Just a few short years ago most of us could not have provided the name of one Voice over IP provider. Now, after much technological advancement and with the hard work of Internet developers, there are many IP-Telephony providers popping up all over the place. Voice over IP is the newest phone technology allowing users to call over the net, much in the same way that email is sent from one PC to another.
Cheap calls like we have never seen
Voice over IP is revolutionary because it has lowered the cost of long distance and international telephone calls to rates that we have never seen before. For example, if a IP-Telephony user in Italy has signed up with the same vendor as a family member in Mexico, they will be free to call each other at absolutely no cost without limitation. Suddenly there is no distance!
Now this does not matter if the two people are located in the same country.
There are many ways to make IP-Telephony calls
People tap into IP-Telephony in many different ways. Phone Calls can be made from a phone that has been connected to a router with an Internet connection. People can make phone calls through a pc that has a software installed or there are telephone cards available that vendors offer to allow users to use normal phones to access a Voice over IP phone line for lower calls.
There are many positives with VoIP
One of the reasons that vendors enjoy almost guaranteed success is that there are many advantages to Voice over IP phone service and not many negatives. People only have to hear about the great rates that are involved and the simplicity of getting connected to this technology and they are ready to convert their phone service to a vendor.
Do the research on Voice over IP
Some vendors will charge for some services and not for others and so if you are looking for the most economic deal, you will have to shop around a bit and do some comparing of rates.
If you have been hearing talk of VoIP vendors but are unsure what vendor to contact for service, try doing a little research on the Internet before committing to anything. The only variety that I have found between the various vendors are the rates that they charge.
By: Jim Francisto
Posts Tagged ‘Long Distance’
VoIP is Here to Stay
March 4th, 2010VoIP Problems?
February 7th, 2010
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
VoIP Technology Best Solution For Phone Calls
November 7th, 2009
Do you have a close friend or a member of your family staying In Romania? Are you keen to know how to make cheap calls to that place? Then let us share some vital information with you.
In the past, international call was an expensive affair which made it difficult for people to hear the words of their loved ones for weeks and months. To be freed from call charges, people went back to telegrams and airmails. No longer can these sources of contact leave a person confident about their loved one being safe in that place. Undoubtedly the sound of voice offers much relief to people who are immediately updated about the wellbeing and status of a family member who may be residing at a distant location.
With the advancement of satellite and wireless technologies, communication has for sure become much easier. VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) is the latest buzz in the world of technology. This is in fact just another method of keeping in touch with your near and dear ones. Mobiles too have become increasingly common. Even a decade back mobile phones were a luxury item owned only by rich people. The concept of VOIP was unheard of. However times have changed for sure. One can now easily make calls to any country and at a much cheaper rate. Romania is not an exception!
Since VOIP and mobile phones are technologies that are available to anyone readily, land line suppliers have had to make adjustments to their services, rates and availability to be in the competition and draw new customers. Land line rates have been adjusted and anyone now can have the package of distance calling package included in the monthly bill.
Land line distance suppliers, along with these changes created many other ways to let their customers use their services of long distance. This is a step taken by them just to retain in the business. The prepaid calling cards have compelled many of the providers to reevaluate their rates and programs. The providers have also started to offer new methods to guarantee more efficient service. Most of the providers nowadays offer prepaid cards to people at very cheap rates.
The technology of VOIP is the biggest factor that has influenced setting up of the new competitive call rates both for mobile and land line services. VOIP competes directly with land line services and offers its subscribers facilities to make cheap calls to Romania and all the countries around the globe. VOIP does not even charge their subscribers for long distance fees. Traditional technology is not used with voice over internet protocol. This is the reason why the long distance fees are not absolutely essential. VOIP functions with the help of modems and internet connection and is almost similar to the process of instant messaging.
This therefore is the best solution to anyone who wants to make long distance calls to any country including Romania. Try out VOIP or select the right mobile calls service plan. Make sure you select right as this will ensure that you remain in touch with your loved ones at a minimum price.
By: Erick John
