Are Voip Phone Services Better Than Regular Landline Phones?

Unfortunately, you're going to hear valid points from both sides--everybody's right and everybody's wrong. Here's why:

The most important component of successful voip is the quality of your broadband connection. I'm not just talking about how fast it is, but how consistent--and that's the sticking point. To get an idea, go to this speedtest analyzer, http://www.voip.com/voip_tips/Networking/wireless_network.aspx) and see what your results are. If you have a fast connection but a lot of dropped packets or long turn around times, then you'll probably be unhappy with your voip--and it's not the fault of your voip service provider; it's your ISP's fault.

If your connection looks good enough (high QoS score and everything) then voip might be great for you. And as far as 911 goes...a lot of voip providers offer enhanced 911 services, where your local emergency people can get your name, address and callback number automatically. I know mine does (voip.com).

It's also true that in a blackout, your broadband will typically not work and your voip phones would be out. If it's just a power failure, you can have your router and phone plugged into an Uninterruptible Power Supply that will provide backup power to the system and your phones should still work for emergency purposes. Of course, there's always your cell

In the end, you have to take a good hard look at what you need, the quality of your broadband and your expectations. If voip works out for you, you'll absolutely love it. We save so much it's unbeliveable.