New technologies are popping up every day. Telephones are no exception. Sure, you're thinking new cordless phones, new cell phone technology, headsets, gadgets, belt-clips, etc. But that's not what I'm covering today.

Maybe unknown to you, there are literally thousands of alternative phone companies competing for your business. And they're not just reselling Ma Bell's network to you. They're selling you phones that connect to each other - and to other standard phones - via the Internet itself. Everyone's got an Internet connection these days, so why not use it for your phone service as well.

And we're not talking about "soft phones" that run on your computer and require a special headset either. These are real phones that sit on your desk, buttons, curly cord and all. Granted they are different from the phone you have on your desk right now, but they're affordable, and have tons of options. You can even use your existing phones with a "VoIP adapter".

The most well known providers are 8x8 (formerly Packet8) and Vonage, though their prices are not that much better than your typical phone service. The trick is to find a stable, younger company that is eager for business and operates on smaller margins.

Here are a few estimates:
ViaTalk.com - $15 per line per month / 20 country calling for $9 per month
ITPVoip.com - $16 per line per month / Unlimited 60 country calling for $10 per month
VoIPyourlife.com - $15 per line per month / Unlimited international for $15 per month

NOTE: Don't pre-pay a whole year with any of these providers. Contracts are okay, but don't give them all your money up front. They're still young companies and you don't want to lose your money with them.

The bottom line is that you should be able to set up your entire business on VoIP service for under $20 per month per line. If you have 5 employees, your phone bill with 5 incoming lines should be around $120/month. If you have more than 5 employees, you may want to consider investing in your own VoIP server to do voicemail and inbound call routing. Its cheaper than you may think, and will save you tons of money in the long run. Plus you can do all sorts of fun things like run your own call center, customize your phone system, etc.