To find the best home phone service in Altoona, PA, 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 Altoona, PA. 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 Altoona, PA 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 |
Voice Over Internet Protocol transmits phone calls over high-speed Internet connections. People can use traditional analog telephones, computers or special IP phones to communicate. This service enables customers to utilize the same phone number and account at any location with Internet access. It can cut costs for someone who owns a business or two homes. However, slow or heavily shared connections may not provide enough bandwidth for VoIP. Wirefly offers a handy speed test that can automatically evaluate any connection. This phone service also fails whenever an Internet outage occurs.
Cellular and landline companies usually assign random telephone numbers to customers. There normally isn't any opportunity to customize a new number. On the other hand, people with VoIP often have the ability to select a desired area code. It doesn't have to be the standard area code for Altoona, PA. This advantage doesn't really matter to some customers, but it can potentially benefit people with home businesses. The selected area code will affect the amounts that some callers pay to contact a business.
Most VoIP providers include a wide range of valuable features. Examples include caller identification, blocking, three-way communication, forwarding and unlimited domestic calls. Some companies offer customer support at all hours. Sound quality usually surpasses that of a cell phone but doesn't match traditional landline service. Customers can pay surprisingly low fees for VoIP if they look for inexpensive providers. Certain companies charge monthly rates of less than $7. When comparing costs, keep in mind that this amount doesn't cover the expense of a high-speed Internet connection.
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 Altoona, PA, 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.
Landline telephone services, also known as traditional services, have been in use for decades. To use this popular phone service in Altoona, PA homes, providers install a jack in the wall and then customers plug their phone into it. The jack connects to a device which then connects to underground copper wires. Multiple connections are made to the wires allowing businesses and residential homes to use the service. Despite its long time use, consumers find the benefits of wireless service very appealing.
Altoona, PA traditional services have advantages over wireless phone services. Landlines services provide a steady connection that helps ensure a clear sound. But it's the disadvantages of traditional landlines that consumers dislike. The stationary nature of the service is a major disadvantage. The phone does not travel with the consumers. So an outing to the grocery store or a job site could mean missing important calls. Staying home all day waiting for a phone call is time-consuming and frustrating for people. Price is another disadvantage of landline phone services. Consumers may find themselves paying an average of $49.99 a month for a traditional service.
The most commonly used phone service today is one that consumers in Altoona, PA can use at home and on the go. Wireless home phone service, or as you may know it, cell phone service, is available from an incredible number of providers to choose from. With a variety of different prepaid and contract plans to choose from, consumers can have calling, texting, and mobile data to use all their favorite forms of contacting friends and family everywhere they have a cell phone service signal. Check out Wirefly's nifty wireless plan comparison tool to compare cell phone plans in Altoona, PA and find the best cell plan for your needs.
Wireless phone service in Altoona, PA has all the best features of traditional landline service, as well. Caller ID, voicemail, call forwarding, call waiting, are all typical cell phone capabilities; and some phones, like smartphones with a capable plan, are able to serve as a high speed Wi-Fi hotspot.
Wireless phone service can be expensive. Depending on the amount of minutes, texts, services and features, the provider, a prepaid or contract plan, and the type of phone a customer wants to use, monthly bills can range from $30 to over $100; however, it is important to remember all the capabilities a wireless phone can provide a consumer in Altoona, PA. It is also important to note that cell-service is not available reliably in all areas; and though it is a reliable method for most, one that can go anywhere with you, it is absolutely one of the most expensive options.
