals that are as good as, if not better, than Skype.
	The Best Option for Phone Service in 2021 There are now many options available to you whether it be VoIP, mobile VoIP or even just a cell phone. This article addresses each of your options and discusses the pros and cons associated with them.
	Vonage Competitors With over 2 million customers and a large marketing budget Vonage is certainly one of the most well known VoIP companies in the world. Offering a feature rich service and great International plans one can see why it is so popular. However, there are many Vonage competitors these days, and this article highlights some of those companies and why their plans may be a better fit for you.
	Vonage vs MagicJack A popular search term entered at WhichVoIP.com is "Vonage versus MagicJack", so we decided to put a comparison page together so you can get an overview of each provider and what their strengths and weaknesses are.
	Ooma vs MagicJack Ooma and MagicJack are two of the most popular low cost options for VoIP home phone service but which one should you go for? Read our comparison article for Ooma versus MagicJack and view customer user reviews for each provider.
	How do I add multiple phones to my VoIP digital phone service? One common question that comes up regarding VoIP is how to handle multiple phones in a home. We have documented four different options available to you in order to handle this scenario, most of which are very straighforward.
	Intermittent Audio on your VoIP Line Learn about some of the factors associated with intermittent audio on your VoIP phone line and the basic tests that can be run to identify the source of the problem, such as a ping test and our own VoIP speed and jitter test.
	The Best Options for Low Cost Calls So are you looking for the cheapest phone service out there? There are many low cost options for you these days and this article highlights some of those options. We also highlight some additional items to consider, for example triple play bundles tend not to be the best option pricing wise.
	Digital Phone - Internet Phone - VoIP - Broadband Phone : Confused what to go for? You have perhaps heard that there are much cheaper ways to get phone service at home these days. However, marketers are having a field day and this low cost digital service is being tagged under many different names such as VoIP, Broadband phone, Internet phone and Digital phone service. This article aims to remove some of this confusion.

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Business Articles

The following articles and guides relate to business phone services and are sorted by date, starting with the most recently posted.

