Voice over IP comes by different names, including — Internet Phone, Internet Telephony, Broadband phone, and voice over Internet Protocol (voice over IP or VoIP). VoIP allows you to use a regular touchtone phone along with a high speed Internet connection to place your calls over the net.

Using a VoIP provider allows you to drastically cut your monthly phone bill, especially if you make a lot of long distance calls. Although there are many different types of calling plans available, a common VoIP plan can include your dial tone, all local calls, all long distance calls, numerous calling features, all for about $20.00 to $40.00 a month.

Although VoIP has been around for a while, it is now coming into the mainstream for use by everyday consumers. In the past you could make calls over the Internet by using a computer and headset and speak with someone else that was also using a computer and headset.

Thanks to investments and new technology, a VoIP provider allows you to make calls over the Internet using your own touchtone phone, even if you do not own a computer. In late 2003 it was estimated there were 150,000 users of VoIP, and by 2007 this number is expected to grow to 5 million.

Much depends on how the FCC will handle VoIP calls. One of the benefits of using a VoIP provider is the savings you see in taxes and fee's. When you use Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) you are hit with every government regulation and tax known to mankind. Because VoIP uses the Internet to transfer your calls, you are not required to pay most of the old taxes and fee's.

As of early 2004, former FCC Chairman Michael Powell has stated he is against heavy regulation of VoIP. In January 2004, Powell said, "If you're going to say that Voice over IP is something that needs regulation, then you're going to have to explain to me why e-mail isn't also, or streaming video or instant messaging is not also."