VoIP Technology » Broadband Connection

VoIP Requirements List

admin — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 05:50:57 +0000

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP as it is commonly called, is a revolutionary technology that has created an upheaval of sorts in the domain of long distance communications. End users can now use their personal computers to talk to friends and relatives – who could be located in another part of the globe. A reliable broadband connection is used for the purpose. The need for conventional telephone lines can be done away with; low cost calling made available through IP telephony solutions is increasingly taking the place of traditional phone networks among residential as well as corporate users.

However, certain requirements need to be met for the most satisfactory use of this high-end technology. The equipment used, for one, has to be of the highest quality. Broadband connection in a computer is necessary for good audio quality, for instance. The experience can also be optimised using PC speakers and microphones.

A basic VoIP requirements list has to be in place for users to make the most of the VoIP phone services. As is well-known, the flexibility of voice over IP makes it more user-friendly as compared to traditional telephone networks. Users are able to make quite a few calls over a single connection. A stable Internet connection is all that is needed – and one can make calls from almost anywhere in the world. Innovative features include video integration, fast and efficient exchange of data files, and audio conferencing. Quite a few security features are in place; and users can be sure of security of their calls. Other functionalities found in PSTN networks are also found in IP telephony. These include caller ID, automatic redialing and call forwarding. And with the latest trends in technology, it has become easy to make VoIP enabled calls through mobile devices as well.

VoIP security is not that difficult to implement. Quite a few voice over IP solutions are supported through encryption which make them very much reliable and user friendly. Security is also implemented through patented audio codecs and compression techniques.

Moreover, one should ensure that the broadband connection through which the calls are routed are not congested. This rules out voice drop-outs and long delays.

One can say that the VoIP phone is perfect for quite a few people – from frequent travelers, bored housewives to high-end professionals and busy executives. People who are not near to any fixed line phones or who are traveling the world find these solutions very much affordable and easy to use. With prepaid VoIP phone cards easily available in the market, there are no problems involved in making such calls.

However, when using VoIP products or subscribing to a VoIP service, users must make some provisions against untoward circumstances such as power failures and the services of broadband carriers going down.

By: Kristen Kiya

How Do Businesses Benefit From Having a VOIP System?

admin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 08:54:08 +0000

Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP technology is capable of cutting costs in telecommunications as well as improving the productivity of a business. Is it right for your business? Here is a look at what kinds of benefits VoIP can bring to business.

1 – VoIP service technology quality has really come a long way since its original inception. VoIP may have been extremely limited in the past, but this no longer the case. Today’s Voice over IP services have evolved significantly, allowing for you to make calls and receive calls using not only standard phones but also IP phones, which are rich in unique features. The sound quality has also vastly improved to the point where many companies have abandoned their traditional telephone systems in favor of the VoIP service.

2 – Using VoIP technology is capable of significantly reducing the costs you pay for telecommunications. The operating costs associated with VoIP services are generally quite significantly lower than when you are dealing with a traditional phone company, because the existing phone infrastructure is expensive to maintain and so are the industry regulations. VoIP providers have lower expenses and so they can charge a lot less for the services that they offer.

3 – VoIP services make your entire phone system a lot more flexible. They make it possible for you to do things which simply cannot be possible using traditional telephone technology. For example, they allow you to bring your phone system along with you since you can plug in anywhere where there is a broadband connection such as at someone’s home or in a hotel room. They also allow you to talk using your laptop, and to get your voice mail and your faxes through your e-mail. With this increase in usability, VoIP services make it possible for you to increase the productivity of your business significantly.

One thing is for sure: VoIP technology is continuing to evolve, and there are a number of compelling new features and benefits that are being developed in order to cater to small business. As an example, dramatic increases in mobility are being provided by combining VoIP services with wireless phone and PDA combinations to decrease cell phone charges while boosting functionality and productivity by a great deal. This is just one example of the exciting things that are happening in terms of VoIP service and technology advancements.

It does not matter what size your business is, VoIP technology happens to be a flexible as well as affordable technology that is capable of offering the same level of sophistication in communication tools that enterprise-size companies are using, meaning that VoIP will allow you to stand up against your competitors in terms of communications technology no matter how large or how small your own company happens to be.