	Call Flows Call flows are very important to a business as it ensures the path an inbound call takes routes as efficiently as possible and goes to the right people at the right time. In this article we discuss call flows, what they are and popular flows we often come across.
	IP Phone Registration and Troubleshooting Learn about IP phone registration, why it is needed, how it works. We also highlight some troubleshooting tips if you are having problems with VoIP registrations to your service provider.
	Dial-plan Feature Codes Feature codes can be great short cuts for your phone system. Need to forward calls to your cellphone? Simply dial *72 and you are done. Learn all about the common and not so common feature codes you may have access to with your system.
	Nextiva Competitors Nextiva is a well known and established provider of VoIP phone services to the small to medium business (SMB) market as well as in recent years to the enterprise market. In this article we will look at some of the strengths and weaknesses of Nextiva's service, and also introduce some alternatives and competitors of Nextiva.
	VoIP Pricing, Taxes and Regulatory Fees Explained In this article we will break down all of the costs associated with a VoIP phone service bill each month and provide an explanation for each one, including service pricing, taxes and regulatory fees. This will help you understand the true cost of VoIP phone services
	Ring Group Strategies What are ring groups? Find out how important ring groups can be to a business especially for sales and customer support teams. Also learn about the different ring group strategies you can use to make your business more efficient and productive. We also touch on some ancillary features that can make your ring groups even more effective.
	VoIP and SMS Text Messaging VoIP providers are rapidly expanding their SMS capabilities. Learn about what is driving this market, which providers are supporting SMS and some tricks you can do if your provider does not offer full SMS (eg SMS to email).
	Speech to Text Transcription Would you like the convenience of being able to read your voicemails rather than listen to them? Learn all about speech to text transcription, the use cases and the providers that offer this feature.
	Working From Home and VoIP Working From Home (WFH) has become a necessity for many people during the COVID-19 pandemic with Stay At Home orders in many US States, as well as globally. We look at how VoIP has helped WFH and allowed many businesses to continue communications.
	Bria Solo and Teams Bria Solo and Bria Teams are the latest mobile and PC VoIP softphones from Counterpath. Learn about the benefits of this softphone and how to configure it so it can be used with your VoIP provider.
	Distinctive Ringtones Learn about Distinctive Ringtones and how they can be used at your business to distinguish incoming calls. We also provide audio samples for the 8 standardized Bellcore tones so you can set the best tones for your business.
	Yeakink RPS (Redirect To Provisioning Server) The Yealink RPS (Redirect To Provisioning Server) cloud service provides a zero-touch method of provisioning Yealink IP phones. Learn how it works and all the benefits Yealink RPS offers VoIP service providers.
	Cloud PBX Phone Systems for Businesses The "cloud" is probably one of the most used technology buzzwords of the last 5 years. Learn about Cloud PBX phone systems and why it might just be what your business needs.
	VoIP Public Address (PA) System In this guide we show you how to use VoIP for a Public Address (PA) system using the Snom PA1 device. See how to set this up at your business and how to configure the Snom PA1 to work in your phone system.
	Busy Lamp Field (BLF) - your new BFF The Busy Lamp Field (BLF) is a very powerful feature. Many businesses are not aware of it, yet most VoIP providers and phone manufacturers offer it as a feature. Read our guide to BLF, learn what it means and also some of the most common ways it can be used to enhance your productivity at work. Soon BLF may become your new business BFF.
	Transfer Call Options for Business Phone Service The ability to transfer calls both internally and externally is important to the success of any business. In this article we look at the multitude of ways you can transfer calls, from blind and attended transfers to call parking. Some general tips are provided along with some additional features to ask your provider about.
	5 Tips in Setting up VoIP for your Business Before you pick a VoIP provider you should be following the 5 tips in this guide to prepare yourself for VoIP. Without following these steps you may be risking the quality and uptime of your business phone service.
	VoIP Modem and Router Compatibility Guide In order to ensure reliable VoIP calls, it is vital that you choose the right hardware and software for your modem, router and firewall. Firewall settings and factors such as SIP ALG can severely affect your communication path. In this comprehensive guide, consisting of over 270 modems and routers, we highlight compatibility issues and, where applicable, suggest potential solutions.
	Yealink vs Polycom vs Cisco Phone Comparison A big part of selecting a new phone service for your business is deciding which phones you want to use with the service. Yealink, Polycom and Cisco are among the most popular vendors offering a wide range of models that vary in price, features and functionality. This comparison will help you quickly determine which phone models are the best choice for your business.
