VoIP Technology » Internet Technology

Use Internet Technology to ‘Phone Home’ When on Holiday

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:23:57 +0000

Travelling abroad has always involved an element of adventure, but even as recently as 20 years ago visiting countries as technically advanced as the USA meant that you literally went into a communications black hole until your return. That is because the cost of transatlantic phone calls was so outrageously high that your entire holiday budget could be used up calling home, and that was just for a few minutes.

However, advances in competition amongst telephony companies have changed that. For example, travellers to the USA can purchase great value phone cards starting from as little as £5 for approximately 167 minutes of calls to a landline number in London. Or, if they prefer travellers can also call home using a mobile phone. But, even though that’s not as relatively expensive as it was to use landlines at the end of the 1980s, it is still an expensive way to keep in touch with calls to home typically costing around £1.37 – £1.99 per minute outside Europe.

As technology has advanced the amount of differing communication methods have also grown exponentially. Now even without a landline or mobile phone, it is still possible to call home just as long as you are connected to the internet. VoIP (Voice over internet protocol) now enables broadband users to be able to communicate both freely and for free with anyone on the internet who has the same software installed.

Indeed, modern technology expands at such a phenomenal rate each year that nothing seems impossible when it comes to global communication. Logging into your email account when in the heart of Peru to send and receive messages or even using your laptop to make free calls to home via WiFi at the top of the CN Tower in Toronto; both are eminently possible in the 21st century.

Wherever you go in the world the internet has invariably got there first, unless the destination is extremely remote and off the beaten track. For those on extended holidays or especially back-packing then internet phone calls can be a great way to make sure everyone back home realises what a great time you are having, as well as a great way for you to keep in touch with happenings on the domestic front. But the real advantage is that you save your much needed cash to spend on essentials or fun activities and without having to spend it all it on expensive phone calls. So, before heading off to foreign parts make sure you open an internet VoIP account, and you’ll have the ability to stay in touch just about wherever you go!

By: Isla Campbell

VoIP – Unlimited Call Plan

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:42:14 +0000

VoIP is a voice over Internet Protocol, a voice data transmission over Internet access technology. It is also known as the Internet protocol or broadband telephony. By using this technology, people from all over the world able to make call to everyone in every where. Using VoIP will washed away your worries and tiredness of being highly cost of monthly phone bills. Using VoIP, you are not just taking the advantage of Internet technology, but you are also able to save more money. It is a fact that VoIP is the cheapest phone call technology.

By using VoIP, people are able to make phone calls locally, long distance phone calls, and also the international calls. More than that, using VoIP, you can get the unlimited calls of local, long distance, and even international calls. As said before, VoIP will wash away your worries of phone bills. In VoIP, you can take the VoIP unlimited call plan. It is a phone plan you will use in the whole time, or even entire year, of your phone call usage.

There are many telecommunication providers that offers this VoIP unlimited call plan. You may choose monthly or yearly call plan based on your phone call usage. With low and convenient of payments monthly, you can get the unlimited calls to U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. For entire year phone call plan, all you need is pay $199.00 and take the benefits of making unlimited calls. Generally, VoIP providers that are offer the unlimited call plan are offering the low rates of international call. Customer also will get the customization accounts to access the phone call. By using VoIP, and several providers offers, you are able to make a phone calls from anywhere to everywhere by keeping your number and choose any area code.

By: Dita Nadia

How To Choose A VoIP Broadband Phone Service

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:44:17 +0000

Internet technology is constantly introducing new and better ways to communicate with others around the world, and making telephone calls using VoIP technology is one of those advancements. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, and it allows a computer user who is connected to the internet through a high-speed terminal to make telephone calls to another computer or telephone without using a standard telephone company.

Essentially, there are two kinds of VoIP applications to consider, either hardware or software based. If you choose the software solution, you’ll have to have your computer turned on in order to both make and receive telephone calls, but the only equipment you’ll need is a microphone and speakers connected to your computer.

