VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) - An Overview by David Dunlap
You've probably at least heard of the word "VoIP", even if you didn't quite
understand what all the excitement is about. VoIP stands for "Voice over
Internet Protocol" and is going to change the way you think about making long
distance phone calls. Basically, VoIP technology turns analog audio signals
(i.e. the sounds you hear when talking on your regular telephone) 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's
available right now, you can totally bypass your telephone company, and start
making long distance phone calls for free! This revolutionary technology has
the ability to totally change the phone system of the entire world! Perhaps
you've seen television commercials for one of the pioneers of VoIP - Vonage.
Vonage brands itself as the "broadband telephone company" and offers enticing
perks to customers who switch to it's VoIP service such as low-cost 800 numbers
and very cheap international rates (fees are waived from the U.S. to Canada,
and international calls are as low as .03 cents a minute to overseas locations
such as Paris). But Vonage isn't the only company who is interested in
harnessing the power of VoIP. AT&T is setting up VoIP calling in several
areas of the U.S. and there are other major VoIP players on the scene as well,
such as Skype, who is relying on viral advertising to get the word out. Even
some regional cable television companies are now offering VoIP telephone
service at deep discounts to their customers.
One of the interesting components about VoIP is that there's not just one way
to make a VoIP call. There are actually three ways to make a VoIP call:
1) VoIP via ATA: is the most commonly used VoIP method right now. Using the ATA
(analog telephone adaptor), you connect your regular telephone 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 into digital data and
transmits it over the Internet so you are able to make VoIP calls. This is how
Vonage and AT&T's CallVantage handle VoIP calls. The ATA is free with their
services. And using an ATA for VoIP is so simple that anyone can do it. Open
the box, plug the cable from your phone into the ATA instead of the wall
socket, and you're ready to begin making VoIP calls. Depending on your
computer, where you live, and what type of Internet connection you have, you
may need to also install VoIP software onto your computer, but this shouldn't
be too difficult for most people.
2) VoIP via IP Phones:VoIP phones look just like a standard telephone. They
have a handset, cradles and buttons. But an VoIP phone uses an RJ-45 Ethernet
connector instead of the standard RJ-11 phone connectors. VoIP phones connect
directly to your router and all the hardware and software is already built
inside to handle your VoIP calls. Look for Wi-Fi IP phones to be available in
the near future, which will allow you to make VoIP calls from any Wi-Fi
hotspot. This will allow you to take your VoIP phone with you when you travel,
and stop in at any Internet caf, hotel or other location where you can use
your Wi-Fi laptop, and you can use VoIP technology to "phone home" from
anyplace in the world.
3) VoIP via Computer-to-Computer:This is arguably 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 broadband or cable DSL Internet connection, and you can start using VoIP
service right away. Except for your normal monthly ISP fee, there is no charge
for any computer-to-computer VoIP call, no matter how far away they are.
www.skype.com is one such VoIP service. Chances are, you've already been using
the VoIP technology without even being aware of it, any time you've made a long
distance telephone call recently. Many of the major phone companies are already
using VoIP technology to reduce their own bandwidth. It's a simple matter of
routing thousands of phone calls through a circuit switch and into 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, from both an economic and
infrastructure point of view. It may take some time, but eventually all of the
current circuit-switched networks that are in use today will be replaced by
packet-switching 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 U.S. households will have
VoIP phone service by the end of 2006. The two biggest advantages of VoIP for
home users are price and flexibility. Currently, most VoIP providers offer
calling plans similar to that of cell-phone companies, which are commonly
called "minute-rate" plans, for as little as $30 a month. And as with
cell-phone plans, you can also get unlimited plans for around $79 a month.
With the elimination of long-distances charges, unregulated charges, and all
the freebies that come standard with VoIP service, it can actually amount to a
significant savings for you. For example, you may be paying extra for features
like:
Call waiting Three way calling Call forwarding Caller I.D. Repeat
dial Last call return with VoIP
These services come standard. Plus there are some advanced features that make
VoIP something worth looking into. With some VoIP carriers, you can set up
call-filtering options and actually 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 Play a "not in service" message with most
VoIP services.
You can also check your voice mail on the Internet, or attach messages to an
email that is sent directly to your computer or handheld. (By the way, if
you're interested in any of these features, not all VoIP companies are created
equal, so do a little shopping around first, because VoIP prices and services
do vary).
The second benefit that makes VoIP so attractive for home and small business
users is flexibility. With VoIP you can make a call anywhere you can get
broadband connectivity. Since the VoIP phones or ATAs broadcast information
over the Internet, they can be administered by any provider. For business
travelers, this means they can take their VoIP phone or ATA with them on the
road and never miss a home phone call.
VoIP FAQ:
How does VoIP / Internet Phone Work?
VoIP converts the voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that
travels over the Internet. If you are calling a regular phone number, the
signal is then converted back at 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
adaptor, you'll be able to dial just as you always have, and the service
provider may also provide a dial tone. If your service assigns you a regular
phone number, then a person can call you from his or her regular phone without
using special equipment.
Does My Computer Have to be Turned On for VoIP to work?
Not if you are making VoIP calls with a phone and adaptor or special VoIP
internet phone, however your broadband Internet connection needs to 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, normally only charging
for calls to non- subscribers to the VoIP service. Some VoIP internet telephony
providers charge for long distance calls to numbers outside your calling area,
similar to existing, traditional wireline telephone service. Other VoIP
providers permit you to call anywhere at a flat rate for a fixed number of
minutes. Your VoIP internet telephony provider may permit you to select an area
code different from the area in which you live. This means that if your VoIP
provider charges for long distance, then charges could be based on whether you
call within your area code rather than geographic area. It also means that
people who call you may incur long distance charges depending on their area
code and service.
Can I Take My internet Phone Adapter with me when I Travel in order 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 VoIP service would
work the same as in your 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're considering replacing your traditional telephone service with VoIP,
there are some possible considerations you should be aware of: 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 with the 911 emergency dispatch center or to identify the
location of VoIP 911 callers. In May 2005, the FCC ordered providers of
Internet-based phone calls to certify that their customers will be able to
reach an emergency dispatcher when they call 911. Dispatchers also must be able
to identify the caller's phone number and location. You can review additional
information about VoIP and 911 considerations at www.911voip.org VoIP providers
may or may not offer directory assistance/white page listings. Aspects of these
considerations may change with new development in Internet Voice technology.
You should always check with the potential VoIP service provider to confirm any
advantages and limitations to the VoIP service they offer.
About the Author
To provide reliable VOIP information,
David Dunlap has created a comprehensive resouce directory at
http://voipservicepro.com where all of your VOIP questions can be
answered.
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