	SIP Port Numbers used by Providers VoIP based calls normally work just fine but occasionally problems may arise due to your network configuration. When this happens you need to know the SIP ports used by your provider so you can configure your router accordingly. In this guide we highlight the ports used by the major residential and business service providers.
	Enterprise Voice Communication Solutions Upgrading an existing Enterprise voice communication system requires a great deal of thought, including what solution to choose. Read this article to learn why enterprise VoIP has become the best choice plus compare the top 5 service providers.
	10 Best Online Tech Support Services Every business or consumer needs some technical help all to often. Subscribing to an online tech support service is an excellent way to get access to expert help and support, at a reasonable price. This guide looks at some of the best tech support providers currently offering services to homes and businesses.
	10 Best Customer Support Software Solutions While finding new customers is never easy, keeping your existing customers happy can often be just as hard. Using the right customer support software can make a huge difference in how your company interfaces with your customer base. Check out these 10 popular services that will help streamline your support processes and ultimately make your customers happier.
	Mitel vs ShoreTel: Comparing UC Solutions and Phones Mitel and ShoreTel are two well known and popular providers of unified communications solutions. If your business is trying to decide between these two options then this article will help you make that decision, or motivate you to select another company entirely.
	10 Voicemail Greeting Tips you need to know Is recording a voicemail greeting an annoying afterthought when you get a new phone? Do you quickly record a message and then set it and forget it? If so, this could be hurting your business without you even realizing it. Follow these 10 tips and start impressing your callers.
	15 VoIP Questions to ask a Provider Choosing a new phone provider is a tough task. It is easy to simply base the decision on price but if you do, you could be making a huge mistake and jeopardizing your business. In this article we list our top 15 questions to ask a VoIP provider. If you follow this you can have confidence that you are choosing the right company for your telephony needs.
	Insurance Agents Phone System Requirements An insurance agency must take advantage of technological advancements to stay successful. Moving to a VoIP phone system that has CRM integration, mobility and the ability to train agents can be a huge differentiator. Learn about the type of phone system and key requirements you should be demanding for your agency.
	CRM Software Guide for Small Businesses Much like Unified Communications, CRM software is quickly becoming a unified solution for every tool that facilitates some level of interaction with customers. With so many different CRM systems now available with widely varying feature sets, this guide takes a look at what the best options are for a small business, and what to look out for.
	Top 5 Phone System Features for Real Estate Agents Choosing a phone system is an important decision for realtors and can help the overall success of the agency. In this article we pick our top 5 phone system features for real estate agents and provide examples on why each feature can bring value.
	10 Best Network Monitoring Software Tools for 2021 A highly functional network is critical to the effective operations of almost every business. CRM, ERP, VoIP, video, conferencing, accounts and payment processing are just a very small sample of some of the many applications that are now dependent on the network. If you want everything to continue to run smoothly then you need to take advantage of network monitoring software.
	How to Setup your Router for VoIP VoIP usually works great at your business or at home. If things do go wrong, you may need to look under the hood of your router. Learn about all of the router settings that affect VoIP such as QoS, port forwarding, SIP ALG and much more.
	Top 10 Best Routers for VoIP in 2018 A significant percentage of supposedly VoIP related issues actually turn out to be problems with an Internet connection. A router is your gateway to the Internet so choosing the best router is just as important as ensuring that it is configured correctly. This guide looks at some of the best routers available for both home and small business use with VoIP.
	RingCentral Competitors RingCentral currently states that it has over 300,000 customers and is growing fast. It is clearly a popular choice for business phone service, but in a crowded marketplace, it is definitely worth checking out some RingCentral competitors before deciding which service is best for your business.
	Local Phone Numbers for Business Every business should have a local phone number to establish a local presence and make it easy for customers to contact employees. There are now many different options to choose from when looking for a new number, and you also need to decide how many you want, and in what area codes you need them. This article takes a detailed look at some of these options in addition to explaining why a local number is often a better choice than a toll free number.
	Business Call Forwarding with Find Me Follow Me The find me follow me feature is a key part of a virtual phone number service and can be a fantastic option to consider for businesses looking to keep costs down, while ensuring employees are easily reachable.
