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You have one or two cell phones, a home phone, a business phone, maybe even a Skype phone number.

How does anyone know what to call?

Depending on your schedule, it might be next to impossible, which is part of the reason virtual phone numbers are becoming popular. You can have one phone number, and forward it to any number of phones – even ringing them all simultaneously. A single voicemail box can make checking voicemail easy, and if you add or switch numbers – no problem, just add it to the list.

If this sounds interesting, here are some services to consider:

Google Voice - The newcomer. It’s a free service with great features. Aimed at personal use, this is a great way to try out a virtual number.

Phone.com – A paid service, Phone.com offers several plans which can function as a virtual number. They have options for both consumers and businesses.

RingCentral – Specifically targeted to businesses, RingCentral offers a complete virtual PBX.

Nextiva – A close competitor to RingCentral, Nextiva offers businesses virtual PBX systems.

For more information on the paid options, read our Phone.com review, RingCentral review, or Nextiva review.

Students are prime candidates for VoIP telephone service. They tend to be short on money, and are often a large distance from they people they need to call.

So what are some good VoIP choices for students?

• Skype – Skype is one of the most famous names in VoIP, and has a long history with students. Although you can use Skype calling from or to regular phones, its greatest use comes from free computer-computer calling. Particularly if you are calling abroad, Skype can save lots of money.
• Rebtel – Rebtel is another option for students looking to make inexpensive international calls. One of its greatest features is the ability to make free calls from a regular telephone, so long as the people on both ends have Rebtel accounts and are in two of the 50 Rebtel countries.
• Phone.com – Phone.com has a different focus from Skype and Rebtel. It does not focus on providing cheap calls over long distances. Phone.com instead brings some of the more unique features of VoIP, even at prices that are reasonable for an individual. If you want your cell phone to ring at your cell and at your dorm, or want a special number for job hunting, Phone.com’s virtual number might be your solution (for less than $5/month).

If you’re a student, and want to lower your expenses, particularly when traveling abroad – VoIP is probably the answer. It’s also capable of providing some really cool features. For more information, check out our consumer VoIP company reviews.