How Does VoIP Work with Multiple Lines and Phones?

There is no doubt that VoIP is becoming a more mainstream method of making phone calls for both residential and business usage. The VoIP service provider's offer great benefits and features at a low price that have become very attractive to many consumers. However, sometimes a very busy household and of course a business that does high volume sales, require multiple phone lines. Adding telephone lines to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a simple task, thanks to the fact that all of the wiring was completed when VoIP was originally installed. Here are some steps to making sure your additional lines will be hassle free.

First, you need to check how much bandwidth you have available on your computer. Each additional VoIP line means you need to have more available bandwidth. There are various online testing programs that can tell you how much bandwidth you have available. Then you need to contact your service provider and ask them how much more bandwidth you will need for each additional line. The average bandwidth for a VoIP line is about 90Kbs.

Next, you can log on or phone in your order for a new line. At this stage, you will be asked what type of plan you need and type of number you would like to assign; for example, a toll free, vanity or local telephone number. Make sure to do your research on the VoIP packages offered by the various service providers.

After you choose your plan, you need to make sure that your hardware supports your needs. When you first order VoIP, the service providers send you an adaptor. You need to make sure that this adaptor has room for more than one phone line. If it doesn't you can always call up your provider and they will send you a new one (usually free of charge).

Lastly, plug in your adaptor to your router or cable modem box. Then you can plug in your phone lines into the adaptor and phone jacks.

VoIP can be your phone solution even if you need multiple lines. Provided you have enough bandwidth, your adaptor is sufficient to hold more than one line and your VoIP service provider has set you up with a plan, you should have no problems.