	How to get a Phone Line for your Business Millions of businesses are started each year in the United States and Canada. Starting a business presents many challenges to the founders but in almost every case, it is critical to get a business phone line and a dedicated business phone number as early as possible. As expenses are typically tight, it is important to choose the right solution from the get go, while thinking ahead to what your business will need in the near future.
	Best Softphone Options For Business A softphone strategy for your business can offer many benefits, particularly for virtual businesses and workers on the move. Learn more about what a softphone is, what you need to implement them and some popular choices in the market today.
	Direct Inward Dialing (DID) and Virtual Numbers Choosing a phone number is often an afterthought made by consumers after spending a fair amount of time choosing a phone provider or selecting a cellular device. Much more thought and understanding is required when it comes to business phone numbers as making the right decisions can benefit both cost and productivity. Choosing the right quantity of DIDs in the best format can be one of these important decisions. What area codes to use, whether to leverage virtual numbers and where to utilize toll free numbers are just some of these important considerations.
	Skype for Business Skype for business is the name that Microsoft is now using for what was formerly its Lync software product. This solution offers a wealth of unified communications functionality and integrations for businesses of all sizes, but is it a threat to traditional over the top business VoIP services.
	Nextiva vFax Review Fax can be problematic over VoIP, due to wide timing specifications across machines and problems converting fax tones through standard VoIP codecs. For this reason, many providers have opted to offer an eFax, or Virtual Fax service instead. In this review, we take a closer look at the Nextiva vFax service.
	Ringcentral Versus Vonage Business Comparison Ringcentral and Vonage Business are both highly recognized and well established in the hosted VoIP market for small to medium sized businesses. This article provides a detailed comparison of their offerings to help you decide which might be best for your business.
	VoIP Fraud Prevention and Security VoIP fraud can be a real problem for businesses, and indeed residential customers. Recently there has been some high profile attacks on business phone systems. In this article we will detail some attacks that cost businesses thousands of dollars. We will also highlight some of the common threats and list security recommendations to reduce the chances of your business becoming a victim.
	eVoice Versus Grasshopper Virtual Phone Service Comparison eVoice and Grasshopper virtual phone number services are becoming a popular alternative to traditional business VoIP solutions. This article takes an in depth look at how the two compare and helps you decide if either solution is a good choice for your business.
	Top 10 VoIP Features to Increase Productivity In this article we will highlight our top 10 VoIP features that can enhance the overall productivity of your business.
	VoIP for Schools Learn about the benefits of moving your school to VoIP technology and what you need to know before making the transition.
	Top 10 Cloud Services for Small Businesses Learn about some of the cloud based services that can help ramp up your business quickly and efficiently. From finance tools, email hosting and CRMs to email hosting and VoIP, there's sure to be something for all businesses in this guide.
	How to Disable SIP ALG on Popular Routers IF you are having problems getting your VoIP service to work properly then you may be running into issues that can be fixed by disabling SIP ALG. This article provides an overview of what SIP ALG is, why it can be bad for VoIP and how to resolve issues with different routers.
	GoToMeeting Versus WebEx Conferencing Solutions GoToMeeting by Citrix and WebEx by Cisco are the two heavyweights in the Web Conferencing solutions market. Read this article to learn more about each solution and to see how they compare with each other.
	Call Center Software Benefits and Providers Call Center Software is fast becoming a critical tool that helps businesses of any size streamline customer service activities. This software is becoming cheaper and easier to use as many providers now offer a cloud based service that can quickly have a solution up and running. This article goes into detail on what call center software is, what the benefits and key features are, and lists some of the top providers.
	Call Recording Services for Modern Business Phone Systems Amongst the call management features there is one that has been quietly growing in use across businesses. Call recording provides many benefits and is not just for training purposes. Learn more and compare five provider offerings.
	Microsoft Lync Hosted Providers Comparison Often to the surprise of many there is the option to get Microsoft Lync via a 3rd party hosted provider for your business communication needs. Why would you consider this solution? Read this article to find out why and to see a comparison of provider packages and pricing.
	How to Turn any Phone into a Business Phone System There are lots of options for businesses to choose from for business phone service. Did you know that you can effectively turn any phone into a business phone system with a virtual phone number service?
