New VOIP Calling Features

The new features offered are quite varied and can be useful for both business and residential customers. When choosing between VOIP providers, you should keep these features in mind and see if the companies you are deciding between have these features available. Here is a summary of some of the new calling features offered by VOIP providers:

• Online call logs. Provides you with an online log of all your incoming and outgoing calls. This feature is useful for easily tracking your expenditures on long distance calls.
  
• Do not disturb. Allows you to automatically forward all calls or calls from specific numbers to your voicemail. You can also set the time when you want calls to be forwarded. For example, you could have your phone automatically switch to do not disturb mode from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am so a call doesn�t wake you up while you�re sleeping.
  
• Locate me. You can set up your VOIP service to ring multiple phone lines simultaneously or in sequence. This feature is very useful for someone with multiple phone lines or if you only want to have to give out one phone number. For example, you could set up your phone service to ring both your home phone and cell phone at the same time. With this feature, you�ll never miss that important call again.
  
• Online voicemail. This feature takes your traditional voicemail service and adds a number of new elements. Not only can you access your online voicemail from any phone, you can access it from any PC as well. With online voicemail, you can access your voicemail account from an Internet browser and listen to your messages using your computer. You can also have your voicemail messages sent to your e-mail account.
  
• Conference calling. Although you could create conference calls with a traditional phone line, VOIP service makes this feature much easier. Some providers allow you to create a conference call between up to 10 people and include this server in your monthly package.
  
• Free in network calling. Long distance rates from VOIP providers are already much cheaper than the rates of traditional phone or long distance companies. Some VOIP providers take these discounts a step further and offer free long distance service if the other person you are calling is also using the same provider.
  
• Area code selection. When selecting the phone number for your VOIP service, most providers allow you to select the area code as well. You can use this feature to further cut down on your long distance charges. For example, if your mother lives in New York and you live in LA, you can set up a virtual phone number with a New York area code. You can then have this virtual phone number forward to your LA number. This way, your mother will never have to pay long distance charges when she calls you. You could also use this feature to set up a �virtual� business presence in another city.
  
• Call Transfer. Allows you to easily transfer calls to another number by pressing a few numbers on your phone.
  
• Computer Dial. Allows you to store phone numbers on your computer and use your computer to dial them for you. This feature is very useful for dialing calling lists. For example, say you wanted to call all of the members in your book club. You can organize all of the members into a contact list on your computer. You can then use your computer to dial all of the contacts sequentially. When using computer dial, your computer will first ring your phone, wait for you to pick up, and then dial the number you are calling.
  
• Ring Lists. Gives you one virtual number that can be connected to multiple lines. This is especially useful for businesses that want to have multiple phone lines. You can set up this feature to ring each line sequentially, randomly or all at once.