VoIP Technology » Skype

VoIP Providers – How To Choose One

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:22:51 +0000

When you’ve made the decision to move to VoIP phone, you’ll need to select a VoIP provider. The most well-known is Vonage, largely because of their aggressive advertising campaign. There are, however, several other VoIP providers that you should consider. A large marketing campaign does not guarantee good service.

Vonage is your basic VoIP phone service, with the emphasis on the phone. For a monthly charge, they send you a device to hook up to your phone that does two things. First, it digitizes your analog voice, a must for VoIP usage. Second, it initiates an internet link that runs through your DSL or cable broadband hookup. VoIP-specific phones are perfect to use on Vonage service, and you can use them wirelessly.

You get your local and long-distance phone service for the monthly flat rate, and also a number of services like three-way calling and call forwarding, which few people use. In some plans, you do pay for outgoing calls after a point, but the number of minutes you get before reaching that break point is pretty generous.

Skype is a very different sort of VoIP provider. It started as primarily a computer-based, not phone-based VoIP, and most people originally used headphones with their ordinary computer to access a Skype account. You can get Skype phones today that run through your computer, but most of Skype’s services are more web-friendly.

In addition to phone service, Skype has robust online and computer-based communications technology like chat and user lookups. But the outstanding feature of Skype is the price. If you’re using it to call directly to another Skype user, anywhere in the world, it’s free. It’s also the easiest VoIP service to take with you; if you have a Skype account, you can access it from your computer or any Skype-enabled computer, anywhere in the world.

Lingo is a new entry to the VoIP world, and is ascendant primarily because while it offers Vonage-style services, it also offers dirt-cheap rates. Vonage focuses primarily on the United States, Canada, and Mexico; Lingo’s area of expertise appears to be Asia and Western Europe, where it offers either unlimited calling or a robust calling plan. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to have worked out all their bugs, and Lingo does not have a stable calling platform yet.

AT&T CallVantage is another new entry, though it’s from an old company. They, too, are based on similar technology to that Vonage uses, with devices that hook up to your phone et al. Unlike Lingo, AT&T offers excellent quality service, as one might expect. At one point, AT&T had overly-complicated technology for hooking up your VoIP service, but they have improved and now aren’t much worse than Vonage.

No matter how good your VoIP provider is, your telephone stability and reliability when using this service is limited by your high-speed internet connection. If the power goes out, no phone. If your internet service is interrupted for any reason, no phone. If you are confident in your cellular service and aren’t worried about this, that shouldn’t be a problem, but it is something you must consider when you choose your VoIP service.

The bottom line is not to choose VOIP service based on price alone. Look at the features and determine how important that is to you and how often you will use it. Our web site features our Editor’s Choice Best Pick for the best VOIP service available based on a wide range of criteria.

By: Jon Arnold

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

VoIP Guide- Some Guidelines for VoIP

admin — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:19:19 +0000

VoIP refers to voice over Internet Protocol. This latest technology provides voice conversations over Internet or via IP-based network. In VoIP technology, protocols are used to carry voice signals over Internet Protocol network. VoIP is also known as IP Telephony, Internet telephony and Digital Phone.

Nowadays VoIP technology is very popular. People generally like to use this technology because its costs are less than traditional phone. Several large corporations use this IP technology to increase their working area. Everyone is currently familiar with voice chat software. Internet protocol telephony has some additional advantages over traditional phone lines.

VoIP technology enables you talk to several people simultaneously. You can also send some other types of data like files, with the help of VoIP. It offers different services with developing technologies. VoIP enables you to send any type of data at higher speeds of Internet.

Several devices can easily receive IP calls. It doesn’t require hardware but some software programs like Skype are required to install on your computer. Some national companies such as Verizon and AT&T also offers VoIP services. Vonage was the very first company that offered voice over Internet protocol services at reasonable rates.

Due to developing technologies, it is said that VoIP has a great future. It has gained a large number of clients in a short period. Its installation procedure is very simple and anyone can easily handle it with a little knowledge.

