Phoning via broadband is a growing trend as features expand and service becomes more reliable

Talk is getting cheaper and cheaper, thanks to the Internet.

A host of companies now provide phone service that is routed over the Internet, offering unlimited calling within the United States and Canada, many free calling features and steeply discounted international rates.
Traditional phone companies have joined the Internet phone trend started by cable firms and independent outfits, luring customers with the cut-rate, feature-rich plans that work with traditional telephone handsets for the caller and recipient.
Most providers charge from $20 to $40 - tax- and surcharge-free - for unlimited local and long-distance calls within the United States and Canada. Unlimited calling through traditional phone services costs $50 plus taxes, surcharges and extra fees for some features that Voice-over-Internet Protocol, or VoIP, includes free.
Full Article:http://www.newsday.com/business/local/newyork/ny-bzcov4095535dec26,0,7164332.story