Source: Karolina Kabat on Flickr

A: This depends on how your phones are currently set up. If, like many people, you use a standard cordless phone system where one base phone plugs into a standard phone jack in the wall and the others transmit wirelessly from that base unit, your phones should work exactly the same with a VoIP system once you plug the base unit into your VoIP adapter.

If all four phones currently plug into their own wall jacks, you have a couple of options for multiple phones. If your phones are plugged in in separate rooms, you might want to use wireless phone jacks, also known as portable phone jacks, to connect your phones through the electrical wiring in your house. A main base plugs in to the VoIP adapter, and then individual extender ports for each phone plug into electrical outlets around the house. This can cause some interference or audio issues, but is simpler than some of the other options.

Splitters are another possibility if you don't mind dealing with running wires from room to room. A splitter plugs into the VoIP phone jack and provides multiple phone ports, which you can then use to plug in a number of phones.

Finally, you can use your existing telephone wiring to route your VoIP service throughout your home. This option is best if you live in a single-family house, as redoing the wiring might cause problems for other residents in an apartment or condo building. To do this, you must separate your house's wiring from the phone company's outside system and connect it to the VoIP adapter. This change is reversible. Although you can do the wiring yourself, an electrician can help with the process. Check with your VoIP provider to see if they can recommend an electrician or other professional. VoIP providers may also provide resources to help you do the rewiring yourself. Some VoIP providers advise against rewiring your house because traditional telephone wires carry a charge that can sometimes damage VoIP equipment. If you're thinking about Vonage service, click here to read our blog post on using your existing home wiring with Vonage for more detailed information about rewiring.

If you just need one extra plug, some VoIP providers' adapters have more than one phone port, including one of our top-rated options, VOIPo, which offers an adapter with two phone ports.

Long story short, multiple phones are very doable with VoIP, but you might want to switch to a cordless system, since overall, the simplest solution is definitely to use one main base and a number of cordless handsets rather than to install a splitter, redo home wiring, or use wireless extensions.

Got other questions about VoIP? Compare services head to head with our comprehensive charts for home or business VoIP services. You can also read our FAQs, delve into detailed individual reviews, or take a look at other blog posts answering common VoIP questions.

A: The minimum bandwidth that you need for VoIP is usually around 88 kbps, so your connection speed should be enough. (1,000 kbps = 1 mbps) And as long as you have a router, which the VoIP adapter needs to be plugged in to, you should be able to use VoIP services with no problem.

If you have other questions about VoIP, check out our VoIP compare page to compare different VoIP services. If you want speak to someone by phone about VoIP services, Vonage offers NextAdvisor users a toll-free 800 number to speak to a representative. Or check out our top-rated VoIP provider, VoIPo, which has the cheapest domestic calling plans.

A: Luckily, there is no special router that you need to use for VoIP services. Most VoIP services (especially our top services) are compatible with most routers. In addition, services offer online and phone support to help you connect your router to the VoIP network.

In addition to the router, you must have a VoIP adapter to attach to it to. Each service provides its own adapter so that you can use VoIP over your telephone. Most of the top companies, such as Voipo and Vonage, provide the adapter for free. Some, such as PhonePower, will let you “lease” the hardware for free, but it must be returned. Companies such as Phone.com will waive the cancellation free if you return the hardware. If you want to know more about what each company provides, check out our VoIP service reviews.

A:  Vonage, one of our top-rated VoIP providers, allows users to attach the included adapter to the central phone in your network of hard lines and all of the phones around the house will ring at the same time. This goes for most all of the VoIP services - if you buy a set of phones that comes with a base unit and additional headsets, plugging the adapter to the base unit will ensure that all of the other headsets will be connected as well.

Another one of our favorites, VOIPo, gives you a free cloned 2nd line included with the Home and Home Office plan.

In general, you can also use a multiple jack extension connector by plugging it into your Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA). By doing this, you can use multiple phones on a single line at the location of your ATA.

A: The answer largely depends on which VoIP service you are using. Mostly, it is not a good idea. Fax machines generally use the standard analog network (normal phone service) to transmit data, where VoIP compresses the analog voice data into digital data, which tends to operate differently with fax machines. Short answer: They aren’t compatible.

