VoIP for everyone

VoIP stands for "Voice over IP" or, simply put, for using Internet for your phone calls

Although this technology has been used by big telecommunication companies for a long time,
it became available to us, individual users, only recently when "dial up" Internet connections have been replaced by DSL modems

I have discovered the benefit of having my own VoIP server few years ago but did not dare to "cut the umbilical cord" to Bell since recently ...why you may ask ?

Because I did not have anyone to help me / IT, that is why !

Benefits, what benefits ?
Here are few features that I found very useful: voicemail by email, Call parking / waiting, daily/monthly reports, customized ringing, unlimited extensions, music on hold, IVR ...etc.

It is also much cheaper than regular phone lines

But VoIP is free as long as you are paying for Internet, isn't it ?
Well, yes it is, however, if you would like to still make and receive "regular" calls you need to have a DID number ( DID stands for Direct Inbound Dialing and is just the technically correct name of your phone number 416-555-5555 )

You can buy DID from various companies depending what number you would like to have ( i.e. starting with 905, 416, 647 ...etc)

I personally use Unlimitel since I needed a DID starting with 416 ( Toronto / Canada )

After you get your DID, and assuming you have a reliable Internet provider, you just have to install/configure your VoIP application, like FreePBX.

It sounds simple, and it is up to a certain point.
If you need help, we are here to help IT !