By: Amy Nutt

VoIP – 3 Ways to Make The Call

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:39:42 +0000

We’re hearing a lot about Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) these days. I for one am a big fan of this technology. Did you know that you could actually use VoIP in 3 different ways? That’s right! There are really 3 different ways that you can ‘make the call’. Ok, you can actually receive the call 3 different ways as well.

First up is probably the most popular. I use this way myself and most of the residential providers out there today use this as well. What is it?

ATA – Analog Telephone Adapter

Your normal phone plugs into an ATA that you received from your VoIP provider. This is the most common way to get hooked into VoIP. This device takes care of all the magic that occurs when you make and receive your calls over your broadband connection. Your analog phone signal must be converted to digital to be routed through your broadband connection and this ATA does the job.

IP Phone – Internet Protocol Phones

As the name would imply, these are ‘special’ phones. You wouldn’t know it by looking at them. They look like normal phones. What is different about these phones is the electronics inside them and the fact they don’t take a ‘regular’ phone cable (RJ-11). Instead these phones take an Ethernet cable connection (RJ-45) and also come equipped with the necessary electronics to plug directly into your router.

Computer-to-Computer

This is the oldest and possibly the easiest way to get plugged into VoIP. Here instead of using your normal phone or IP phone to make calls through your broadband connection, you use your computer itself! (You could do this over dial-up, but broadband is certainly better) There are a number of services available that offer no cost or low cost service. You’ll need the software and a microphone to speak into and speakers to hear from and of course your computer and a high-speed internet connection. Some providers offer this service for free when their software is being used on both ends of the call.

Watch out for Wi-Fi (using IP phones) and other advancements in VoIP technology. We truly are on the verge of a major breakthrough in telecommunications. So, what are you waiting for? Make the call!

By: Michael Weaver

Voip New Wave Of Internet Telephony

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:25:14 +0000

Since the last few decades the field of technology has seen an incredible development. Talking about the technology, the latest technology nowadays is the VoIP (voice over internet protocol). It provides you a combination of conventional phone services and high speed internet. A single broadband connection through the Speakeasy along with an adapter is all that required for enjoying the services provided by the VoIP. In other words VoIP has quiet a simple setup and thus it makes VoIP worth spending money on. The VoIP phones are well known for their excellent features and qualities.

VoIP allows you to make and receive all your calls without any hurdle once you have setup your VoIP services. Tackling problems of VoIP is quiet easy as the customer service is incredibly good, as nowadays one has to go to many people to get the problems related to their gadgets solved. This is one advantage that VoIP has over other similar services. Voip has generated much publicity with its application in the ITES industry. Quality of voice on this platform is much better especially in the case of long distance or international calls, where the routing of the call through sattelite infected the call with delays.

The feature of VoIP wifi phones.

The technological advancement has introduced a new dimension in the field of communication. For instance the WirelessIP5000 wifi VoIP phone is one of the most popular among the wireless IP phones. It provides an IEEE 802.11b wireless IP network which gives the user access to clear voice communication. Call center industry catering to the consumer based markets, have found this tool as very useful. The ease of interacting with the person sitting at different part of the world, without compromising on the quality, has generated new markets for it.

Along with the various features and functions of a regular phone, the VoIP wifi phone also has the capability to put together the various qualities and features of an analog IP phone over the data communication system.

ZyXEL Prestige 2000W v2 WiFi VoIP phone is another most sought after VoIP wifi phones. Like the former one mentioned above this phone also has great features and benefits. It provides a low cost of the calls made and received along with high voice quality. It also provides mobility with IEEE 802.11b wireless standard compliance. For its easy use it also provides Support Auto Provisioning. As mentioned above earlier its communication costs are low as compared to the others and also have an excellent mobility. In order to increase the accessibility for the mobile users, there is also a travel charger design which proves to be of great help.

It is without any doubt the most reliable, it is fun to use and also is cost effective. Your search for the best phone will now become easier as these kind of phones are easily accessible and can be found in any of the electronic outlets or retails.

