VoIP Features

VoIP is well known for offering an incredible array of features with their monthly service. Many of those popular and useful calling features you pay for with the regular phone companies, are often free as part of monthly VoIP service plans. This list of VoIP features helps you to determine if VoIP service provider you're interest in offer the features best suited to you?

3-Way Calling
Hold conference calls by initiating a connection with a third person when engaged in a call with another party. This allows three people talk talk simultaneously.

911 Emergency Dialing
Allows calling to your local emergency handling dispatch center. Some VoIP service providers also offer E911 which enhances the amount of information transferred to the emergency service when a call is placed to 911 such as name, address and phone number details.

Area Code Selection
The ability to choose what area code you want your VoIP based service phone number to have. For example if you live in the 206 area code but wish to have a 453 area code, this feature increases your chances of being able to obtain a number within that area code.

Call Forwarding
Lets you redirect incoming calls to your VoIP number to another number of your choice either all the time, or only when your phone does not answer or is engaged.

Call Hunt
When subscribed to a VoIP service provider and have multiple phone lines, when one line does not answer a call or is engaged in a call, the call can be automatically routed to the other lines.

Caller ID
Displays the phone number of the person calling you on the screen of the VoIP phone, allowing you to choose whether you wish to answer the call or not.

Caller ID Block
When placing a call, you can choose to block the other party from seeing your details on their caller ID display. This is ideally used to assist in protecting your privacy when placing calls.

Caller ID with Name
Displays the name and phone number of the person calling you on the screen of their VoIP phone, allowing you to choose whether you wish to answer the call or not.

Call Return
When a call is made to your phone that is either picked up or not, you can use the call return feature to obtain the phone number of that calling party.

Call Transfer
Once a call is answered, you can have that call transferred to another phone number of your choosing.

Call Waiting
When engaged in a phone call and another party attempts to call, you are notified by either a visual or audible alert that another party is attempting to contact you, with the ability to switch between that part and the original party.

Directory Assistance
This service when dialed offers the assistance of an operator or automated system to find a residential, business or government phone number at either free of charge or nominal fee.

Do Not Disturb
Is a mode that automatically directs all incoming calls to your voicemail, thus preventing the user from being disturbed by the phone ringing.

In-Network Calls
In-network calls usually refers to a subscribers ability to call any other party that uses the same VoIP service provider, free of charge as part of their monthly service plan.

Redial
Ability to easily dial a number you previously dialed, often from a queue of previously dialed numbers, often with the convenience of single button.

Voicemail
The ability for callers to your phone number to leave a message in the event it is busy or is not picked up.

Voicemail Enhanced or Voicemail Plus
Callers are able to leave a message when your phone line is either busy or not answered. Typically enhanced versions of voicemail services offer longer message recording times, customizable greeting messages, longer message retention times and more call back related features then standard voicemail services.

* Not all service providers will offer all of these services. The names and descriptions of these services may differ between service providers, please check your service provider to determine what exactly is offered.