If you choose the hardware solution instead, you’ll be using a converter box called an ATA that will be attached to your high-speed internet connection. Your telephone can then be plugged into the ATA. The converter box takes the analog signal from your phone and converts it to a digital signal to be sent over the internet in data packets, which are then reassembled on the other end of the telephone connection. By using a hardware VoIP solution, you computer does not have to be on in order for you to make and receive telephone calls, although your Internet connection will have to be active. Many VoIP service providers are including the ATA at very low cost or even for free in some cases.

In order to make use of VoIP technology for placing internet telephone calls, you will need to subscribe to a service plan provided by one of the major VoIP companies in business today. The service plans are usually very inexpensive, often providing for unlimited long-distance telephone calling for as little as $25 per month. You can even save more by choosing a calling plan that places a limit on the amount of minutes used each month, bringing your total cost down to as low as $15 a month.

In addition to domestic long-distance phone calling, many VoIP providers also allow you to make international telephone calls to persons outside of their subscriber base for a per minute fee, sometimes as low as $.10 to $.15 per minute. Some providers even allow free long-distance telephone calling as long as it is carried out between individuals in their own subscriber base.

If you choose to use a hardware VoIP solution, you can expect to spend some time on the phone with customer support in order to get your system up and running correctly, but most likely you’ll be able to experience uninterrupted service from that point on. Also you can expect voice quality to be excellent in most cases, often rivaling that of land line telephones.

When you consider all the advantages of using VoIP technology to place telephone calls over the internet, it’s no wonder that so many consumers are turning to VoIP for their long-distance telephone calling needs.

By: Steadman Issenburg

VOIP Telephones – Connecting You to the World Within a Budget

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:47:55 +0000

It would be an understatement to say that we are under hard times. Economic or financial problems plague many of us and we cannot deny the fact that the number of people who are getting directly affected are increasing by the day. Despite all of these troubles, we have to accept them as reality. We have to face these problems and attempt to survive each day by not only tightening our belts around our waists but also by being wise when it comes to the way we spend money. Thanks to a lot of technological advances, we can now save not only time but also money. One such example of this kind of technological advancement are VOIP telephones. These modern-day phones set the big difference between spending big for communications on one hand and spending just a fraction of the usual cost on the other.

Here are some important facts that you need to learn about the VOIP technology:

1. VOIP means Voice over Internet Protocol.

The main concept behind voice over internet protocol is the use of internet lines to connect one person to another. This is mainly used in place of the traditional telephone lines that are connected via wires and poles. It is also different from the cellular phone technology.

2. VOIP technology are improving day by day.

You do not have to worry about a kind of experimental technology that can go bust anytime. Since VOIP uses internet technology and connections, you can expect it to be as reliable as the internet connection you have in your area. The best thing about it is that you can expect it to become better every single day as the internet still plays a major part in our lives.

3. This kind of technology is downright affordable.

What puts VOIP telephones ahead is the fact that they are highly affordable. In fact, the amount of money you pay for a VOIP phone and service is a very small fraction of what you pay for either your home phone or your mobile phone. In some cases, you only get to pay for your internet service and the handset price. This means that you can make any kind of calls without paying as much as the price you pay for your regular home or mobile telephone bills.

4. This kind of technology brings you closer to anyone within your area, within the country or even abroad.

There is practically no limit to the location of the person you can connect to. You can contact those who use regular home phones, mobile phones and even other VOIP phones. You can make long distance and international calls. For any of these calls, you are free from any high fees.

5. Your budget will always be enough.

You will not have to think of a telephone bill that would take much of your monthly budget. You would not even think of limiting your calls just to cut back on calling bills. With the use of VOIP telephones, you can be assured that your budget, however small, can fit without having to sacrifice the number of calls you can make or the quality of the calls you have.

By: Derrick Richardson

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

Learning the Basics of VoIP

admin — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 02:21:24 +0000

If you have been paying large long distance phone bills, it’s time to introduce you to the VOIP basics. Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP or VoIP) is the latest telecommunications internet technology. It will allow you to make long distance calls over your internet connection, bypassing most, or all of you your long distance provider’s charges.

However, several large telecommunications companies have caught on to the growing trend for consumers to bypass their charges, and have reacted by offering packaged services that include your regular, local phone line service and the VOIP service that will let you place calls over the internet.