	What Everybody Ought to Know About Android for Business There are now more Android based smartphones in the marketplace than any other. Businesses are also realizing the benefits of Android smartphones. In this article we look at the Android benefits such as security and productivity enhancing features.
	How to Choose the Right Microsoft Lync Solution for Your Business Following on from our introductary article on the Microsoft Lync VoIP solution this article addresses the differences between the two available solutions, Lync Server (On-premise) and Lync Online (Hosted). Understanding the differences is key in making the right choice for your business.
	The Promise of Microsoft Lync and Unified Communications If you are in the market for a business VoIP service then one option that has emerged is Microsoft Lync. This article provides a detailed overview of what Microsoft Lync is and how it could benefit your business.
	VoIP Call Quality VoIP call quality is as much a function of the codec found at the heart of every VoIP system as it is to the quality of your internet connection. The CODEC compresses and decompresses your voice in order to save bandwidth. This article describes the various codec's providers implement, how good they are and how configurable they are by the user.
	Toll Free Numbers and Service Providers Toll Free Numbers are a popular option for many businesses from small to large. It helps your business portray a professional image and one that shows you care about your customers. This article provides everything you need to know about Toll Free Numbers and details some provider options.
	New Office Technical Considerations If you are looking for a new office for your business, it is critical to consider a number of technical aspects when making this important decision. In this article we perform a deep dive into some of the technical and IT related issues that you need to be aware of, and offer a free checklist that you can use during an office walk through.
	Fax over IP (FoIP) - What are your Options The fax machine is still important to businesses even after almost 50 years since its invention. However the move to Internet based technologies such as VoIP has caused some relaibility issues for faxing. Learn about your options, how to save money and some troubleshooting tips to ensure reliable faxing over IP networks.
	VoIP for Law Firms - Questions to Ask Information and questionnaire specifically focused on evaluating phone service options for law firms. Although VoIP is normally the best choice, it is worth considering all the options.
	Auto-Attendant Feature Detailed look at the automated attendant feature. What it is, how it works, what the benefits are and how to set it up.
	Flowroute Provisioning with a Cisco SPA 303 Flowroute is a wholesale VoIP provider of inbound and outbound minutes. In this article we kick the tires of its trunking service and provision a Cisco SPA 303 IP phone to connect to the Flowroute SIP servers.
	VoIP Protocols There are many protocols used for VoIP. Read our summaries of the main protocols you may comes across when researching VoIP.
	VoIP Features Guide for Businesses VoIP delivers a vast amount of features, particularly for business phone service. This guide explains some of the basic and advanced features you can take advantage of.
	Business Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Businesses tend to have a lot of questions on VoIP. In this FAQ we detail the most common questions that arrive in our inbox.
	Vonage Business Desktop Boost the productivity of your business by taking advantage of all the plugins that often are included with a VoIP service. In this article we take a look at the Vonage Business desktop - a set of features that integrate your phone system with your computers.
	Nextiva compared with Vonage Business Nextiva and Vonage Business are well known and established providers serving businesses throughout the USA. This article compares these two providers, includes a comprehensive list of features that each provider supports, and also a comparison of user feedback received at WhichVoIP for each.
	RingCentral vs 8x8 VoIP Comparison Another in our series of provider comparisons highlights Ringcentral versus 8x8 services. A full comparison of each services features followed by a comparison of real life user ratings for each service.
	Online Fax Comparison and Reviews With the growth of the Internet the days of the old fax machine are numbered. This article will educate you on Online Faxing and compare some popular fax providers. We also highlight some actual customer reviews for these providers.
	Audio, Web and Video Conferencing As business budgets tighten and with technology advancements the days of travelling for face to face meetings has reduced. Internet and VoIP technologies have opened up a new way of meeting, through online Conferencing. Learn more with this article, including history, the associated benefits and typical features, our guide to provider selection and some popular providers in the market today.
	What is Unified Communications? Learn about Unified Communications, what it actually is, explore some history of its beginnings and where it is now and what the future holds. You will also find 5 popular hosted UC providers profiled.
	VoIP Requirements List If you have been reading our articles you likely are already sold on VoIP and the benefits is can deliver to your business. However there are some requirements and some questions you need to resolve before jumping in. This guide runs through these items.

