home :: articles :: voip features

Dictionary of VOIP Features

One of the great advantages of broadband phone service is all the great features you’d otherwise pay for with a regular phone company. Most of these features are included in the base plan.

3-Way Calling (Conferencing): connect to two other numbers at the same time for a 3-way phone conversation

911 Dialing and E911 (Enhanced 911): 911 emergency calls routed through a central emergency call handling center that may or may not have your geographic address information (depends on the VOIP provider)

Area Code Selection: select a phone number from any of the locations available in the service plan (for example, select a local number or a number in a different country)

Call Forwarding: automatically redirect calls to another number without answering the phone.

Call Hunt: if you have multiple phone numbers on the same account, and you are on the phone, incoming calls are automatically routed to another lines

Call Return (*69): if you miss a call, dial *69 to call them back

Call Transfer: redirect calls to another number after answering the phone

Call Waiting: accept another incoming call while you are on the phone and switch between callers

Call Waiting ID: see the number of the caller who is waiting

Caller ID: display the number, or name and number, of the person calling before you answer the phone

Caller ID Block (*67): lets you block your own caller information when making a phone call.

Do Not Disturb (*78): forward your calls to voicemail, without the ring

International Call Block: restrict international (long distance) calling from your phone Last Number Redial: call the last number you dialed.

Local Number Porting (LNP): keep your old phone number when switching to a VOIP service provider Online Management & Billing: lets you pay your bill online and manage your account features

Repeat Dialing: when a number is busy, automatically redial the number when it is not busy any more

Simultaneous Ring: have one phone number for all your phones

Speed Dial: program dialing shortcuts of frequently called numbers to cut your phone number down to single digit dialing.

Voicemail: receive and manage voice messages by phone, web, and email.

Fee-based Features

The following features are often charged per call as add-ons:

411 Directory Assistance

Additional phone numbers: add multiple phone numbers to your account.

Fax Service: dedicated fax number

Computer phone or softphone: use a software application on your computer to make and receive calls

Toll Free number

Virtual Phone Number: secondary numbers from any available area code that ring through to your primary phone number (ideal for long distance calling)