Manage It The Internet is a telephone system that s gotten uppity. Cli ord Stoll, U.S. astronomer, computer expert and author VOIcE OVER InTERnET PROTOcOL VOIP Reduce Your Phone Bill If you re considering VoIP, compare di erent providers plans, ask for references and see if a trial service period is available before signing a long-term contract. Here are some other suggestions: Identify which phone features (like videoconferencing) and services are most important for you, and be sure they re included in any VoIP plan you re considering. Be clear about what s included in an annual or monthly fee and what s extra, such as international calling capability. See what level of troubleshooting or support is available. Does the company have a service technician in your area? Find out how faxes will be handled, for example, printouts or PDF les. The VoIP phone has always worked well, but at rst, my fax system was very hit or miss, says Deryk Ford, sales associate, Century 21 Choice Properties in DeBary. There have been upgrades, and now I can view faxes online and download them as PDF les. And there s one more thing to consider: If you move to VoIP, you may not be listed in the local telephone directory. That s my only caveat, says Marvin Kaleky, a broker with Sales/Alvin USA and owner of Able Appraisals in North Hollywood. But I still advertise my business in the Yellow Pages by keeping an active number with AT&T. A VoIP phone service can save you money and give your brokerage exibility. tephen McWilliam made Florida VoiP ProViders Anexio anexio.com AVAD avadtechnologies.com Comcast comcastbusiness services.com Lane Communications central oridaphones.com Mconnect mconnectinc.com Nuvio nuvio.com Phone Boost phoneboost.com Telovations telovations.com Vonage vonage.com (Some providers may o er services only in certain geographic areas) S the switch to a Voice over Internet Protocol system three years ago. Since then, he s taken advantage of new features that make it easier to stay in touch with customers while reducing his phone bill at the same time. Now, you don t have to spend thousands on a new phone system and rewiring the o ce, says McWilliam, president/broker, Florida State Realty Group Inc. in Fort Lauderdale. VoIP systems convert voice and fax calls into packets of data transmitted over the Internet using your broad- band (DSL or cable modem) connection. An outside service company like Vonage or Nuvio takes care of the equipment, so in many cases the only hardware needed is an Internet Protocol telephone handset, which typically costs $50 to $150. Once you have the system in place, you manage features like voice mail and call forwarding through the Internet. For me, the key advantages are cost and features, says Daniel Berube, broker with PensacolaInformation.com in Pensacola. It s costing me $199 per year for unlimited phone calls anywhere, along with a very inexpensive 1-800 system. 16 FLORIDA REALTOR February 2009