By: Sardool Sikandar

Top 5 Free VOIP Providers For Making Free Calls Worldwide

admin — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 04:59:33 +0000

1) Raketu- Pretty decent service which offers FREE calls to 42 countries. I am rating it higher than VOIPbuster/Discount for the very reason thats its not a clone and it uses a diff technology than skype. Skype uses Supernodes which can be vulnerable to hacking. I covered that issues in my blog earlier. Additionally it integrates with Yahoo, MSN messengers etc.

Benefits: Better technology, Clear Voice, 42 countries FREE, Integrate with other messengers Drawbcks- Haven’t found any yet.

2) Jajah : I tried jajah about 1 month back and with their FREE minutes i made calls to India. The difference between jajah and other VOIP providers is Jajah only allows you to make calls from your phone. That means You need to give your phone number and your calling party number before you can make a call. When you intiate a call Jajah first connect your phone. You pick up the call and then jajah connects to the other party.

Benefits: No software download needed. Just visit their site. No credits needed for free calls. Drawbacks: Have to use a legitimate number before calling. Cant use PC to make call.

3) Gizmo : Popularly known as ” Skype Killer”. This software lets you call anyone in more than 60 countries. The only downside is that you and other party both should be registered with Gizmo and should also register your numbers. I am sure that this project will be successful and in short time the daatabase of people will be built and then its a FREE calling world.

Benefits: Making calls is easier than ever, Killer Application interface, Drawbacks: Requires both parties to register their numbers with Gizmo.

4) Voipcheap – This is the original VOIPcheap and not the UK version of this company. Although VOIPbuster, voipcheap.co.uk uses the same software, i found this software more reliable and voice quality is of high level. This is an straight winner when it comes to making FREE calls worldwide. You can virtually call more than 50 countries on normal PSTN landlines and mobiles in singapore, USA, HK & Canada. With some hacks, you can call from countries which are not listed in FREE list but you have a work around. You need to check my blog for that.

Benefits: Clear voice, You can make calls from your PC. No need to buy any credits from them before making free calls. Allows PC or Phone to initiate call (via Directdial)

Drawbacks: really none.

5) voipraider/ voipbuster: All these companies belong to Betamax GMBH, a European company dealing in VOIP. They offer extremely low competitive rates to many countries but have almost zero customer service.

Benefits:1 or more additional countries (Thailand + mobile) on Voipdiscount. Drawbacks: No customer service. Change rate any time.

I hope this article will benefit you in making Free International Calls

By: Vinay R

VoIP 101

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:11:44 +0000

VoIP is a relatively new type of telephone service that has been gaining more and more popularity in the past few years. VOIP is short for voice over Internet protocol, which basically means your phone calls are made through an internet connection, rather than through regular phone land lines. The rise of it’s popularity could mean that it will be the way of the future for most home phones. What is it that has all these people so excited about VOIP technology? Well, with VOIP you save quite a bit of money, when you compare it to standard land line telephone service. VOIP providers usually have unlimited calling, as well as free added features like caller ID and call forwarding, which would cost you extra with a standard phone service.

Those combined savings can add up to a savings of hundreds, or even thousands of dollars for many people. The biggest group this appeals to, and that stand to save the most, are larger companies or corporations that make a large number of calls on a daily basis. That doesn’t mean it won’t save money for those who only need it for their home phone, just that the more you use your phone, the more you’ll be saving.

Some might tell you that using the internet for voice chat can be choppy or get an echo, thought this can be true, VOIP uses RTP (real time protocol), which greatly limits and often completely eliminates such problems.

VOIP is not just useful for making and receiving phone calls either, it can also be used for other things, such as sending and receiving other types of data. File transfer is possible through a VOIP service, so you can share pictures with friends, or even send important documents instantly. Video chat and instant messaging can also be done through VOIP, when teamed with the right program, such as Google Talk or Skype.

With all these great features and the savings included, many people are making the switch. So much so, that even some standard telephone companies are starting to offer VOIP service to their customers, a sure sign that it’s here to stay.

