Technology is growing and changing everyday. Consider phone service; at one time when people made telephone calls they did so with their phone attached to a jack in the wall and literally “dialed” the number they were calling. Then came the push-button phones; it was great to quickly “dial” the number by pressing the key pad. Soon the cordless phone jumped on the technological scene. This was wonderful; now people could walk around their house and talk without being limited to the phone cord attached to the wall, or worse tripping over the one hundred foot phone cord that they used to walk all around the house and talk on the phone.
Just as people were getting used to the cordless phone, soon came the invention of the mobile phone. It was cumbersome at first but what a thought – being able to use a phone in your vehicle. Now the cell phone is sleek, compact, and can do much more than simply make a call. Enter Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) – Internet phone service, how does VoIP work with your current phone?
With this technology, instead of the signals going out over a public network the voice signals travel over your high-speed broadband connection. You do not need to buy a new phone for this service, and you can enjoy substantial savings as you combine both the Internet and phone service into one low monthly rate. The amazing concept of VoIP is that it combines one technology to operate two different types of service; your phone and Internet. Making a call with VoIP technology can occur one of three ways:
* Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) – With the use of this device, you simply plug in your current phone into the adapter and then connect the adapter to your broadband service (possibly a modem). That is it you can now make calls. The way this system works is by taking the analog signal and changing it into a digital signal sent out over the Internet.
* IP Phones – these types of phones look exactly like analog phones the difference being they have an Ethernet connector instead of the standard phone connector and come equipped with the software and hardware needed for VoIP service built into them. You connect directly to your modem and begin enjoying exceptional quality with your next phone call.
* Computer-to-Computer – All you need for this service is high-speed Internet connections, sound card, microphone, and speakers. Typically, you pay a monthly rate from your Internet service provider.
By: Mike Singh
Posts Tagged ‘Internet Phone Service’
How Does VoIP Work With Your Current Phone?
March 21st, 2010VoIP – International Phone Calls For Businesses
December 12th, 2009
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