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SIP Trunking Articles

The following articles and guides relate to SIP Trunking services and are sorted by date, starting with the most recently posted.

	Raspberry Pi 4 with Freeswitch and Fusion PBX In this guide we go through all of the steps necessary to setup a Raspberry Pi 4 single board computer as a PBX, using Freeswitch and FusionPBX open source software.
	SIP Call Flow Examples In this guide we introduce some tools that can be used to capture and analyze SIP packets. SIP call flow examples for inbound and outbound calls are also highlighted which can be very useful for troubleshooting, should you ever experience problems with your VoIP calls.
	Elastix versus FreePBX Elastix and FreePBX are two very popular open source software PBX solutions that are currently in use by many companies. This article takes a detailed look at each of these and compares features and functionality while taking a look at what is actually free and what will come at a price.
	SIP Test Tools for Packet Loss, Line Quality & Load Testing This article highlights some useful tools to perform packet loss, line quality and traffic load generation testing. It also provides a useful guide to generate traffic to test out a PBX phone system. Finally we show you how to use server metrics to determine CPU and RAM utilization during traffic loads.
	What is a Session Border Controller (SBC) A Session Border Controller (SBC) is often a critical and necessary part of both a corporations and a service providers network. These devices are similar to firewalls in that they are security appliances that control access to networks. There are important differences though that make an SBC especially helpful in a VoIP network. This deep dive takes a look what an SBC is, why you might need one and what some of the popular devices are.
	FreeSWITCH versus Asterisk FreeSWITCH and Asterisk are two of the most popular open source PBX switches available today. In this article, we compare these two switches and point out where each system excels. In addition, we highlight some of the most popular PBXs in the market and which of these two switches they base themselves on.
	How to Configure SipXcom as a Cloud-based Phone System SipXcom is the new project name for SipXecs, a Freeswitch based PBX platform. This article takes you through the installation and configuration steps to create your own cloud-based phone system that can be used for any size business.
	IP PBX Phone Systems and Providers Gone are the days of businesses setting up old antiquated PBX systems. The world is digital and phone service has moved to the Internet age. In this article we look at the benefits of an IP PBX phone system and highlight a few of the more well known open source switches. We also provide links to our deep dive setup guides for each switch.
	FusionPBX Tutorial FusionPBX is a scalable and intuitive platform for handling all of your business telephony needs. Built on top of the powerful FreeSWITCH software, it provides a simple way to control the underlying switch. In this guide, I will present a step-by-step guide on installation and configuration in order to obtaining a working PBX.
	SipXecs Freeswitch PBX Guide SipXecs is a powerful open-source PBX GUI that is built on top of the Freeswitch platform. It is popular but installation can be difficult and confusing. In this sipXecs guide we walk you through the installation steps and perform a basic configuration that enables you to make phone calls.
	PBX in a Flash Install Guide PBX in a Flash is a powerful open-source switch with many add-ons that turn it into a developer's dream. However, the installation process can be problematic so we put together this installation guide to remove some of the most common frustrations.
	Elastix Setup Guide The Elastix open-source PBX software has been downloaded over 3 million times, and it is easy to see why. In just a few hours you can have this configured to handle all of your business phone calls. In this guide we show you how to setup this PBX software on a PC and setup extensions for internal and external calls.
	FreePBX Setup Tutorial FreePBX can be the heart of a powerful IP-PBX phone system for your home or business. This tutorial walks you through download, installation, setup and configuration of everything you need to start making phone calls.
	Configure a 3CX Software PBX The 3CX Software PBX is one of the few VoIP switches that can run on Windows operating systems. In this guide we take you through the configuration steps so you can set up your own 3CX business phone system.
	How to Setup an Asterisk PBX You don't have to be a large enterprise to use an on-premise phone system such as an Asterisk PBX. Any sized business can use Asterisk. The savings can be significant, even over a hosted PBX. This guide walks you through the steps to setting up Digium's Asterisk server for your business phone system.
	Asterisk for Custom VoIP Systems Does your business have inside IT networking knowledge or support group? If so then Asterisk may be a great option when considering switching to a VoIP phone system.
	SIP Trunking vs PRIs SIP trunking and PRIs are both ways that many different businesses use to connect their phone systems to the PSTN. Learn more about each and which one may be right for you.
	SIP Protocols - Technical Guide Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) was first introduced in 1999 and runs on the application layer of the OSI model. In this technical guide we review the components and messages of SIP, the various response codes and the differences between SIP1.0 and SIP2.0. We also look at its basic operation, the ports used and link to all of the RFCs.
	What is SIP Trunking SIP trunking allows you to make Voice over IP (VoIP) phone calls using your existing on-premise PBX. Read this article to learn more and to find out why you should consider it.
	Wholesale VoIP The Telecom market is highly lucrative with new players appearing daily it would seem. Wholesale VoIP is a great way for these businesses to jump on the train through a reselling model. Learn about all the types of wholesale service and the advantages of going down this path.
	PBX Versus Hosted VoIP If your business currently uses an analog based PBX or is considering one read our article on PBX versus VoIP to get a breakdown and comparison on each service so you can make an informed decision.