By: Joanne Greco

VoIP Technology is Breaking the Chains of the Traditional Phone Companies

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:41:22 +0000

Before companies like Magic Jack and Vonage we were slaves to the traditional land based phone systems. Big phone companies like AT&T and SBC (just to mention a couple) had us at a disadvantage and they knew it. With traditional land lines, every feature had a fee, even keeping certain features off you phone cost money. After adding up all those fees, along with your local and long distance, your phone service could cost $40.00, $50.00, $70.00 a month or much more depending of what features you tacked on and how many long distance calls you make a month.

Well I’m probably not telling you anything you didn’t already know. So how about something you may not know about – VoIP and companies like Magic Jack, Vonage and Skype are paving the way for this money saving communications technology. VoIP like Magic Jack and Vonage is finding their way into homes, not only here in the US, but around the world.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) – allows and analog signal from your phone to be converted into a digital signal that can be then be sent over the internet (much like a email) instead of over a wire network like the ordinary land line. This allows the user to make long distance phone calls for free or at a much cheaper price depending on the service used. Vonage is a pioneer and one of the most popular of this new telephony technology.

There is now a small host of companies offering VoIP services that will continue to grow as (VoIP) is the future of communications. Magic Jack is such a company and is growing in popularity as more and more people are becoming aware of this new technology. Magic Jack is the only service that has its own network system which is one of the most compelling reasons the service is so inexpensive.

While other VoIP companies are offering good products for reasonable prices, none can beat the price or can offer the simplicity and the flexibility of Magic Jack. The Magic Jack device plugs directly into an available USB port (2.0 or higher) the software in the device makes contact with the Magic Jack home base and after only a few minutes it takes to set up your account and phone number, you are ready to go. You can then take your phone that had been plugged into the land line wall mount and plug it directly into the Magicjack, lift the receiver, hear a dial tone and start making calls.

Companies like Vonage must pay for the network they use, so it comes with a low monthly bill. Magic Jack has one low price you pay annually which is less then one month’s bill of a traditional land line. Magic Jack will let you opt in for a multi year agreement that saves you even more money. Skype is another popular VoIP company that is much better then the traditional landline but has limitations such as phone calls are only free if you are calling other Skype users and must purchase credits in order to call someone using phone services other than Skype. This would kind of be like buying minutes for cell phones.

Magic Jack is not a phone or software installed on your computer; it is a device with the software installed in it that plugs into your computer or any other computer with a broadband internet connection. This means you can take the Magic Jack with you on long trips or even out of the country and make free long distance phone calls back to the US or Canada for free. How’s that for flexibility?

By: Tim Wedin

A Basic Insight Into The Technology Behind VoIP Phones

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:37:30 +0000

A VoIP phone can be defined as an entity that is used to make telephone calls over the internet. A VoIP phone utilises the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology wherein our voice is converted into digital signal that is transmitted over the Internet. VoIP phones enable you to enjoy the benefits of VoIP technology.
The VoIP technology is based on protocols, such as SIP, H.323 or proprietary ones like Skype.

How is voice transmitted using the VoIP technology?

VoIP phone—>broadband router—> Internet—> voip service provider

Well, if you do not wish to spend on purchasing a new VoIP phone, just connect your existing analogue telephone to a VoIP phone adaptor and enjoy the benefits of VoIP. There are many VoIP service providers who allow you to use the service on your analogue telephones. With the VoIP phone adaptor, you do not need a VoIP phone or a computer to avail the VoIP service. The analogue telephone connects to the broadband router through the adaptor. The router connects to the Internet.

standard analogue telephone—>voip adaptor—>broadband router—> Internet—> voip service provider

The UK phone users may need an RJ11 adaptor to convert their standard BT Connector to an International Connector. RJ11 adaptor may be bought with a VoIP Phone Adaptor.
Broadband routers have built-in VoIP and can also be used as VoIP Phone Adaptors. You can buy these routers online.

What are the things required to avail the benefits of VoIP service?
VoIP hardware: voip phones can be plugged it straight into a network or a broadband router voip adaptors used when you need to avail voip service through an analogue telephone voip-compatible router provide access to the Internet for multiple devices (can be wired or wireless) softphone a software-based phone that operates from a PC uses Internet connection to make VoIP calls can be used with a USB Phone or PC Headset
Internet connection subscription to a VoIP service

VoIP is indeed a cutting-edge technology that has revolutionised the telephony system to a great extent.

