Take care when choosing a VoIP carrier

Using VoIP phones to make telephone calls is nearly always cheaper than using traditional telephone networks, Nadeem's Voice Over IP Blog has said.

However, those looking at VoIP solutions should pick a package that meets their needs, or it could cost them more than a regular telephone line, according to the VoIP blog.

IP telephony solutions cost less because they exploit existing IP infrastructure, such as the internet, while traditional networks require an exclusive line.

Nadeem Unuth, author of Nadeem's Voice Over IP Blog, said: "Most communicators who use VoIP for communicating do so mainly because it either makes the calls dirt cheap or squarely free."

While VoIP itself costs less than traditional telephony, other factors must be considered when selecting a VoIP provider, such as internet access costs and the frequency and length of calls.

"The message is to think and plan well before engaging into a VoIP subscription, VoIP hardware, or habit. It is important to be well informed as well," Mr Unuth said.

Personal finance news website Moneywise recently listed VoIP phones as one of its top 20 ways of saving money online.