You’ve probably at least heard of the word “VoIP”, even if you didn’t quite get what all the excitement is about. VoIP stands for “Voice over Internet Protocol” and it will change the way you think about long distance phone calls. Basically, VoIP technology converts analog audio signals (that is, the sounds you hear when you talk on your regular phone) into a digital signal (which is then transmitted over the Internet).
So why is VoIP revolutionizing the industry?
Because it means that by getting your hands on some of the free software that is available right now, you can totally bypass your phone company and start making long distance phone calls for free! This revolutionary technology has the ability to totally change the entire world’s telephone system! You may have seen television commercials for one of the pioneers of VoIP: Vonage. Vonage calls itself the “broadband phone company” and offers attractive benefits to customers switching to its VoIP service, such as low-cost 800 numbers and very cheap international rates (rates are not charged from the US as .03 cents per minute to overseas locations such as Paris). But Vonage isn’t the only company interested in harnessing the power of VoIP. AT&T is setting up VoIP calls in various areas of the US And there are other major VoIP players on the scene as well, such as Skype, which relies on viral advertising to get the word out. Even some regional cable television companies now offer deeply discounted VoIP phone service to their customers.
One of the interesting components of VoIP is that there is no one way to make a VoIP call. There are actually three ways to make a VoIP call:
1) VoIP over ATA: This is the most widely used VoIP method at the moment. Using the ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), you connect your regular phone to your computer or Internet connection. The ATA is an analog to digital converter and it takes the analog signal from your phone and converts it to digital data and transmits it over the Internet so that you can make VoIP calls. This is how Vonage and AT&T CallVantage handle VoIP calls. The ATA is free with its services. And using an ATA for VoIP is so simple that anyone can do it. Open the box, plug your phone cord into the ATA instead of the wall jack, and you’re ready to start making VoIP calls. Depending on your computer, where you live, and what type of internet connection you have, you may need to install VoIP software on your computer as well, but this shouldn’t be too difficult for most people.
2) VoIP over IP phones: VoIP phones look like a standard phone. They have a handset, cradles and buttons. But a VoIP phone uses an RJ-45 Ethernet jack instead of the standard RJ-11 phone jacks. VoIP phones connect directly to your router and all the hardware and software is already integrated to handle your VoIP calls. Look for available Wi-Fi IP phones in the near future, allowing you to make VoIP calls from any Wi-Fi access point. This will allow you to take your VoIP phone with you when you travel and stop at any internet cafe, hotel, or other place where you can use your laptop with Wi-Fi, and you can use VoIP technology to “call home” from anywhere. in the world.
3) VoIP via computer to computer – This is possibly the easiest way to use VoIP. There are no fees for long distance calls and there are several companies offering free or low-cost software right now for you to make use of VoIP technology. All you need is the software, a microphone, speakers, a sound card, and a cable DSL or broadband Internet connection, and you can start using your VoIP service right away. Except for the normal monthly rate from your Internet service provider, there is no charge for computer-to-computer VoIP calls, no matter how far away they are. http://www.skype.com is one of those VoIP services. Most likely, you have already been using VoIP technology without even realizing it, every time you recently made a long distance phone call. Many of the major phone companies are already using VoIP technology to reduce their own bandwidth. It is a simple matter of routing thousands of phone calls through a circuit switch and to an IP gateway. Once received on the other side of the gateway, the VoIP calls are decompressed, reassembled, and routed back to a local circuit switch.
VoIP telephony is the wave of the future.
VoIP technology makes sense in terms of ROI, both from an economic and an infrastructure point of view. It may take some time, but eventually all circuit-switched networks in use today will be replaced by packet-switched VoIP technology. More and more businesses are already installing VoIP systems, and as VoIP technology makes its way into our everyday language, our lives, and our homes, it will continue to grow in popularity. According to Forrester Research, nearly 5 million US households will have VoIP phone service by the end of 2006. The two biggest advantages of VoIP for home users are price and flexibility. Today, most VoIP providers offer calling plans similar to cell phone companies, commonly referred to as “rate per minute” plans, for as little as $ 30 a month. And just like with cell phone plans, you can also get unlimited plans for around $ 79 a month.
With the elimination of long distance charges, unregulated charges, and all the free gifts that come standard with VoIP service, it can actually save you significant amounts. For example, you may be paying more for features like:
Call waiting
Three way call
Call forwarding
Caller ID
Repeat dialing
Last call return with VoIP
These services as standard. Also, there are some advanced features that make VoIP worth looking into. With some VoIP operators, you can configure call screening options and have some control over how calls from certain numbers are handled. For example, you can:
Forward the call to a particular number
Send the call directly to voicemail
Give the caller a busy signal
ยท Play a “not in service” message with most VoIP services.
You can also check your voicemail on the Internet or attach messages to email that is sent directly to your computer or portable device. (By the way, if you’re interested in any of these features, not all VoIP companies are the same, so do some shopping first, because VoIP prices and services vary.)
The second benefit that makes VoIP so appealing to home and small business users is flexibility. With VoIP you can make a call anywhere you can get broadband connectivity. Since VoIP or ATA phones transmit information over the Internet, any provider can manage them. For business travelers, this means they can take their VoIP or ATA phone with them on the go and never miss a phone call from home.
VoIP FAQ:
How does VoIP / Internet Phone work?
VoIP converts your phone’s voice signal into a digital signal that travels over the Internet. If you are calling a normal phone number, the signal is converted back to the other end. VoIP can allow you to make a call directly from a computer. If you make a VoIP call using a phone with an adapter, you can dial as you always have, and your service provider can also provide a dial tone. If your service assigns you a regular phone number, then a person can call you from their regular phone without using special equipment.
Does my computer have to be on for VoIP to work?
Not if you are making VoIP calls with a phone and adapter or a special VoIP internet phone, however your broadband internet connection must be active. You can also use your computer while talking on the phone.
Is there a difference between making a local call and a long distance call?
Some VoIP providers offer their local service for free, usually they only charge for calls to non-subscribers of the VoIP service. Some VoIP Internet phone providers charge for long distance calls to numbers outside of their calling area, similar to existing traditional phone service. Other VoIP providers allow you to call anywhere at a fixed rate for a fixed number of minutes. Your VoIP internet phone provider may allow you to select a different area code for the area in which you live. This means that if your VoIP provider charges for long distance, the charges could be based on whether you are calling within your area code rather than geographic area. It also means that callers may incur long distance charges depending on the area code and service.
Can I bring my Internet phone adapter with me when I travel to use VoIP?
You may be able to use your VoIP service wherever you travel as long as you have a broadband Internet connection available. In that case, the VoIP service would work the same as it does at home.
How do I know if I have a VoIP phone call?
The phone will ring like any other call.
Additional considerations for VoIP service:
If you are considering replacing your traditional phone service with VoIP, there are a few possible considerations to keep in mind: Some VoIP services will not work during power outages, and the VoIP service provider may not offer backup power. It may also be difficult for some VoIP services to seamlessly connect to the 911 emergency dispatch center or identify the location of people calling 911 by VoIP. In May 2005, the FCC ordered phone call providers to Internet certifying that their customers will be able to reach an emergency dispatcher when calling 911.
Dispatchers must also be able to identify the phone number and location of the caller. You can review additional information on VoIP and 911 considerations at [http://www.911voip.org] VoIP providers may or may not offer directory assistance / white page listings. Aspects of these considerations may change with the new development of voice over Internet technology. You should always check with the potential VoIP service provider to confirm the advantages and limitations of the VoIP service they offer.