By: David Faulkner

VOIP Problems

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:31:52 +0000

VoIP is a means of telephone service made available through the ever-expanding popularity of broadband internet service. VoIP (or “Voice over Internet Protocol”) services enable users to call extremely long distances over the World Wide Web without accruing large conventional long-distance telephone fees. In order to use VoIP, customers must have an existing broadband internet connection in place. The VoIP carrier provides a new phone number, access to the service, and for an additional fee, the phone equipment as well. While companies such as Vonage and Skype helped pioneer the industry by making people more aware of the technology, large conventional telephone carriers are also stepping up in order to offer their own VoIP services, proving that the technology is maturing. However, despite the large backing of major telephone carriers, VoIP still isn’t perfect.

The most notable of existing VoIP problems is the lack of an adequate infrastructure and effective back end system. Though as the companies and divisions that are devoted to VoIP services implement increasing usable standards in place this aspect grows less worrisome. However, in the beginning, billing issues as well as IP concerns had some companies, particularly those that specialized in conventional phone services, reeling.

Another large weakness that VoIP exhibits when compared to traditional home phone service is that VoIP is reliant on a broadband connection (dial-up internet is too slow), service up-time, and power, whereas a traditional phone service combined with an older, powerless phone needs none of them. While broadband internet service has become much more reliable in recent years, it is still not as dependable as conventional telephone lines. This means that if there is a problem with internet service, there will be no telephone service as well. While this can be very inconvenient for home use, it can be downright devastating for businesses that find themselves in a situation with no phones. Additionally, the unavailability of telephone service during a power interruption can leave people stranded with no phone service during emergencies, which can have life-threatening consequences.

Finally, the quality of phone calls that VoIP services offer can range from very good to very unacceptable. While many customers rave about their clear service, others regularly complain of dropped calls, strange sounds, delays, and echo. Delays are commonplace in VoIP phone calls and many expect the problems to become worse before they get better because, as with anything else on the internet, VoIP calling is subject to hacking. Therefore, companies will be scrambling to implement security patches in place, possibly at the sacrifice of quality, at least at first.

However, even though VoIP may not be as reliable as traditional telephone communication just yet, there really should be no surprise. Traditional telephone services have had the better part of a century in which to perfect their networks and it still isn’t perfect, either. For the cost, VoIP cannot be beat if you have a contingency line in case your power or broadband goes out. If you already have broadband internet service then the equipment and monthly VoIP service fees should be affordable enough to utilize the service in spite of its flaws – which are only going to become minuter as the technology matures.

By: Dave Goldstein

Common Questions About VoIP

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:41:25 +0000

Unless you live in a bubble, you have probably been hearing alot of buzz lately about something called Voice Over IP (VoIP). Perhaps you have heard that you can use VoIP to get cheap or free long distance calling, even Internationally. The good news is that this is true!

VoIP, which stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol is an exciting synergy between computers and telephony, but don’t let that scare you. VoIP is just as easy to use as any ordinary telephone. So, you have heard the buzz and perhaps you are curious about taking the plunge and getting set up with VoIP service. Being so new, VoIP is still somewhat shrouded in mystery. Help is here! In this article we will answer several common questions most people have about VoIP Service and help clear up the confusion about the technology and how it can work for you.

What Exactly is VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol)?
VoIP is a new technology that makes use of your broadband connection to route your telephone calls over the internet, rather than using the traditional analog telephone lines. This has proven to be a very efficient and cost effective way to place phone calls to anywhere in the world.

Who Can I call?
This depends upon your service provider. There are a few different flavors of Voice Over IP Service. Most of the larger VoIP service providers you see advertised to the consumer market (such as Vonage, BlueSky, etc..) work just like your existing phone and enable you to call any phone, anywhere.

What’s It Going To Cost?
The cost for this service varies depending on the provider and the service plan you select. Currently, most service providers have plans that cost in the $10 – $25 monthly, which is considerably cheaper than ordinary phone service. Keep in mind that this service includes long distance calls. Usually, you can choose from several plans that vary in cost depending on the level of usage you desire. Most companies also offer an unlimited plan that includes unlimited long distance calls.