Having said that, Vonage claims that you can hook up any analog fax machine to your Vonage telephone adapter, as long as you already have a voice line with Vonage. Of course, you can’t make calls and accept faxes at the same time, so getting a second line would be advisable. They also have an extensive fax trouble shooting section on their online support page, if you were to have problems.

Most other VoIP companies provide Internet Fax options, so that you don’t even need to deal with the old analog fax machine. VoIPo offers a Virtual Fax Service that can be added to an existing account for those who want a fax line for their home or office. When a fax is sent to the line, the service will turn the fax into a PDF and email it to your provided email address. Phone.com also offers a digital fax service standard with most of their phone plans.

If you don’t want to set up your fax service through your VoIP account, there is also the option of using a third party fax services, which we review here.

A: If you live in the U.S. (regardless of which town), you should be able to use VOiP provided you have the following items:

1. A high speed internet connection such as Cable or or DSL.
2. A touch tone phone.  Wireless or wired is OK, but rotary dial phones won't work.  If you don't have a touch tone phone, you can pick up a low-cost phone at your drugstore or chain market.
3. The VOiP phone adapter, which will be sent you you by the service you sign up for.  Most services, including Vonage, VOIPo and PhonePower, will give you the adapter free of charge.

VOiP is a great way to save money on calls, so if you're on the fence you should seriously consider it.  To learn more about VOiP and how it works, see our VOiP FAQ.  Also, take a look at our home VOiP comparison chart to compare and contrast our reviewed services.

A: You do not need to use your computer in any way when you have a VOiP phone system. That means your computer does not need to be turned on or logged into the internet. The only things you need to enjoy VOiP are a broadband internet connection (DSL or cable) and a touchtone phone. All the VOiP systems we review provide you with any other necessary equipment.

VOiP works just like your current phone service;  to make a call you pick up the phone and dial the number, and when someone calls you the phone rings and you pick up the phone and answer it.  It sounds and feels the same to both your and other people. The only difference is the less expensive price.

VOiP is a great choice because the cost savings are generally much greater than a standard phone line, especially if you make long distance or international calls. This is because VOiP uses your internet connection for calls instead of phone lines. Our top contenders for home VOiP service from a service and value perspective include Vonage and VOIPo, but we also review many other home VOiP services.

Q. Can I keep my same phone number with VoIP? Will it work with one phone and two extensions, one being in a trailer outside the building?

A. Vonage offers you a choice between keeping your existing number or getting a completely new number. Regarding your second question, most VoIP providers allow you to use more than one extension from a single phone. However, you'd have to add a phone in order to receive an extension outside of your building.

Q. We have a mobile broadband connection for our computer. Will VoIP service work with that?

A. Sorry to say, VoIP needs to be plugged into a modem to work. If you have a wireless or corded modem for your Internet connection, though, you should still be able to use VoIP by simply plugging it into the modem. Customer service representatives for VoIP companies such as Vonage should be able to guide you through the setup steps.

Q:  Can I still use my fax machine with Vonage?

A: Yes, you can use your fax machine with Vonage.  Once you've signed up for Vonage, you'll receive the Vonage V-Portal in the mail.  If you have a single Vonage line, just plug your fax machine into Phone Port 1 on the back of the V-Portal and it's connected.

Having a single line means that you'll be sharing your fax line with your phone line, just like you would on a regular land line.  For example, if you're on the phone you won't be able to receive or send faxes and if you're using the fax you won't be able to talk on the phone.  However, since most people don't fax that often this will probably work for you.

If you need a dedicated fax line, there are a couple of options.  Residential customers taking advantage of the current Vonage World deal of $14.99/month can add-on a dedicated fax line for $9.99/month. Vonage business customers have a dedicated fax line included in their subscription.   For additional fax questions or plain old Vonage questions, Vonage is just a toll-free call away at 888-692-8076.

Q:  My mom and I live at the same address and use the same cable connection for broadband internet service.  Can we get separate Vonage accounts with different phone numbers?  Will it be separate phones or will it be like a party line where if she is on her phone and I pick it up to make a call I will hear her conversation and visa versa?

A: Yes, you can have 2 separate Vonage accounts at the same physical address using the same broadband internet service.  If you sign up one account under your name and one under your mother's name they will be billed seperately.  You will also get 2 different phone numbers.

