To find the best home phone service in Athens, ME, consumers must check offers from many different providers. The three main factors that should be considered are reliability, features and pricing. Ideally, consumers should find a service that is affordable, reliable and packed with useful features. Wirefly is the best way to compare home phone service providers in Athens, ME. A residential phone package should offer clear calls and minimal restrictions. To get reliable VoIP calls at home, it's important to have a high-speed Internet service, and Wirefly makes it easy to test the speed of an Internet connection. You can find and compare the best Athens, ME home phone service providers below:
| Provider | Plan Details | Monthly Rate* | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | VoIPo Home Phone
* $15.00/mo. or $6.21/mo. with 2 year contract | $6.21* | Details  58 Reviews |
.png&contenttype=png "1-VOIP") | HOME PHONE SERVICE
* $8.97 is monthly cost with 1-year prepay | $8.97* | Details  7 Reviews |
 | Axvoice
* $6.25/mo. 1-year prepay equals $75.00/year | $6.25* | Details  75 Reviews |
 | Traditional Landline Service
* Device contains a backup battery and is not designed to be run without electricity indefinitely. | $32.50* | Details  7 Reviews |
The Voice Over Internet Protocol, also called VoIP, offers a cutting-edge way to convert voice signals into a digital format. After digitization takes place, the signal moves to a high-speed network. VoIP customers in Athens, ME find many advantages to using the service. One top advantage is that VoIP works wherever the user has a broadband connection. Consumers are not limited to only one location for using VoIP. The mobility factor of the VoIP is particularly convenient for people who travel or who need a portable service for business purposes.
The ability to customize VoIP service package in Athens, ME provides another advantage. With traditional landline phone services and wireless services, the consumer has no say on the area code number for their telephone number. The geographic location of the consumer typically determines which area code the provider assigns to them. With VoIP, the area code is chosen by the consumer instead of preset for them. This unique customized benefit makes VoIP an appealing choice for consumers with businesses.
VoIP services have other features too. Call waiting, call forwarding, and caller ID are a few of the features. Also available in VoIP packages are three-way calling, call blocking, and international calling. Unlimited calling plus 24-hour customer service are other great features found in VoIP plans. Pricing for the feature packed VoIP plans begins at $5.99 per month. The outstanding price combined with amazing features makes the VoIP a great choice for consumers.
A DSL phone service shares many similarities to a traditional phone service, as it uses the standard copper phone lines. The difference is that it also includes DSL Internet access through a modem that is usually supplied by the service provider, though consumers who already own a compatible DSL model may sometimes use their own. The service is essentially a bundle that combines telephone service and Internet access from the same provider.
The price of a DSL phone service will vary depending on the specific plan chosen by the subscriber. It is possible to find prices as low as $19.95 per month with a multi-year service contract. However, those who want a very fast Internet connection with no monthly data transfer limits will have to pay more. While there are providers offering DSL home phone service without lengthy contracts, their monthly plans are a bit more expensive and they may require that new customers pay an installation fee.
Some consumers like having their phone and Internet services from the same company. Unlike older dial-up Internet services that have largely fallen into disuse in urban areas, DSL technology allows people to use the Internet and talk on the phone at the same time.
When choosing a DSL phone service provider, it's important to do some research on how reliable the various service providers are. In a city like Athens, ME, the cabling infrastructure is generally well maintained, making it unlikely for users to experience any serious service quality issues or interruptions. However, a provider's network may get overloaded at times of peak usage, such as during holidays. This could cause a slowdown in Internet connection speed and even make the service unusable for a couple of minutes.
People have used landline phone service for over a century. It utilizes copper wires attached to jacks in customers' homes. Subscribers may connect corded telephones or cordless phones that work in the vicinity of their homes. Sophisticated extra features are available, such as caller ID and call waiting. However, they usually cost extra. An advantage of corded landlines is that they normally continue to work during power and Internet outages. This technology doesn't rely on wireless signals or Internet communications, so it's generally quite reliable.
Each landline account is only accessible in one house or apartment. Another drawback is that this option costs more than VoIP. Although basic local-only service is cheaper, most Athens, ME subscribers spend around $50 per month. They can add basic dial-up Internet for about $10 more. A significant advantage of landline service is that it delivers the clearest audio, especially when both parties are using corded phones. This proves desirable for people who spend many hours on the telephone or need to make particularly important calls. For example, a traditional landline is best for radio interviews.
Today, many consumers are choosing wireless home phone services in Athens, ME because they can use the service anywhere. Most cell phone providers offer flexible payment options, and consumers can choose between prepaid, monthly or annual payment plans. Many wireless providers offer a variety of useful call features, and some common options are caller ID and voicemail. It's also quite common for providers to offer a mobile hotspot feature, which is very useful for sharing an Internet connection. When a mobile hotspot is activated, a customer can share their Internet connection and data with friends and family members. You can use Wirefly to compare cell phone plans in Athens, ME and pick the best plan for your needs.
One of the top reasons to consider choosing a wireless phone service in Athens, ME is the flexibility that comes from such a plan. Wireless plans are especially useful while traveling, and they can work just as well when used at home. The only downside of getting a wireless service is the cost. The average cost of wireless phone services is quite a bit higher than the other options, but many plans come with unlimited minutes and data. Another potential downside is that a wireless service doesn't work well in every location, and to get a signal, an area must be covered by the wireless provider. Unfortunately, not all areas are covered, so it's very important to check a coverage map before choosing a wireless service provider. Wirefly is one of the best ways to compare services and get the best deals.
