After years and years of improvements and usage, telephones have become something of a necessity in most households. As a result of how common standard phones are, people are becoming increasingly comfortable at picking out their own devices without any assistance. VoIP phones, however, may prove a little more daunting. Indeed, VoIP phones come in many shapes and sizes. To help you make a smart and informed decision, here is a rundown of the three types of VoIP phones available on the market.
1) ATA phones
ATA stands for “analog telephone adaptor.” An ATA is perfect for those who are pleased with their current phone setup, since all it does is convert your current standard phones into VoIP phones. There are various options available to cater to your needs, so make sure you select an ATA module that supports the number of devices you have.
2) Softphones
Softphones are VoIP applications. The term “softphone” is a merger of the words “software” and “telephone.” A softphone will run on devices such as tablets, smartphones/iPhones and computers. When you run a softphone, it will act as a VoIP telephone on your machine, thus allowing you to make calls through your computer and mobile devices.
3) IP Phones
Those of you who want to completely replace their landline setup should consider getting IP phones. IP phones look and function like normal phones, only with an Ethernet port that allows you to connect the phone directly to your router. IP phones are usually on par with standard phones, and may even be of a higher quality. They are however the priciest of the three options.
What option you choose depends on your needs. Most VoIP providers offer their own free softphone app, but not everyone is comfortable with abandoning landline phones. If you wish to have home phones as well, ATA phones will be cheaper than IP phones, but IP phones may be a better investment if your current phones are old or damaged.
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