The Vonage phone service supports up to 5 phones on one broadband internet connection.  This is because Vonage only uses a limited amount of bandwidth to function.  You can either have these phones all on the same Vonage account, or you can sign up for different and separate accounts where each account has it's own  phone number.

If the accounts are different, as in the case of you and your mom, you will not be able to hear or intercept each other's phone calls.  It will work just as if you had 2 different land lines.  Your phone won't hear any of her conversations, and she won't hear any of yours.  Because they are are 2 separate phone lines you could actually call her phone from your line and you could talk to each other (this would come in handy if you have a big house!).

There are a myriad of uses for multiple Vonage lines.  It's convenient for large families who want a separate line for their teenagers, or homes with multiple families under one roof.  It also works well for those who would like both a home and business line at their address.

Right now Vonage World is running a special where the first 6 months are only $14.99 a month (and $25.99/mo  thereafter).  With Vonage World you can make unlimited calls within the US and to 60+ countries.  You can sign up online, or if you're more comfortable you can call Vonage direct with questions at 888-692-8076.

Q: How do I use Vonage to make international calls without being charged?

A: Vonage World makes things as easy as possible.  You just dial the number as you normally would, including the international calling code.  If you're calling a number in the US, or in one of the 60+ countries Vonage World includes, it's free.  If the call is not to one of these 60+ countries then Vonage will charge you a reduced fee per minute.

If both you and the person you're calling have Vonage, the call is free.  Yes, Vonage-to-Vonage calls are free (all you have to do is pay for the monthly service).  If you frequently call someone overseas who isn't included in the 60+ countries, this is a great way to save money.  Just purchase Vonage World for yourself and your friend.  The mailing address on both accounts must be within the US, but once you receive the Vonage adapter you can ship it to whoever you intend to call.

Q:  How can I use Vonage to block unwanted calls?

A: Vonage provides several ways to block both inbound and outbound calls.  These features are included free of charge with your Vonage plan.  With Anonymous Call Block, you can block  inbound callers who aren't allowing their caller ID to be displayed.  These callers will hear an automated message indicating they need to disable their caller ID blocking and call back.  You can enable this feature either from your phone or your online account.

Activating the Do Not Disturb feature will cause all inbound calls to be sent to voice mail.  This is convenient if you'd like to take a nap, or if you just don't want to be disturbed by the sound of the phone ringing.  You can also set this up directly from your phone or via your online account.

Finally there's International and Directory Assistance Blocking.  If you don't want outbound calls made to international or directory assistance numbers, just login to your Vonage Online account and turn it on.  It's a great feature if you're having a party and don't want random (and possibly expensive) calls showing up on your bill.

At this time Vonage does not allow you to block specific inbound call numbers.  As always, you can easily reach Vonage at any time by calling their toll-free number:  888-692-8076.

Q:  Can I use Vonage with a wireless internet connection?

A: Yes, you can.  Regardless of whether your internet connection is wireless or wired, if it's your personal high speed connection you'll have a router/modem on the premises.  The Vonage phone adapter plugs directly into this router/modem, and then your phone connects to the phone adapter.

The exception to this is if you're using a public wireless connection where you don't have direct access to the router/modem.  If this is the case, you won't be able to use Vonage World with a normal phone.  Instead, you can download a Vonage add-on feature called Vonage Softphone to make calls from your computer (PC or Mac).

Vonage Softphone is similar to Skype in that you would actually be making and receiving calls from your computer.  It costs $9.99 a month for 500 minutes of calls to the US and Canada.  These 500 minutes would be in addition to the unlimited free calls to 60+ countries you get with Vonage World, so you could still use your land line to make as many free calls as you want.

If you normally use a land line to make and receive calls and just want to make calls on your computer occasionally you might want to consider adding Vonage Softphone to your Vonage plan.  However, if you plan to make all your calls via the computer you probably want to opt for Skype.

As always, if you have any questions about Vonage or the Vonage plans, you can call Vonage toll-free at 888-692-8076.

Q:  How do you select a phone number when signing up for Vonage?  Will it be considered a local call for our friends and family that live in the same town?

A: Vonage actually goes one better on this.  They offer you the choice of keeping your existing number or getting a completely new number.

