Unlike landline phone service, VoIP providers often provide many bonus features for free. Some of them are very useful to consumers. Here is a list of common bonus features offered with VoIP service.
3 way calling
Connect to the third person when you are talking on the phone. You can add a third party to your call.
Anonymous call block
Stop anonymous calls. All calls from callers who have deliberately blocked their caller ID will be sent to a message telling them that you do not accept anonymous calls. But callers whose caller ID information is not available will not be blocked.
Call hunt
If you have multiple phone lines, call hunt will ring each of them in a sequence if your main line is busy.
Caller ID block
A privacy protection service. Your number will not be shown to the person you are calling.
Caller ID with name
This service shows you the name of the caller. You can then choose whether you want to answer the phone or not.
Call return
With call return service, you can retrieve information on the phone number, the date and time of the last call made to you.
Call transfer
With call transfer, you can direct a live call to another phone number.
Call waiting
When you are on the phone and someone calls, you would hear a “beep” sound. You can put your current conversation on hold and answer the other call, and then retrieve the first call afterward.
Directory assistance block
Let you block and unblock directory assistance at anytime so you are in total control.
Enhanced call forwarding
Let your forward incoming calls to another phone number. Enhanced call forwarding simultaneously ring your first phone number and the other phone numbers you have forwarded. The caller will not know the call is being forwarded.
Do not disturb
When do not disturb is on, all incoming calls are transferred to voicemail or a message indicating that you are not accepting incoming calls. Outgoing calls will not be affected.
International call block
Let you block and unblock international call at anytime so you are in total control. You will no longer pay for unauthorized international calls.
Repeat dialing
When you call someone and get a busy signal, you can activate repeat dialing. Your phone service provider will automatically redial the number for you. When the number is no longer busy, you phone will ring and you will be connected to the person you are trying to reach.
Virtual phone number
Another phone number in additional to the primary line. You can choose a virtual phone number for an area where most your friends and relatives live. When your friends and relatives call that number, it will simply ring your primary line. You answer the calls as usual but your friends and relatives will only be charged for local calls.
Visual voicemail
A service that transcribes your voicemails to text so that you can read them from your email or from SMS on cell phone.
Voicemail plus
An enhanced service that let you access your voicemail from any phone or via email. Voicemail plus can store your voicemail message as an audio file and send it to you as email.