When it comes to your home telephone service, VoIP is the way to go.

I’ve been living without a plain-old-telephone-service (POTS) for more than three years now, and I couldn’t be happier.

If you’re looking to make the switch from your telephone provider to a VoIP system, here are seven reasons to push you forward.

Manage Features Online
Managing your phone service has never been easier. Having a Web-based management tool allows you to make changes to your account, turn features on and off, and keep updated with your calls and minutes used.

How much better is this than using a phone tree or calling customer service to check on your account? It’s night and day.

It’s Cheaper
If you’re spending more than $30/month on your phone service, you’re spending way too much.

Most VoIP services offer an unlimited calling package, so you won’t be paying for minutes or capped to a certain number per month. (International calling options are normally different, so make sure you know the costs involved.)

Easy Call Forwarding
Ever wish you could have just one phone number no matter where you are?

VoIP offers easy call forwarding options, so if you’re on vacation or just out on the town, you can have calls forwarded to your cell or another line—and the caller will never know.

Get Voicemails as MP3s
Instead of having to call into your voicemail line every time you come home, why not have the messages come to you?

VoIP offers the ability to save your voicemail messages as MP3s, which can then be downloaded from your Web management tool or even emailed to you!

Have an Out-of-Area Number
When the phone service is coming through the Internet, you’re not limited to a specific area code.

When you pick your number, you often have the option to select your area code, as well.

Live in New Jersey but want a New York area code? Are you in Florida but your whole family lives in California? Get their area code, and all the calls they make to you are local.

Take it With You
Wherever you have the Internet, you can have VoIP. Depending on your service, you can simply take your VoIP device anywhere you can connect to the Internet, plug in your phone, and it’s like you’re at home.

Some services, like Skype, connect through your computer, so taking your phone with you is as easy as moving your laptop.

The Quality is Up to Par
When VoIP services first were introduced, call quality was sketchy at best. Rarely was it as good as the POTS.

But, assuming your Internet service is at least at cable-level or comparable, you’ll likely notice no difference between your old phone line and your VoIP line.

For more information on VoIP, check out “Cell Phone vs Landline vs VoIP.”