VOIP
Voice Over IP (VOIP) Telephone Systems for Baja Mexico
(in case you might need it….) 
Telephone service in the lower Baja Sur pennensula is relatively limited and can be expensive. Some places in lower northern Baja even have spots where there is no phone service. Now there is a dependable low-cost telephone solution available, no matter where you live. Now you can make and receive low-cost telephone calls via the Internet using any broadband Internet connection or the iDirect Satellite Internet System.
VoIP can allow you to make a call directly from a computer, a special VoIP phone, or a traditional phone connected to a special adapter. In addition, wireless “hot spots” in locations such as airports, parks, and cafes allow you to connect to the Internet and may enable you to use VoIP service wirelessly.
VoIP services convert your voice into a digital signal that travels over the Internet. If you are calling a regular phone number, the signal is converted to a regular telephone signal before it reaches the destination.
Personally, at my house, we use Magic Jack. It is like Vonage. This is because in Labufadora there are no telephone lines. The cost for this is only $19.95 per YEAR for unlimited calls to anywhere in the US and Canada. I just renewed for a year the other day ! It runs thru your computer, via satelite. You use a regular cordless telephone that is hooked into your computers USB port, via the little device you see pictured below…..no software to download, the device is pre-installed with the software and automatically downloads. A 2 year old can do this.
The reception is OK. Not always clear…. but It’s better than having nothing. For less than $20 a year for unlimited US calling, theres is NOTHING better on the market. It’s good for emergencies, which is what we use it for. What is nice with MJ is that you will get an email saying a call came in. (in case you miss the call or dont hear it) The email will tell you the callers number so you can identify who the caller was. There is a “softphone” keypad on your computer screen at all times, with a call log too. A help menu AND a 24 hour Live Chat Help Call Center!! I can call anywhere in the US and anyone in the US can call me, just like it was a normal house phone. You can pick whatever US area code you want, in my case, I chose one in my parents hometown, so a call to me here in Baja, is local and free for them, since all they use is a house landline phone.
Most people who use this say they like it better than Vonage.
www.magicjack.com
What Kind of Equipment Do I Need?
A broadband (high speed Internet) connection is required. This can be through a cable modem, or high speed services such as DSL or a local area network. A computer, adaptor, or specialized phone is required. Some VoIP services only work over your computer or a special VoIP phone, while other services allow you to use a traditional phone connected to a VoIP adapter. If you use your computer, you will need some software and an inexpensive microphone. Special VoIP phones plug directly into your broadband connection and operate largely like a traditional telephone. If you use a telephone with a VoIP adapter, you’ll be able to dial just as you always have, and the service provider may also provide a dial tone.
Is there a difference between making a Local Call and a Long Distance Call?
Some VoIP providers offer their services for free, normally only for calls to other subscribers to the service. Your VoIP provider may permit you to select an area code different from the area in which you live. It also means that people who call you may incur long distance charges depending on their area code and service.
Some VoIP providers charge for a long distance call to a number outside your calling area, similar to existing, traditional wireline telephone service. Other VoIP providers permit you to call anywhere at a flat rate for a fixed number of minutes.
If you have a VoIP Telephone in Mexico, you can get a US telephone number, often being to select a number in any area code in the US or Canada. Making calls then is similar to dialing calls from within that area code.
If I have VoIP service, who can I call?
Depending upon your service, you might be limited only to other subscribers to the service, or you may be able to call anyone who has a telephone number – including local, long distance, mobile, and international numbers. If you are calling someone who has a regular analog phone, that person does not need any special equipment to talk to you. Some VoIP services may allow you to speak with more than one person at a time.
What Are Some Advantages of VoIP?
Some VoIP services offer features and services that are not available with a traditional phone, or are available but only for an additional fee. You may also be able to avoid paying for both a broadband connection and a traditional telephone line.
Also, and most importantly, you can get a US Phone Number for your VOIP phone in Mexico. You then make calls just as if you were dialing a telephone in the US. Callers can reach you in Mexico by dialing a US Number and your telephone will ring, just as if you and your phone were in the US.
For more information visit: http://www.bajasatellite.com/voip-telephone-systems-sales-and-service.asp