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Mobile VoIP Articles

The following articles and guides relate to Mobile VoIP services and are sorted by date, starting with the most recently posted.

	Bria Mobile Softphone Configuration Example Learn about the Bria Mobile softphone application for iOS, Android and Blackberry devices. In this guide we show you how to configure the Bria to work with an Asterisk based PBX.
	The Best SIP App for iPhone and Android Devices See why SIP Apps running on smartphones can transform your business communications. See our recommended best SIP Apps for iPhone and Android devices.
	WhatsApp versus Viber Comparison Messaging apps for cell phone devices became very popular during a time when giants like AT&T and Verizon were charging handsome amounts for the pleasure of SMS messaging. Two options that stand out are WhatsApp and Viber. This article takes a closer look at these options and how they compare with each other.
	10 Things you need to Know about Mobile Solutions for your Office Phones Learn about some increasing popular mobile solutions that utilize smartphones to mirror office phone services. Alternatively, take your business telephone service 100% mobile and completely avoid having desktop phones.
	Why Mobile Calling Apps are now essential for every Business Find out why smartphone calling apps have become a key component of every businesses communications solution. Although many Internet telephony service providers are now offering mobile apps with their services, these apps can vary significantly in both features and capabilities.
	Little Known Ways to Save with a Smartphone Have you have been sitting on the fence when it comes to buying a smartphone? If so, this article is for you. Learn about some little known ways to save on the price of a smartphone in terms of the actual device and longer term savings.
	Viber and its Competitors Viber is a a really popular mobile VoIP app for smart phones. It allows you to make calls and texts for free and does not affect your cell phone minutes. However, it is really only viable for communicating with other Viber users. If you need to break out of that circle, and most of us do, you need to look at other providers. This article focuses on some of those alternatives to Viber.
	Mobile VoIP - The Future of Global Communications? Mobile VoIP is a great option if you need to make a lot of long distance or International calls. Simply download a mobile VoIP app for your smartphone or even a WiFi enabled device and start making cheap calls. Our mobile VoIP section explains this type of service and compares it to a regular cell phone plan.

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Broadband Internet Articles

The following articles and guides relate to Broadband Internet services and are sorted by date, starting with the most recently posted.

	What is Fiber Optic Service (FiOS)? Learn all about Fiber Optic Service (FiOS). How FiOS works, the speeds you can expect for both uplink and downlink, pricing tiers and a list of advantages and disadvantages.
	Frontier FiOS vs Comcast Internet Comparison When you are searching for an Internet Provider in your area, your choices are likely limited. If you are trying decide between Frontier FiOS and Comcast Xfinity for either home or business service then read on for information on prices, speeds and more!
	DSL Versus Cable Probably the two most popular types of Internet in North America are Cable and DSL. The articles above should help explain what each type of service actually is but if you have the option to go for either service at your residence or business which should you choose? Learn about the differences with our comparison summary for DSL v Cable.
	What is Satellite Internet Service? Satellite Internet service has become quite popular in North America especially for those that live in remote areas. This article explains the capabilities of Satellite Internet and lists some of the advantages and disadvantages to help you make an informed decision.
	What is Cable Internet Service? Cable internet has some of the fastest speeds available today for home use. Learn about Cable Internet service, some speed and price examples and lists of advantages and disadvantages to consider when weighing up this type of service.
	What is DSL Internet Service? DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line but there are many different types. Learn about the main variants of DSL and the advantages and disadvantages of DSL Internet service.
	What is Broadband Internet Service? A basic Broadband Internet 101 guide including a list of the advantages of Broadband service such as speed and the fact that it is always on.
	What is the History of Broadband? In this article we provide a brief introduction to the history of Broadband Internet, from the beginnings of the Internet moving through history to the present day where Broadband is fast becoming commonplace in both the business and the home.
	Business High Speed Data Solutions Learn about all the major types of Internet service that are available to your business from DSL and cable all the way up to Ethernet and OC-48.

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