VoIP Good For The Home
By admin | November 3, 2008
VoIP has become extremely popular with the general public. TV and online adverts, news and paper headlines have aired this new technology heavily recently, furthering its overall success. If somehow you’ve managed to miss all this hype surrounding this recent computer related communications revolution the abreviation VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol or Voice over IP. This technology enables the user to talk with a phone/microphone over the world wide web connection.
Normal phone bills can be minimised by using VoIP since it boasts extremely low rates, considerably lower than conventional telephone, whether the calls being made are local or to the other side of the world. Large corporations are taking advantage of this fact massively by installing the necessary software and equipment, loosing the old requirement for traditional conference calls, many faxes etc, whilst incorporating such media tools as streaming video applications. The recent explosion in VoIP use has hidden the fact that this technology has been around for many years waiting to become economically viable.
In terms of families now wanting to give this exciting new improvement on phone communication a go, mostly this concept is a full gone conclusion people are going stir crazy about it. Do they believe all the hype about how it will hugely improve their everyday lives? Is this technology really as impressive, reliable and affordable as is often touted by the sales pitchers? Any unanswered questions alongside possibilities you may not have realised yet are provided here in this article aimed at furthering your understanding of this new VoIP technology. Once you’ve read everything here you may be more inclined to get out there and purchase then test run this communications system.
Initially an internet connection to your residence must be present! This connection must be a high speed one, any of the following varieties i.e. satellite, cable or DSL, not 56K dial up. VoIP can only function properly and transform into your new calling station by following this important advice. Quality loss is just far too significant when attempting to use slower connections such as 56K dial ups. These now fairly antiquated connections simply don’t have the speed or capacity required to transfer calls digitally. If DSL happens to be your choice of broadband service, and you’re hoping to replace your existing phone service with VoIP, a company known as SpeakEasy has just recently created a VoIP product that does’nt require any already installed phone line.
The second most important requirement is a ‘gateway’, needing to be connected between your ethernet modem and computer. Your phone line needs to be plugged into this VoIP gateway to then enable calling to be high quality, unhindered by any potential computer problems that may occur. Many computers have a variety of momentary unpredictable problems, e.g. slow memory or crashes which could significantly reduce quality calling time.
Adapters are available so that VoIP can fit any phone, old/ existing or new. Typically the promoters of VoIP provide sell adapters to reduce the time you may spend shopping around for one. Albeit a great money saving plan, not buying a new phone will probably mean you miss out on the next big VoIP move, video usage in combination with VoIP on phones, a trend that looks set to blow up everywhere. A company known as Packet8 VoIP sells a great video phone in addition to their usual services.
Phone services that have VoIP included typically contain the whole range of great offers and gadgets the current phone services provide. Details cover such aspects as three way calling, voice messaging, your own VoIP telephone number and call waiting.
Key aspects associated with this brazen new feature-full phone technology that you should be aware of are that local 911 emergency coverage exists. This feature may come as an additional extra charge on top of the basic package, hitting your wallet on a monthly basis. Don’t commit to a calling contract until you have ironed out all the costs associated with what ever deal you choose.
Lastly, remember that electricity is the fuel your VoIP system uses and the occasional power cut will unfortunately put a stop to its functioning, momentarily. This is the one small aspect that traditional phone calls don’t have to contend with, due in part to them containing their own small power supplies.
When thinking about obtaining VoIP first consult http://www.voipinternetphonecenter.com/Technology-Your-Business-A-Beneficial-Relationship.php for a huge variety of information e.g. voip for small business.
Tags: internet phone, internet telephony, voice over ip, VoIP, VoIP Phone, VoIP providerTopics: VoIP | No Comments »
VOIP Broad Band Phones
By admin | September 24, 2008
Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) Phones are referred to as just Broad band Phones. The main function of a Broad Band phone using VOIP is to convert voice data (analog) into digital data for transmission over the Internet. They are connected to the high speed internet through computers to enable voice communication. By this innovation VOIP Broad Band Phones have turned the internet into a carrier for free phone calls, by going around the normal phone companies.
VOIP Broad Band phones are a product of revolutionary technology which can change the entire way people speak to each other around the world. There are a few VOIP service providers who are growing by the day now, and major phone companies are busy setting up shop in various markets around the world with different calling plans with free VOIP Broad Band phones bundled in. FCC and other regulatory bodies all over the world are eagerly busy investigating and predicting the ramifications and future risks in usage of VOIP Broad Band phones and their prevention.
We will look into the basic technology of VOIP Broad Band phones working and it’s potential in replacing the traditional phone systems.
The most intriguing feature of VOIP Broad Band phones is that they look just like their predecessors with cradle, buttons and handsets. A normal telephone is connected to wall socket using a RJ-11 connector, whereas VOIP Broad Band phones are connected to your computer or router using a RJ-45 connector. All VOIP Broad Band phones come with preloaded software to handle any IP calls. Technology is already moving towards Wi-Fi VOIP Broad Band phones which can be used to make calls from any Wi-Fi hotspot.