If you'd like to get a new number, it's easy.  During the sign up process, Vonage will ask you what area code you'd like and then display all the available numbers in that area code.  You can pick the phone number that appeals to you.  If you're concerned about keeping the call "local" for friends and family, you should choose a number that remains in their local calling area. You don't even need to choose a phone number that relates to where you live.  If you live in Phoenix, and want a New York area code and number, you can do that.

Vonage has a money saving feature where you can purchase a "Virtual Number" in addition to your main Vonage phone number.  With a Virtual Number, people outside of your local calling area can call you for the price of a local call.  For example, if you live in San Diego, you can have a local phone number so that people who live in San Diego can make local calls to you.  But if you also have a lot of family in Mexico City, and you'd like then to be able to make local calls to you, you can add a virtual Mexico City number to your plan.  Then everyone in San Diego AND Mexico City can make local calls to you.

Virtual Numbers ring through to the main Vonage number that people would normally call you on and range from $4.99 to $9.99 a month.  You can add as many Virtual Numbers as you like to your existing Vonage plan.  If you have more questions about Virtual Number and Vonage plans, you can call Vonage's toll-free number:  888-692-8076.

Q: Does Vonage have 800 numbers available?  If so, what would be the added cost?

A: Vonage has a pretty darn good deal on 800 numbers.  It's called Toll Free Plus and would be an "add on" to an existing Vonage plan.  Toll-Free Plus allows you to receive incoming calls from anywhere in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Because it is an "add on", you would need to purchase a Vonage residential or business plan first.  Vonage is running a special on their Vonage World plan right now and for only $14.99 a month for the first 6 months (and then $25.99 a month) you can get unlimited calling within the US and to 60+ countries.  After you have a Vonage plan, all you need to do is login to the Vonage Online account you're given and add Toll Free Plus.

A Toll Free Number costs $4.99 a month (plus taxes and fees) for 100 minutes. After the first the 100 minutes, the cost is 4.9 cents for each additional minute. There is also a one time activation fee of $9.99.  If you're interested, you can even add multiple toll free numbers to your account.  If you have any questions not addressed in this blog, you can easily speak with a Vonage rep at their toll-free number:  888-692-8076

Q:  If we were to switch our business telephone lines to Vonage, could we still keep our existing telephone number?  We've had them for 35 years and all of our clients know them by heart.

A: I'm happy to tell you that you can keep your existing phone number when switching to Vonage.   Vonage calls this service "Number for Life" and will carry over your current business (or residential) phone number to Vonage when you sign up for a Vonage plan.

During the sign up process you'll be asked if you'd like to keep your existing phone number. If so, Vonage will initiate a number transfer for you. This usually takes approximately 7 to 10 business days and Vonage will give you a temporary number in the interim, so if you like you can still start using Vonage immediately. You will need to keep your existing phone service until the switch is completed.  You can easily check the status of the number transfer via the Vonage Online account you'll receive once you're a Vonage customer.

There is one caveat:  some DSL companies don't support this automatic number switch process.  Specifically, if your current DSL service uses the same phone line as your voice line to access the Internet, you may need to go through some additional steps.  For more information on this process, see Number Transfer for DSL Providers.

Q.   Do you need to have high speed internet for Vonage to work?  Can you buy high speed internet from Vonage?

A.  Yes, you do need high speed internet in order for Vonage to function.  Vonage uses VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology which requires a high speed connection for operation.

Vonage works by hooking your existing phone up to the internet for crystal clear calls.  You'll be mailed a Vonage phone adapter as part of your Vonage plan.  The adapter translates sound ((ie, your voice) into data and then sends it over internet.  Once this data arrives at it's location (ie, the number you're calling) that data is converted back into sound.  The call will be so crisp the person you're calling won't notice any difference between a normal land line call and your call.  If you'd like to learn more about VoIP and how it works, check out our VoIP FAQs.

At this time Vonage does not sell high speed internet.  However, high speed internet is easy and fairly inexpensive to obtain.  Contact the telecommunications providers in your area to sign up for the service. You can often find discounted offers, especially if you are a first time customer.

Vonage World is a great deal right now.  If you sign up, the first 6 months of service are only $14.99 per month.  After that, the monthly fee goes up to $25.99 per month, which is still a good price for what you get.  With Vonage World you can make unlimited calls within the US and to 60+ countries.  This is a very pocketbook friendly service if you make numerous long distance and international calls a month, and Vonage World is the highest rated of all the VoIP providers we've reviewed.

