From Nadeem Unuth,
Your Guide to Voice Over IP.
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In most cases with the popular VoIP service providers, when you sign in for a VoIP service package, you obtain the necessary hardware to use with it. Generally, the strict minimum is an ATA and an IP phone.

This is something very interesting for us consumers. Why do VoIP companies do this? The answer lies in one word: marketing. By doing so, they aim at:

• Making things so easy for the customer that the latter finds no obstacle signing up for VoIP service. It is a hassle to buy a whole lot of expensive equipment before being able to use a VoIP service, which besides, you are not sure to adopt.
• Making sure the customer is using the right equipment, which works with their service.
• To stand up in the face of competition.

You also need to keep in mind that there are a number of conditions attached to the use of such equipment. It is therefore important to read or enquire about these conditions before signing:

• Some companies lend you the equipment for free, but most of them lease them against a fee.
• That fee can be a one-time fee payable at the time of contracting the service; or it can be a monthly fee, being part of the package.
• Some companies refund you the money once you return the equipment in the state it was when you got them.
• In case the equipment is broken or made defective in whichever way during the time you used it, you have to refund it. Take note of the cost, and it can be quite surprising.

Compatibility

Different VoIP service providers use different equipment with their services. If you are buying your own equipment, make sure they are those of the service provider whose VoIP service you will sign up for. As far as possible, get that equipment that will suit the most popular VoIP service providers, so that in case you leave one service, you can easily plug into another.

Some service providers lock their equipment so that it cannot be used with a service other than what they are providing. This secures them from losing their clientele to their competitors.

This is one of the reasons why there are protocols, which are in some way, standards to allow for compatibility between hardware products for a certain service. Therefore, before buying VoIP hardware, consider the protocols and codecs they support.