You will also be plesantly surprised to find that many services such as caller id, call forwarding, call waiting, three way calling, and even voice mail features often come standard with most VoIP plans. Another great benefit is that as it currently stands (in January 2006), the Government does not apply a tax to your VoIP service, unlike the additional taxes and fees that are applied to your standard phone bill. This can amount to a substantial savings alone, but this may only be a temporary benefit. As VoIP gains in popularity, it is more than likely that the Government will find a way to tax that as well.

Do I Need “Special Stuff”?

This depends on the provider, once again. One thing that you must have is an always on broadband internet connection. This means DSL or Cable Internet, for home users. Depending on whom you get service with, you will likely have to connect just regular phone to an adapter, or maybe purchase a special phone to use with the service. Check for specials before you sign up, sometimes the equipment is given away for free to encourage you to sign up. Regardless, the investment in hardware for home users of VoIP is very minimal, if it costs you at all.

Can I call 911?

You need to check with the provider to ensure that they do indeed provide this functionality. That said, in May 2005, the US Government ordered all interconnected VoIP Providers to provide 911 functionality to their subscribers.

Sounds… Too Good, What’s the Catch?

Well, there is a minor catch which is that if your internet goes out, so does your phone. This isn’t usually too big of a problem, however as most modern broadband ISPs do a great job of maintaining reliable service.

Where Do I Find VoIP Providers?

Usually, it is not important that you find a local provider just as long as the provider you choose is based in the same country. Therefore, the internet is a very valuable resource for finding and comparing VoIP providers.

Which one Do I choose?

The VoIP provider that you choose is a personal choice, as they all tend to work slightly differently. What sounds the most feasible for your setup and usage requirements is the best choice for you. Do keep in mind that this is a rapidly maturing technology and that changes are occurring all the time. You will want to choose a company that you feel will be able to provide you reliable service in the future.

By: Amber Lowery

VoIP Problems?

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:33:18 +0000

Well of course there’s VoIP problems, although I think problems is too strong of a word. Instead I would call this VoIP issues. (Just semantics? maybe, read on!)

Some may be old enough to remember making long distance calls where there was static or crackling on the phone line connection. Maybe you remember having to speak LOUDER in order to be heard on the line. Was that a problem? Maybe to you it was but to the companies providing the service, it was a merely a technical issue that needed to be addressed. The issue was addressed and resolved. Now you expect this high quality service right?

Ok, what about cellular phones? Maybe you’re old enough to remember when calls were dropped or barely audible. Maybe you
remember lugging around those heavy phones. This was a time when a cellular phone was just that, a phone! Was this a problem?
Maybe to you it was but to the companies providing the service, it was merely a technical issue that needed to be addressed.
The issue was addressed and resolved. Now? Well, there’s not too many cellular phones that are ‘just’ phones. You can surf the internet with them, take pictures, record short video clips, change the ringers, store your address and phone numbers, etc.

For both these ‘problems’ above, it was a relatively short time frame between ‘issue’ and resolution. We can draw comparison
after comparison between technology and technology issues. I could start talking about echo cancellers, VoIP gateways,
multiplexors, etc. and the current circuitry vs. the research and new circuitry on it’s way, but that’s not the point of this
article. The point is simply that ‘yes’ there are issues with VoIP but also, ‘yes’ issues are to be expected and ‘yes’ issues
will be resolved.

Some of the most common quality issues are echo and delay. I myself use VoIP over my residential broadband connection and
frankly I think it’s just fine. I like the service and quality of calls, but yes, at times, the echo and delay can be annoying. This is usually infrequent and not worth me canceling my service. The point I’m trying to make here is that, for me, it’s acceptable. Why? Because I understand that this is ‘relatively’ new. I understand that equipment manufactures are building better technology to address these issues. I understand that the popularity of VoIP will expedite the issue resolution. I’ve worked in information technology for over 20 years now and certainly understand this progression in technology.

Other issues are in the E911 service and of course there’s issues with most residential DSL subscribers. Both these issues are directly with the existing phone companies. The FCC is already involved in both these cases and I believe it will be sooner rather than later for these to be resolved as well.

