This guide contains:

Background on broadband phone service
Features and qualities to look for in broadband phone service
How to find the best broadband phone service for you

This short guide was created to help you understand the basics of broadband phone service, and to help you choose the right broadband phone service for you. We do not offer any broadband phone services ourselves, so you can be assured that all of the information in this guide is independent and unbiased.

Background on broadband phone service
Broadband phone service comes with many of the same features that come with traditional phone service, like call waiting, caller ID, voice mail, directory assistance, and more. In fact, broadband phone service has additional features and conveniences that are not available with traditional phone service. Here are some available features of broadband phone service:

Portable Service
Because broadband phone service relies on the Internet to carry traffic, you can take your phone number with you wherever you go. All you need to do is take your broadband phone adapter with you, plug it into any high-speed connection and a phone, and calls will be routed to you automatically.

Area Code Selection
You can choose a phone number in any area code in the country- you are no longer limited to choosing a phone number in your own area code.

Long Distance Charges/International Calls
Like traditional and wireless phone service, broadband phone service providers offer different options and plans for long distance. Some service plans offer unlimited local and long distance (in the U.S.) calls for a certain flat rate per month, while others provide a certain number of minutes per month, then a per-minute charge after the allotted minutes have been used up. International calls usually have a per-minute rate, although some providers treat countries like Canada as a domestic long distance call.

911 Calling
Broadband phone service provides 911 emergency dialing capabilities, although not all levels of 911 are the same. Since your broadband phone service is portable as described above, you need to register your physical address with the broadband phone service provider so that emergency personnel can find your home when 911 is dialed.

In Network Calling
Many broadband phone service providers do not charge for calls that are made between their own customers.