VoIP Applications and services are offered by most of the major VoIP providers, and can mean that as a subscriber you get many more value-added products than you would with a traditional phone service.

These applications offer a multitude of services, which can be of benefit both to individuals and consumers. Below, we have highlighted some of the main VoIP applications that you can expect to have on offer once you sign up to a Voice Over IP service. Some will incur extra charges and some will be part of the package you buy. Once again, shop around to get the best deal based on your needs.

• Auto redial facilities, enabling you to call back a previously called number, or keep calling until that number is free

• Blocking of anonymous calls, which can be helpful in preventing spam calls

• Caller ID number and name, allowing you to quickly identify the caller

• Call Forwarding (automatic, or if busy or not answered)

• Call Transfer facility, helpful in businesses that can see a certain number calling, or the reason for the call, and then transfer that number to the appropriate party and save time

• Call Waiting, similar to the service commonly found on mobile phones

• Conference calling – normally up to six parties

• Contact List custom caller ID, so you can use any name or association to recognise instantly the person calling

• Distinctive Ringing Tone is another of the useful VoIP applications, appropriate either for a caller group or an individual

• Do Not Disturb message to potential callers, similar to that found on Instant Messenger services

• Facility to block outgoing caller ID

• Free calls to other subscribers of your provider (normally)

• Outgoing and incoming fax calls possible, avoiding the need to have bulky and often expensive fax equipment, as well as a separate line

• Speed dial facility for a return call

• Speed Dial numbers for all contacts

• Voicemail (through a voicemail box, or to an e-mail account) – see below

• VoIP Virtual Numbers

One of the more interesting VoIP applications is that of VoIP virtual numbers, which can be of benefit both to individuals and corporations. These virtual geographic numbers can be ‘purchased’ from your VoIP provider, and allow you to have a set of phone numbers that are all routed to your central number.

For example, you may wish to have fifteen different numbers in different cities in the UK to imply a local presence for your business. When the caller dials the number, it is routed directly through to your central number, and that caller will know no different. In some countries, call charges can be markedly different based on the distance of the call, for example in the USA. Therefore, to have a local access number in Miami will mean local callers pay significantly less than they would if they had to dial a number on the other side of the country.

The purchase of geographic (and non-geographic) number ranges is becoming more and more a lucrative business for VoIP providers, and a key value-added service.

• VoIP Priority Alert

This example of the VoIP applications allows you to set up different ringing tones depending on the person who is calling you. For example, if you specifically needed to know that your husband/wife was on the phone, you could reserve a tone for that call and would immediately know it was them who was calling.

• VoIP Call Groups

This is a particularly useful way of setting up rules that apply to a certain group of callers. For example, you can block your caller I.D. to everyone you call except members of a specific caller group you set up. Alternatively, you may wish to set up a caller group from whom all calls would be forwarded to your personal mobile number, rather than having this facility apply to every call that comes through.

• VoIP Physical Portability

This is another of the useful VoIP applications. Wherever you go in the world and have access to a high speed internet connection, you can take your VoIP phone with you and use it immediately. Then, when you are online, and wish to make a call, your phone will be recognised, and the call will be charged the same as if you were at home. For example, a caller from London who is away on business in South Africa will be able to use their VoIP phone exactly as they would were they in London, and without having to pay extortionate per minute charges for international roaming calls.

It also means that wherever you are in the world, people would still dial the same number to get vhold of you. Therefore, if you had a UK 020 phone number, they could dial this number to get you, even if you were in Cape Town.

Another key benefit of VoIP portability is that if you decide to move house to a different area, there is no need to change your number – you simply keep your VoIP phone with the existing number, and do not incur any charges or inconvenience from the move.

• VoIP Priority Ringing Tones

These VoIP applications allow you to set up different ringing tones depending on the person who is calling you. For example, if you specifically needed to know that your husband/wife was on the phone, you could reserve a tone for that call and would immediately know it was them who was calling.

• VoIP Call Groups

This is a particularly useful way of setting up rules that apply to a certain group of callers. For example, you can block your caller I.D. to everyone you call except members of a specific caller group you set up. Alternatively, you may wish to set up a caller group from whom all calls would be forwarded to your personal mobile number, rather than having this facility apply to every call that comes through.

• VoIP Beyond Voicemail

Some VoIP providers will offer you the option to have a VoIP voicemail service that forwards an e-mail to you. This e-mail is a sound file that you can play on your PC to hear the voicemail. This can be a particularly convenient way of picking up your messages on the move. You can also then forward this e-mail to other people so that a group can all have access to one voice message.

Summary

That is an overview of the key VoIP applications that are the value-added services on offer to you as a subscriber. As you can see, VoIP offers a number of opportunities to make yourcalling both more pleasant and efficient. Over time, keep an eye out for further service offerings that will enhance your VoIP-user experience.