Digital Telephone > Q&A's
- What is digital telephone?
- How many different types of digital telephone services are there?
- Can I keep my current phone number when I switch to digital phone service?
- Someone told me I can't use my computer and talk on the phone at the same time. Is this true?
- I heard digital telephone is fairly inexpensive. Is this true?
- I have a home alarm system. Can I use digital telephone service with it?
- Can I use my regular phone jack for digital telephone?
- I've decided I want to switch to digital telephone. What do I do now?
Q. What is digital telephone?
A. Digital telephone is a new type of home phone service that provides consumers with an alternative to traditional phone service. It can be either Internet Telephony (voice service travels over the Internet) or VoC (Voice over Cable).
Q. How many different types of digital telephone services are there?
A. There are two main types of digital phone services, Internet Telephony (made up of smaller individual providers) and Voice over Cable (digital telephone service provided by your local cable company). While many of their features are the same, they do have some big differences. Internet Telephony, also called VoIP, connects your calls via the public Internet, while Voice over Cable uses private networks. Internet Telephony relies on the public Internet and is subject to delays and static that can occur when using this open, public network. Voice over Cable operates over your cable provider's private network and sufficient bandwidth is always allocated to voice signals to ensure consistent, high quality.
Q. Can I keep my current phone number when I switch to digital phone service?
A. Yes. You can usually keep your current phone number when switching to digital telephone service. Certain limitations apply, especially if you are moving to a different geographic area.
Q. Someone told me I can't use my computer and talk on the phone at the same time. Is this true?
A. Absolutely not. With digital telephone, you can access the Internet and talk simultaneously. That means you can chat with a friend for hours while you surf the Web at the same time.
Q. I heard digital telephone is fairly inexpensive. Is this true?
A. Actually, yes, depending on your provider. When compared with traditional phone service, digital telephone may come out cheaper. However, as with any service, you want to shop around as pricing and features vary. For example, some providers charge extra for long distance calls, like a traditional telephone service, while others charge a flat rate for all calls within a specific region, like the United States and Canada. Do your homework and look for a calling plan that suits your particular needs.
Q. I have a home alarm system. Can I use digital telephone service with it?
A. Yes, but it depends on the provider. You need to ensure that your alarm system is installed properly so that the alarm can dial out to central station monitoring, even when someone is using the phone. If you have an alarm system, check if the digital phone provider supports alarms. It's also advisable to have a battery backup so the alarm will function in the event of a power outage. Many companies provide such an installation and offer a battery backup.
Q. Can I use my regular phone jack for digital telephone?
A. Yes. Most Voice over Cable digital telephone providers offer home wiring solutions that allow you to use the existing phone jacks in your home. Optimum Voice from Cablevision offers whole house wiring with its service. Some independent digital phone providers may have a solution that you can install to use your existing phone jacks.
Q. I've decided I want to switch to digital telephone. What do I do now?
A. Do your homework and find the provider and plan that meets your needs. With the smaller providers, you may also need a high-speed Internet connection from a different company. Make sure to add the cost of that connection when comparing home phone plans.
Cablevision offers quality digital phone service for customers in the tri-state area. Get more information on Cablevision's Optimum Voice® service.
Interested in purchasing digital telephone products? Visit OptimumStore.com.
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