I for one do have E911 service and I am not a DSL subscriber. So E911 for me is a non-issue and using cable access eliminates
having to keep my local telephone company for my primary phone service.

The bottom line, for me, is the cost savings. The cost savings over shadows the occasional echo and delay. E911 has already
made its way into my area and using cable internet access removes my dependency on the local telephone company.

VoIP can be a great way for you to save money on your phone service, but don’t go into this blindly. Most consumers are
intelligent enough to understand the progression that occurs with any technology. It’s pretty good as it is and yes I would agree it needs to be better. I also know, heck I’m confident that the quality of service will continue to improve.

So what’s the bottom line? Go for it. Find a service that will provide you with a free trial period. Take it for a test drive, kick the tires, etc. The higher your existing monthly phone bill is, the sooner you should try out this service.

It’s ok to demand perfection, but perfection takes time. Change is hard and change takes time. Change is upon us and VoIP, in
my humble opinion is here to stay. Give it a try, be realistic. Get the information, get your quote, get your free trial period, you really have nothing to loose and quite possibly money to save!

By: Michael Weaver

The Use of VoIP at Home

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:02:19 +0000

It would be silly to say, that most individuals have not heard of VoIP by now. VoIP technology is being widely advertised both on the Internet and television. If your still wondering what VoIP is or how it works?VoIP allows the user to communicate by phone over the Internet which is becoming hughley popular with both businesses and people at home.

Even though VoIP technology has been around for a fairly long time, it is not till recent that VoIP has matured enough to be able to replace everyday standard telephone use. As VoIP technology allows for cheaper calls between local and global networks businesses have started to use it to drastically reduce costs in call centers and to communicate by fax, video and other means of technology.

As VoIP is a technology that is benefiting the user, it is probably the case that at a household level you are now interested in embracing the technology for your own home. But like all others, there are many questions to ask. This article will hopefully be able to answer your basic questions on price, difficulty and necessity.

To use VoIP technology an Internet connection is needed. As explained in this article, the necessity of a good Internet connection for data transfer is vital. Though don’t worry, you don’t need some outrageous connection just to use VoIP. As I expect, most of you already have a broadband connection which is capable enough to handle your phone calls.

A Gateway is also needed to make and receive calls. Gateways act as a point between your phone and the Ethernet connection and also act as a point for your phone line to be plugged into. Gateways act as a safety point to your phone calls. As computers can often malfunction, it may be the case that you are in a phone call at the time. Gateways prevent computer malfunctions such as crashes from interrupting your phone calls.

As for home convenience, it is often best that you check with your VoIP service provider for functionality in the services they offer. At home, it is best that 911 emergency calls can be made and that some of or at least all of the services below are available.
Your own local VoIP telephone number Call waiting Voice messaging 3 Way Calling Online account managment Redial Caller ID identification

At VoIP we have generated a list of individual VoIP service providers for you. These are our recommended choices which we have all personally reviewed and written about for you.

By: Joseph Victory

Modern Ways of Communication – VoIP

admin — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:01:54 +0000

People feel the need to communicate, either to share information or just to have fun. As usual, technology is there to give a helping hand to people and make their lives easier. Communication was made very simple when the telephone was invented. Sounds were transmitted over long distances in a matter of seconds. Now something better is here to help us communicate faster and cheaper: VoIP – the future of voice communication (especially because of the prepaid phone calls!)

If you haven’t stayed in touch with computers and internet technology (which is quite difficult these days), then you might not know what VoIP is, even if it’s very popular nowadays. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol which basically means that you can make phone calls over the internet. VoIP first started out as computer to computer calls. Putting the earphones on and talking into the microphone was easier for those who used the internet on a daily basis. Of course, they needed and had an internet connection (broadband or DSL modem connection) and special VoIP software.

At first people tried to use the classic 56K dial-up connection, but the signal was poor and one couldn’t understand what the other person was saying. This kind of connection didn’t have enough speed. Today technology has improved and VoIP doesn’t only mean computer to computer calls. Today, if you have a computer and a broadband connection, you can place computer to phone calls which means you can call someone who owns a regular phone from your computer. VoIP specialists paid attention to other options as well and worked on a new technology that now allows people to make computer to cell calls. This means you can call someone on their cellular phone from your computer.