When discussing VOIP basics, it’s important to realize that there are actually 3 types of VOIP technologies that are currently in use. The first is called ATA or Analog Telephone Adapter technology. The ATA technologydoes exactly what it sounds like; it takes the analog signal on your regular telephone line and translates it into a digital signal. T

hat digital signal is then sent via the internet. This is the type of service that the large telecommunications providers are offering. They will mail you the ATA and you can set it up easily on your own.

Another of the technologies that is necessary for understanding VOIP basics still has to do with the phone itself. Instead of using an adaptor to change a regular phone into a VOIP compatible one, you purchase a phone that is designed for making VOIP calls. But that phone won’t plug into a regular phone jack (RJ-11). It will have to be plugged into an Ethernet connection (an RJ-45 jack or a spot on your router).

The necessary hardware and software to make a VOIP call is included in the phone itself.

The third technology involved in learning VOIP Basics is the most exciting for the average consumer, as it doesn’t require a monthly service charge from a provider in order to make free business long distance calls. It is computer-to-computer VOIP service. In this case, you download free or purchase low-cost software that turns your computer into the phone.

In addition to the software, you’ll need speakers so you can hear the other party, a microphone so you can speak to them, a sound card in your computer, and a preferably high-speed internet connection so the signal can travel fast enough to avoid delays in what you or the other party hears.

The person you call doesn’t need to be talking to you over a computer; a regular phone will work just fine. You can use the service on your end to make calls to anyone, anywhere without a charge.

Now that we’ve looked at the VOIP or also know as voice over internet protocol, you might be interested in trying it for yourself. But what you don’t realize is that you most likely already are.

Telephone companies have been using the technology for several years in order to route the mass number of calls they receive more efficiently over their networks.

But to try VOIP at home, download software at sites such as skype site. If you already have the needed items mentioned above (speakers, microphone, sound card and high-speed internet connection), you can be making calls in as little as 5 minutes.

By: Van Theodorou

What Must You Know About VoIP

admin — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:06:57 +0000

Everybody should now know what the initial VoIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol stands for. The most important aspect here which plays a pivotal role in VoIP technology is a fast internet connection.

What it the main principle of VoIP technology?

The most significant factor of VoIP is to convert voice amplitude into digital signals and then transfer them via internet. And once at the other end the internet technology again transforms these digital signals into sound and human voice. I would like again to draw your attention to the internet connection. The quality of your conversation depends on this one noteworthy feature. If the internet access functions in a fast way, then you will get the same result as a normal voice to voice call. However, if the internet is of a low speed connection, then the call can fail or would suffer form interruptions most of the time. So, in other words good internet bandwidth is needed in for quality and quantity of calls.

In general terms there are two types of speed related to VoIP, these two main categories of bandwidth consist of firstly one that is responsible for uploading data sent to the internet; the second type is in charge of the downloading data being the received from the internet. If you want to have a good conversation, better use bandwidth of 90 Kbps. Thus you will get a high sound quality.

Nowadays, the replacement of older telephony equipment by VoIP is becoming more and more common practice, thus good broadband connections up and down are required. So what are the main competition features that an ordinary telephone can lose out to that of VoIP? Cheapness and attainability are the key one as the low cost of calls that access the most distant of places, reach your friends from other countries, making international linkage for business simple and so easy to make. That is why VoIP technology is becoming so attractive among individuals and in business circles.

Using VoIP is getting more and more popular. In addition to all these advantages, you get all the extras at no extra costs such as call waiting, 3-way calling, call diverting and caller ID. However a precautionary measure In spite of the fact, that broadband phone services are so trendy and popular, please, still be careful with your choices. Be ready that your conversation might stop abruptly due to internet disconnection or break in the integrity of the line. Do not forget to update VoIP service provider with any changes you may need.

By: Travis Olague

VoIP Technology is Packed With Extra Features

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:09:34 +0000

If you’ve been looking for a way to reduce your monthly phone bill without sacrificing features on your phone service, you might want to look into companies that offer phone service based on Voice over Internet Protocol technology- or VoIP for short. Voice over Internet Protocol technology is offered by several different companies including Vonage, Lingo, and SunRocket. While they all have different service plans, prices, and features; there are also a number of general features that they have in common. For example, all of them offer lots of extra features included in there service plans at no extra cost, and those service plans are generally competitive in price with what you’d pay for a normal land based phone line from a conventional phone company.