By: Dennis Jaylon

VoIP – A Destructive Technology

admin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:14:19 +0000

Many in the telecommunications industry have described the upsurge in the use of VoIP as being destructive. This is true in so far as the traditional landline services have been disrupted. Telecom Companies services such as BT have had to introduce their own VoIP packages for new subscribers and for those existing ones who require the facility, albeit these are mainly unaware. This highlights the concern the landline suppliers have over VoIP.

The backbone of the VoIP technology requires the use of broadband. As faster DSL broadband delivery has been made available, the growth of VoIP users has increased exponentially. The traditional Telecom Companies who had the lion’s share of the market have had to readjust and compete with the likes of Vonage and Skype. A revolution has taken place which has allowed for increased competition and even the smaller Internet providers or other Internet-based companies have captured large segments of the Telecom market at the expense of the once huge Telecom cartel.

Within the VoIP industry one clear pattern is emerging, that is there is no clear pattern. The niches within the technology allows for a huge combination of methods and/or alternatives which allow the use of voice over internet to take place. Whereas some of these sub niches claim a meteoric rise in popularity, they are as likely to face a sudden fall in popularity. Take for example Vonage, having been at the forefront of the technology their overall percentage share has fallen dramatically with the rise of Skype and usage of VoIP through social media.

Time will tell to see whether they can withstand this and establish a method of using VoIP as being the most trustworthy and only real alternative to traditional landlines. It is interesting therefore to note that the Telecom Companies have now taken on board similar methods and BT Broadband send out their ‘hub’ allowing connection to PCs and other broadband devices. For the ordinary user these terms are confusing to say the least but it suggests an acknowledgment that this is the way of the future and that eventually all traditional landlines will be done away with.

Companies such as Vonage and Skype, providing they offer a set up which replaces the normal telephone with like for like, should have nothing to fear and these will eventually compete on a more even footing with their larger counterparts.

By: Jonathan Ledger

Use VOIP Technology to Make Cheap Calls

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:58:43 +0000

Scared of making ISD calls, to friends and relatives in India, or do you have to pay huge landline or mobile bills as you have business contacts in other countries? The latest technology of VOIP will help you make cheap and unlimited calls over the Internet. All you need is a dial-up or broadband connection. VOIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol which is a technology that helps transmit voice conversations via the Internet.

The best way to use this technology is to download Skype, which is free and offers great individual and business packages. Their monthly subscription charges are reasonable and will help you save a lot of money in comparison to landline or mobile phone bills.

Skype will allow you to make free calls to any part of the world, to any landline or mobile number. An added advantage is that if you and your friend have both downloaded Skype, then both of you can talk over the Internet for as long as you want, absolutely free. For business purposes, your colleagues can contact you on an online number whenever they want.

The process of using VOIP technology is actually quite easy and inexpensive. There is a guide inside Skype that will enable you to dial the right ISD code and you can chat right away.

There are two plans to make calls using VOIP: you can choose to pay a monthly subscription which will allow you to make unlimited calls to landlines in selected countries and regions, with an additional 50% discount on an online number. This plan will be best suited to those who make frequent business or personal calls to any one country.

There is another scheme: Pay As You Go. This will require you to add a minimum amount to your account and then you have to pay for as many calls that you make. The calling rate is a flat rate of 2.1¢¹ per minute to over 30 destinations, which is quite cheap, considering that you have such a wide range of countries to choose from.

The additional advantages of using Skype are that you can set up your mobile number or online number to appear if you are calling someone, which helps in caller identification. This technology is compatible with Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Windows Mobile, WiFi phones, Cordless phones, Skype To Go. You can SMS or even Voice Chat with friends and family, using Skype. There is a VAT of 2 euro cents on the online service and a connection fee and fair usage policies are conditions that apply to Skype. Forward calls to your mobile when you are offline, use a webcam to chat, set up an online number to get the feel of calling a local number-send text messages: the options are endless with Skype.

So, jump on to the Skype bandwagon and make the cheapest ISD calls to keep in touch with loved ones and with business colleagues.

By: Erick John