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HughesNet Voice for Business Means Better Remote-Located Phone Service

By Steve Anderson
Contributing Writer

Internet providers like HughesNet are often regarded as the provider of last resort, the kind of service people get when there's simply no other choice. A new addition to the HughesNet lineup, though, may be poised to change that, in the form of the HughesNet Voice system.

HughesNet Voice is a facet of the HughesNet Business Internet program, and gives businesses access to unlimited voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) calling for the United States and Canada. Users get access to such tools as caller ID, call block, call forwarding, voicemail options, and even simultaneous ring features. It's projected that users turning to HughesNet Voice will save up to 45 percent over the current alternatives, and the service is currently available, so those interested will need only contact their HughesNet representative to get connected.

Better, HughesNet Voice can be added to any current HughesNet Business Internet service package, and can be paid for on a monthly basis or a two-year plan, allowing for scalability as needed. There are even plans involving international calling for those who need such services, and setup and activation are free for those just getting started.

Hughes Network Systems (News - Alert) senior vice president Mike Cook noted “With HughesNet Voice, we are bringing our years of experience delivering high-quality VoIP services to the small business market. HughesNet Voice delivers fully featured calling services to businesses regardless of where they are located, enabling them to stay connected with customers, partners and suppliers.”

While my experience with satellite Internet wasn't exactly a pleasant one, this kind of operation suggests some clear possibilities. Satellite Internet isn't great for high-bandwidth operations; a couple hours of Netflix streaming would be enough to break the usual bandwidth cap wide open. However, for VoIP, satellite might do the job just fine. That actually poses a clear opportunity; if satellite moves to being the new provider of choice for VoIP service, it's a safe bet it could destroy local phone for business if nothing else, and potentially even for the everyday user. That would in turn free up the copper used for phone lines to be used in digital subscriber line (DSL) operations, and potentially provide at least some level of high-speed Internet to every home currently getting phone service.

It's a bit of an oversimplification, of course, but it's an idea that might stand some research. Businesses have long needed a way to keep in touch, and HughesNet Voice might just be that way. It's not without its flaws, but satellite-based VoIP could be just the technology we need to finally address the problem of the Internet access gap.