In addition to usage of VOIP Broad Band phones, VOIP can also use ATA sets i.e. simple telephone like boxes that connect to your computer and convert your analog voice data into digital signals. VOIP also connects computer to computer calls where you do not need any extra hardware apart from a standard computer system with headphone and internet connection. Except for what you pay for your internet connection, there is no extra cost involved in both these options. VOIP Broad Band phones are dedicated instruments used only for making calls over VOIP.
If you want to have a go at VOIP Broad Band phones features, you can sample the free versions on the internet to check out connectivity and sound quality. One place I can suggest is the latest version of Yahoo Messenger Version 7.0 which is Voice enabled. You can make computer to computer calls using Yahoo Messenger. It is very easy to implement, just try it out. One other place you could take a look at is www.skype.com. VOIP Broad Band phones are certainly here to stay despite the internet sops and other devices available.
If you are a long distance caller you could be involuntarily making VOIP calls without using a VOIP Broad Band phone and at normal cost. Most phone companies around the world are trying to reduce their bandwidth by routing a few thousand calls through circuit switches onto an IP gateway. On the receiving end, they just reverse the process, somewhat similar to multiplexing.
Over time all of the current phone technology involving circuit switched networks will be replaced by packet switching technology. VOIP technology is efficient on financial and infrastructure needs, it costs less and takes lesser infrastructure and is more efficient. VOIP Broad Band phones have made their way into most corporate houses; it is only a matter of time before they barge into our homes.
More than 5 million households will be using VOIP Broad Band phones by the end of 2006 says the Forrester Research Group. One cannot escape the VOIP Broad Band phones as a means of communication.
VOIP Broad Band phones score on the basis of cost and flexibility. It can be said that they are free to use, unless you use your broadband connection only for your VOIP Broad Band phones. You can virtually call from anywhere in the world where u can access a broadband internet connection. You can carry your VOIP Broad Band phones anywhere to use your laptop to make PC to PC calls.
VOIP companies are offering rate plans similar to cellular phones for customers who want only VOIP Broad Band phones. They vary anywhere from $30 to $80 per month. They are also offering a lot of freebies including free VOIP Broad Band phones to go with them which make these rates further economical.
For further information on VOIP Service Providers, you are encouraged to visit http://www.voip-serviceproviders.info to discover the benefits of the VOIP phone system.
Tags: broadband voip, business voip, VoIP, VoIP provider, voip service, VoIP telephonyTopics: VoIP | No Comments »
A new twist on VoIP A new Jajah Killer and Serious Skype Competition
By admin | August 29, 2008
Since early 2006 movement has come into the VoIP industry. New VoIP providers are now launching all over the world with each one of them hoping and expecting a share of the ever growing popularity and income stream. At the last count the research company MyVoipProvider had almost 650 VoIP phone providers listed.
This has had one distinct advantage for the consumer - VoIP costs internationally are dropping at an alarming rate. A few VoIP providers in Europe have taken their marketing activities to the extreme by offering free calls to a wide range of up to 50 international destinations. VoipBuster was the pioneer early 2005 and has since then launched a barrage of sister companies offering exactly the same type of service. Time will tell if this “Free VoIP” campaign has any long term merit.
Even in this highly competitive enviroment some companies still manage to stand out of the masses. In mid March 2006 two companies launched, in one case, relaunced their services. Lycos decided that it is time to join the race with the likes of Yahoo and possibly in the very near future Google and MSN. Using Globe7’s technology Lycos launced an interesting softphone with a free US phone number, 100 free minutes and an integrated mp3 player and video.
On the other hand Jajah, decided that it is time to quit the traditional VoIP provider race and reinvented themselves as a webactivated VoIP provider.
Nothing new in the market, but with the backing of one of the best known US Venture Capitalists, Sequoia Capital, and some clever marketing they have managed to make some serious inroads into the VoIP industry in a short space of time. Once registered with Jajah, and provided one has access to the internet, Jajah allow the user to enter 2 phone destinations and they will automatically connect the call at reasonably low VoIP rates.
Unbeknown to Jajah and other similar offerings their service, only a few weeks old, is already outdated. http://www.voxalot.com in Autralia have very quietly launched a new and free web callback service (still in the beta stage), which could spell the end of Jajah and pose some very serious Skype competition.
Offering a twist on webactivated telephony Voxalot allows the user to enter any number of SIP VoIP providers and the user then chooses which VoIP provider will make the connection to any landline, mobile or VoIP phone. They even offer the option for the user to setup his own dialplan.
What are the implications? No VoIP phone, no VoIP adapter and no high speed internet connection is reqiuired. Any internet access will do to connect any two destinations worldwide at dirt cheap prices - the user decides.
About the author:
Roger Bohmert enjoys researching writing about VOIP. Visit http://www.myvoipprovider.com where you’ll find a directory of almost 650 VoIP providers and a VoIP rates search engine to find the cheapest service.
Tags: internet phone, myvoipprovider, VoIP, VoIP provider, voxalot, webactivatedTopics: VoIP | No Comments »