The idea of VoIP becomes more and more attractive because of one thing: it’s cheaper than regular phone calls. PC to PC calls are usually free and PX to phone calls are very cheap. Even the PC to cell phone calls are affordable, all through a prepaid phone calls system. VoIP technology transforms the sounds from analog to digital data. The method is different than the traditional way and some might say it’s not transmitted over a secure channel. For those who fear that anyone who has the tools can listen in on your conversations, just remember your local phone calls are not very safe either and the advantages of VoIP communication are more attractive than anything else.

A big plus for the VoIP system is that today you don’t need a computer to use it. All you need is a modem and a broadband or satellite connection and a phone. This means that you can take your phone with you wherever you go. For example if you go on vacation to your house on the seaside you don’t need to have two phone numbers. All you have to do is take your modem and phone to your house on the seaside. You will have the same number so people can reach you just as easy. It may look the same, but it can be cheaper.

Another advantage of the VoIP system is the prepaid phone calls option. What are prepaid phone calls? Well, it’s simple. When you buy a VoIP system and you set everything up you will buy some credit. Out of this credit you can make all the phone calls you want. That’s why it’s called prepaid because you pay in advance for the services you profit from. One of the aspects you might not enjoy so much when using prepaid phone calls is that, after you use all of your credit, you won’t be able to make any phone calls. However, the good thing is you set yourself a limit and spend as much as you consider fit on communication. You can economize if you use prepaid phone calls and obtaining more credit is a very easy and fast process with the help of your internet connection. This kind of system for prepaid phone calls is only available when you use a VoIP system to a phone or cell. It’s not available for computer to computer calls because those are usually free.

VoIP is the next evolutionary step in communication, so you should really be thinking about letting go of the memory of your phone and direct your attention towards the computer. The only trick in getting the best deal is to be well informed and eager to make use of modern ways. You should really consider prepaid phone calls also because the advantages are more than pleasing. This goes for the whole VoIP system – it’s an investment that you won’t regret.

By: Amelie Gam

VoIP – International Phone Calls For Businesses

admin — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:45:15 +0000

You may have heard a lot of talk recently regarding VoIP as a cheap way to place international phone calls. Using an internet connection, the communication is instituted either via your computer, or with a jack that connects to a regular handset. But is this a viable option for businesses? Definitely.

Many business owners have been programmed to believe that internet phone service is somehow less reliable than that received from a traditional telephone company. This is simply not true. Read on for some of the advantages a company can realise by utilising VoIP to make international phone calls.

New Technology

Perhaps in the early days of VoIP there were problems experienced by some callers, such as poor quality, unreliability, and a lag in connection times. Much of this has changed recently due to the advancement of technology.

In fact, today’s internet telephony service travels at a high rate of speed, dependant, of course, on your internet connection. Most businesses utilise a Broadband connection or faster, so this should not be any issue anyway.

The hardware provided by a VoIP is usually plug and play, meaning it can be taken anywhere at any time and it is very easy to use. It also prioritises the call service over other network traffic.

The quality of the call has improved greatly, as well, with a rating of at least 95% and as much as 105% better than communications travelling over copper wires. Much of this relies on the calibre of phone service provider, so take care when shopping and ensure you find a company that received high marks from customers.

Benefits

Of course the biggest benefit to a business owner is in the cost savings. Compared to a traditional land line, international phone calls placed utilising VoIP can cost up to 75% less.

The capacity is greater. With a traditional phone system, you must pay for each line used in your business and usually a PBX centre as well. With internet-based calling, you merely have to purchase the jacks and ensure that your network capacity is sufficient to handle a high volume of voice communications.

For any business that already has a substantial computer network in place and a high speed internet connection in place, the move from traditional phone service to VoIP for making international phone calls is a wise one. If you’ve tried this option before and found it unsatisfactory, it is time to revisit the idea. Today’s advanced technology means that internet-based telephony can outperform systems of the past. And the rates cannot be beat.

By: Chris Jenkinson