Internet phone service available locally

The Internet can now be used to talk over the phone.First Bridge Internet in Conway Village is one of the first companies in the state maybe the only one, says owner Don Jones to offer Voice Over Internet Phone (VOIP) service.All you need is a high-speed Internet connection and a VOIP box about the size of a paperback book, Jones says. Plug your phone into the box and the box into the high-speed Internet connection (cable, DSL, etc.) and you can call just about anywhere for an astoundingly low monthly fee."It rings the same," Jones said. "It dials the same. You can use the same phone number that you have now. The only noticeable difference is that after you dial the number, you have to get in the habit of hitting the pound sign."Cost to activate an account is $25, which includes the box. Monthly fee for residences is $24.95; for businesses, it's $9.95 per line and 1.9 cents per minute."The advantage is that for about $25 (residences), you can call anywhere in the United States, Western Europe, most of South America and all of Canada," Jones said. "The rates to the rest of the world are quite a bit lower than with other phone services."Disadvantages?"It relies on a high-speed Internet connection, so if you have cable connection, for instance, and the cable goes out, there's no phone either until it comes back," Jones said. "If the power goes off the phone won't work. There are a few little limitations like that."Jones said Voice Over Internet Phone has been around a few years, but, "It's just now coming into its own so that it's good reliable technology that you would be comfortable using."It's pretty leading-edge stuff," Jones added. "It's really putting our little village on the map from a technology point of view."First Bridge Internet is located in the Majestic Theater building. Phone number is 447-8511, and the Web site is www.firstbridge.net.