Home Use

1. Water, Gas and Electric Meters — Some water, gas, and electric meters are connected to your home phone line which allows the company to remotely monitor your usage. If you switch to VoIP you will need to notify these services that you will no longer have phone service. Don’t worry, they have other ways to monitor your usage, so the change won’t affect your monthly billing.
2. Satellite and Cable Boxes — Some satellite and cable top boxes won’t work with VoIP service. Since many cable companies are now providing VoIP it may not be a problem, but you’ll want to check to make sure before making the transition so you won’t miss out on any important programs.
3. Modems — While most VoIP calls don’t use a huge amount of bandwidth, you may notice that using the Internet and making calls simultaneously decreases the quality of both. To make the highest quality calls, you may need to stick to doing one Internet-based task at a time, or switch to an Internet service that provides more bandwidth.
4. Caller ID — VoIP numbers rarely show up on caller ID. An alternate number might show up or the name of your service provider instead of your name. This may or may not be a big deal to you, depending on whom you are calling, but at the very least it can be confusing to the recipient of the call.
5. Number of Phones — Getting VoIP service to more than one phone in your home may be a tad tricky. You might need to alter the wiring that connects traditional phone lines to your home to be compatible with VoIP services. Most VoIP providers can give you information on how to do this. Although if you’re not handy around the house, you may want to have a professional make the changes for you.

Business Use

1. Fax Machine — Most models of fax machines should be able to work with your VoIP system but you will need to connect them to the fax port of your VoIP adapters. Some VoIP providers even provide separate fax numbers free of charge with business plans. Check with your VoIP provider about the fax services that are available and to make sure your model of fax machine is compatible before switching.
2. Phone Book Listings — VoIP phone numbers are not always listed in local telephone directories or on 411. Some VoIP companies can provide the service and you simply need to let them know you want to be listed. Others, even some larger companies, don’t provide this telephone listings and you may need to purchase a listing on your own.
3. Credit Card Machines — If you’re getting VoIP for your small business you may want to make sure that your VoIP service will work with the credit card machines you have. Some machines only work with analog systems. Some might work with VoIP lines, but the speed of transactions may be reduced. Check with your VoIP provider for concerns with this. Adapters may be available in some cases; in other cases you may need to keep a traditional line.
4. No Disconnect — Some VoIP services don’t send a disconnect signal the way traditional lines do when a party hangs up. This can cause problems when leaving a voicemail or if you use an automated attendant to direct callers to extensions. The failure to disconnect could cause long delays after voice mail messages and cause phones to ring long after the caller has hung up. Test these systems out before making the complete switch to VoIP.
5. Business Size and Needs — Before you switch your business to VoIP, be sure to fully research whether or not it is right for your company. While it has the possibility of saving you hundreds of dollars in phone charges, it can also have its drawbacks. Changing over to VoIP will most likely require a significant up front investment in equipment, and there is the possibility that VoIP may not work with some of your existing equipment and systems. It’s better to find out in advance, before any potential loss in sales, that the system might not be for you. Try testing out VoIP with just a few users before overhauling your entire phone system.
   
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