by David Strom
If you have a cable modem or DSL line, you already have most of what you need to set up what is called a voice over IP (VoIP) line. This is a new kind of phone service that works over the Internet. All you need is to subscribe to one of the service providers — Vonage is probably the most well-known — for a small monthly fee of around $30.
The providers send you a small box that you connect first to your network, and then to an ordinary telephone. Some of the boxes support two lines, if that is important to you.
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