Verizon has expanded the availability of VoIP to additional FiOS markets. And to both attract new customers and entice current subscribers to make the switch from Verizon POTS (plain old telephone service), the company has larded its VoIP service with free calling features.
FiOS Digital Voice is now available in the FiOS markets in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Pennsylvania and California.
Verizon’s POTS service, called Freedom Essentials, typically comes with three free calling features. Verizon is offering 21 features with its VoIP service, while touting VoIP’s sound quality. Many of the VoIP features are not available with the traditional Freedom Essentials voice service, the company said.
FiOS Digital Voice features include live voicemail screening, which gives users the option to hear voicemail messages as they arrive and then decide whether or not to take the incoming call. Verizon asserts this feature is not available with cable VoIP.
Other features include call logs, Caller ID on TV, locate me (basically call forwarding), simultaneous ring, do not disturb, voicemail with e-mail notification and virtual numbers.
The promotional price for a triple-play bundle starts at $99.99 per month. That includes the TV Prime package, Internet with 15 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream, and FiOS Digital Voice.
