Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Click on the following most frequently asked questions to read the answers.
What is VoIP or Digital Voice?
For a detailed description of VoIP and NextPhone services, visit our What is NextPhone page.
How do I make and receive calls with NextPhone?
For details on making calls with NextPhone services, visit our Making Calls page.
What equipment do I need to use NextPhone?
A listing of required and optional equipment is available on our Required Equipment page.
Do I need to call my local phone company to cancel my current telephone number or inform them of the transfer?
No. The transfer of your phone number from your local phone company to NextPhone Broadband Phone Service will automatically disconnect your local phone service. Please do not call your local phone company to cancel your telephone number. If you do so, this will prevent us from being able to process your transfer.
How do I take my NextPhone service with me, if I move to a new address?
You can take your NextPhone service with you as long as a DSL or cable connection is available. Whenever you move, or access NextPhone from a different location, it is important to update your Service Address with NextPhone. To update your address simply contact Customer Service at (888) 396-6178 M-F 8:00am – 11:00pm (Mountain Time US) or email your new address to: support@nxph.com. NOTE: It may take up to five days for new addresses to be registered in our emergency response databases.
What form of payment is accepted?
Most NextPhone packages require automatic payment on a Credit Card, Debit Card or Checking Account Debit Transaction. Major Credit cards accepted include Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. NextPhone does offer Traditional Business accounts the option of receiving a monthly invoice.
Do I need a computer?
Do I need to have my computer turned on to talk on the phone?
No. NextPhone service works independently from your computer, so you do not need a computer. Additionally, your computer does not need to be turned on when using NextPhone. You do need to have a broadband Internet connection.
Must I speak through the computer to use your service?
No. NextPhone does not require a computer. You speak through an ordinary touch-tone telephone connected to a NextPhone Adapter.
However, The NextPhone service does support Soft Phone software for your PC or laptop. So if you want to talk through your computer, you can. A Soft Phone connection allows you to make calls through your computer using special software, a microphone and speakers (or a headset). The sound quality will depend upon your computer’s audio equipment.
Is NextPhone service a cell phone or wireless phone service?
No. NextPhone is not a cellular phone service provider. NextPhone allows customers to make and receive telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection. However, you can connect wireless (cordless) telephones to a NextPhone Adaptor.
Does the person I am calling need to have NextPhone service too?
No. You can call anyone at any phone number using the NextPhone service. Calls to other NextPhone numbers are always free of charge.
Can I keep my current phone number with NextPhone?
Yes. If NextPhone offers phone numbers in a city or town near you there's a good chance you can keep your existing phone number if you switch to NextPhone.
Is NextPhone service compatible with Mac (Apple Computers)?
Yes. Your NextPhone service and online account access are accessible via any modern web browser, and from any Internet connection. PC or Mac, Windows or OSX, both work.
Can I use your service with my home alarm system or personal emergency response services company?
You may connect any telephone communication device to your NextPhone adaptor. However, NextPhone recommends that you keep a simple phone line for a home alarm or personal emergency response device. Remember, the NextPhone service depends upon your broadband Internet connection, and electric power. If the connection goes down, or if power is not available, you will not be able to make or receive calls, nor will your alarm system. Please consult with a qualified alarm system technician before connecting your alarm system to a NextPhone line.
Is Internet service provided with my NextPhone account?
NextPhone does not provide Internet service for residential and small business plans. You must already have a broadband Internet connection to use NextPhone.
We do, however, offer bundled services for traditional businesses – customized to meet your business communication requirements. Call your NextPhone representative for more details.
Are conversations on a NextPhone line secure?
A conversation on a NextPhone line is actually more secure than one over an ordinary phone line. A VoIP conversation is broken up into pieces called packets. These packets are sent over the Internet and reassembled at the listener’s end. Packets contain no meaningful identifiers in them. Your account information, for example, is not transmitted in these packets. The packets don’t necessarily take the same path over the Internet, and will travel only to the intended location (the listener). This means that someone can’t simply tap into your conversation, or redirect your packets somewhere else.
Additionally, our servers that handle calls have various security features to prevent unauthorized access to the internal network. All of this makes NextPhone an extremely secure means of communication.