VoIP technology, as implemented by these companies, includes as standard features many of the things that you’d pay extra for in order to get from a conventional phone company. Voice mail, caller ID with name, last number dialed calling, call transfers, call forwarding, call waiting, and a lot more are all included among these features. Not only are all of these features included, but they’re also made enormously more flexible because their settings can be changed and used from anywhere by accessing your account online. For example, you can use any computer with an Internet connection to initiate call forwarding. This is a great feature for situations where you need to have calls to your home or office number forwarded to your mobile phone, but forgot to do it before stepping out the door. You can also often do things like turn off the ability to dial international calls or directory assistance from your online account in order to save money. Some services also allow you to access your voice mail through your online account or have it forwarded to your email. When one service forwards voice mail to your email account it does so with the actual voice mail message attached as a WAV file so that you can listen to the message right there on your computer. At least one service will let you block phone calls from certain numbers and or calls from numbers that don’t offer any caller ID data. Either of those two features are great ways to fend off telemarketers or admirers who are just too aggressive for your comfort.

While all of these features are extremely valuable, one thing that all VoIP services have in common, and the feature that was really the whole point of them to begin with, is the ability to make long distance phone calls without any long distance rates. This is possible because of the “Internet” in Voice over Internet Protocol. Essentially, VoIP technology streams phone conversations in both directions over the Internet in real time. This means that those phone conversations are treated just like any other media that’s sent over the Internet. Just like MP3’s, digital photographs, emails, and other types of document that inhabit the Internet, there aren’t any long distance charges for phone conversations using VoIP. Best of all, it’s completely compatible with the conventional telephone network so you can still talk to people who don’t use VoIP.

When it comes to saving money and providing the maximum number of extra features, VoIP technology is definitely worth looking into.

By: Julia Hall

The Benefits of VoIP Technology

admin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 22:39:29 +0000

Before you are able to assess the truthfulness or the reliability of any VoIP reviews, you must first of all attempt to understand the VoIP technology and what it is all about. This task may seem somewhat unnecessary considering the fact that the use of VoIP seems rather straightforward but most of the time we often assume we know what we actually don’t. By taking out the careful time to understand how VOIP works, you cover grounds that you may have not previously been aware of. In any reviews you come across fundamental aspects of a VoIP service will be discussed and you must be aware of these aspects.

VoIP refers to voice over ip, which is really one of the newest ways of making calls and in this case making calls over an internet network. Most computer software vendors are in the forefront today with the sale of various tools and devices which aid people in their bid to make cheap calls over the Internet. The phones and software that enable you to make phone calls over the Internet have similar qualities to what your physical telephone possesses. These phones however work using Voice over Internet Protocol technology, another fancy way of saying that they allow you make calls anywhere an Internet connection exists.

One of the primary reasons for the popularity of VoIP technology is mainly due to its low costs as well as the relative availability of the service. The system is also quite quick to setup and can be used in any area that has an internet connection, preferably a high speed connection. The VoIP equipment that people use has the ability to transmit audio information into data, this data in turn is then transmitted over the Internet and all that is demanded of you is that you pay your normal internet charges and a small fee tha you’d normally pay if you made a local telephone call. Regardless of the location in the world which you intend to call, as long you’re using VoIP technology you only need to pay the costs for a local telephone call or even less.

VoIP is perfect for people who need to make International telephone calls on a frequent basis. Such people include establishments such as corporate bodies and business people. Other categories of frequent international callers are people who have a number of friends and relatives residing abroad. Now newer versions of instant messenger clients now come equipped with VoIP technology for ease of use.

If you’re using VoIP, some elements that you will require in order to communicate are your microphone, speakers as well as a high speed internet connection. Other things include as sound board, your VoIP adapter, VoIP phone and other auxiliary elements that may be required. VoIP phones are usually equipped with certain other facilities such as call waiting, speaker phone, speed dial as well as the standard call transfer functions. Certain additional functions exist which are designed to provide the user with a better communication experience.

By: Kelly Hunter