1.  Are in the military, deployed overseas OR
2.  Outside of the US, making calls to the US

AND you have a high speed internet connection, Vonage World would be a great money-saving plan for you. If you have a Vonage adapter sent to a US mailing address, and then you ship it whoever will be calling you from overseas, they would be able to call you as if it were a local call. And if you both have Vonage, calls are free (all you need to do is pay for the monthly service). That's right – Vonage to Vonage calls are free.

This is actually a great way to save money because the cost of 2 Vonage World phone plans is much lower than if you were calling internationally without them.  Right now Vonage World is even running a special where the first 6 months are only $14.99/month.

If you're a business traveller or are frequently out of town/state/country you can benefit even more by taking the Vonage Phone Adapter with you.  Just plug the adapter into a high speed internet and a phone to save some cash when you're away from home.

Q:  I live in Florida for 6 months of the year and in Canada for the other 6 months.   Can I take VoIP with me and use it wherever I go?

A: The nice thing about VoIP services is that they are portable.  The Vonage World plan is particularly convenient for travelers.  With Vonage World you can easily pack the small adapter and use it wherever there is a high speed internet connection. This means you can make local and long distance calls from almost anywhere in the world, provided you have a broadband connection.  And Vonage World is running a special where you can make unlimited calls to 60+ countries for only $14.99 a month (for the first 6 months, then $25.99 a month).  That means when you're in Canada, you make free calls to your friends and family in Florida and vice versa.  Nice, right?

There is one small caveat:  you need to have a United States mailing address to purchase the service.  However, once you've signed up and received the Vonage phone adapter you can take it with you and use it outside of the United States.  It's perfect for vacations or business travel and you'll most likely end up saving you a bundle of money.

Q: I currently subscribe to Comcast for phone, cable and internet and have a land line with Verizon because of my home security system. If I used Vonage to replace my land line service would it work effectively with my home security monitoring system and the current cable set-up?

A: The answer to your question is "yes" and "it depends". Because Vonage (and all VoIP service) is designed to run over a high speed internet connection, it will work with your existing Comcast cable set up. In short, VoIP requires a high speed internet connection like cable or DSL, so what you have will work fine.

The "it depends" comes into play when you have a home security system. If your security system is a telephone based one where the company uses your phone line to contact you in case of a break in, it may not work with Vonage. If the security system is wireless, and doesn't depend on a phone line, Vonage will most likely work. Vonage recommends you contact your security company to see if their system is compatible.

Q: Do you have VoIP service in Vietnam?

A: All the VoIP services that we review are sold in the United States or Canada only. However VoIP services are portable and can be used from any broadband connection around the world. For instance, someone can purchase Vonage in the United States and then send the equipment to another country, such as Vietnam. Unfortunately while Vonage World Unlimited covers calls to over 60 countries, Vietnam is not one of them. So calls could be made from Vonage equipment on a broadband connection in Vietnam to any of those countries (see below), but calls within Vietnam would not be covered. This will work for you if you need to make frequent calls from Vietnam to the US, for instance. You just need a US-based shipping and billing address.

Countries covered by Vonage World Unlimited:

Andorra
Argentina
Australia (excl. External Territories)
Austria
Bahamas**
Bahrain
Belgium
Brazil
Brunei**
Bulgaria
Canada**
Chile
China**
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Guadeloupe
Guam**
Hong Kong**
Hungary
Iceland
India**
Iraq
Ireland
Israel (non Paltel)
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Latvia
Luxembourg
Macau**
Macedonia
Malaysia**
Malta
Mexico
Monaco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico**
Romania
Russia
Saipan**
San Marino**
Singapore**
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand**
Turkey
U.S. Virgin Islands**
United Kingdom
Venezuela
Zambia

To see which service is right for you, check out our full VoIP reviews and comparisons.

Vonage (NYSE: VG) has announced that Apple approved its mobile application for iPhone and iPod Touch. Vonage is currently conducting a beta test and general availability will be announced at a later date.

This new service, along with the recent launch of the Vonage World unlimited calling plan, continues Vonage's heritage of using innovative technology to create significant value for its current and future customers.

Yes – that's it.  No mention of when it might be available, much less what it actually does.  Overall it's certainly good news that it got through Apple's sometimes difficult approval process.  It will be nice when we can actually use it, though.