VoIP Technology » Telephone Service

Why Is VOIP Is Cheaper Then Regular Phones?

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:37:16 +0000

In the earlier days of the Internet communication was limited to typing text on a screen. Then with the advent of Instant Messaging and chat rooms, communication became more real-time, though still only text was the main venue used. Now the Internet has become so advanced that people can actually use their voices to communicate with individuals online. This technology is known as VoIP, (which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol).

It can allow people to communicate using voice either through the computer or on a telephone. But the best part of VoIP is that it is significantly cheaper than traditional phone lines. This is due to: the technology involved and the quality it offers.

The first reason why VoIP is cheaper than regular telephones is because of the technology it takes advantage of. Unlike the telephone VoIP simply takes advantage of the service that a person is already taking advantage of, which is the Internet. No new connections need to be made to use VoIP. Yet, with a traditional telephone service, a person must have their house wired with telephone lines. This in itself is expensive for telephone companies, who must help cover their costs through people’s phone bill.

The second reason why VoIP is less expensive than regular phones is because unfortunately, the quality is not as good. When a person uses a VoIP phone, the connection can often contain a lot of static, making the conversation hard to hear. Granted, the quality of one’s VoIP service will better depending on what company they use. For instance, free VoIP companies tend to have much worse quality than paid ones. Yet, neither can compare to the quality offered by the telephone, which is good 100 percent of the time. The only time there is ever an issue with telephone quality is if something is wrong with the phone lines. When this happens a person simply won’t be able to make a phone call until the problem is fixed. However, how often does this happen? Compare this to VoIP services which have worse quality and, (during the times when a lot of people are using the service), an inability to make calls quite often.

So, if the quality is so poor, why are people still raving about VoIP? It’s because even though the quality is definitely not as good as regular telephones, it’s good enough to allow for decent enough communication most of the time. In fact, sometimes the quality can be just as good as a telephone. So, while the technology won’t replace the telephone, it’s a good supplement when people want to save on their long distance bills and/or they want to have the advantages possible with a second telephone line without actually having one.

In conclusion, VoIP is a cheaper alternative to land lines because they do not require a separate technology to implement and quality-wise they do not offer as much as telephones. Perhaps as VoIP technology progresses, the quality element can be fixed enough so that people can use VoIP completely by itself.

By: Simon Ahtung

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 Telephony – The Benefits and Limitations

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:55:57 +0000

Previously we explored the history and technology that gave
rise to VOIP Telephone service (*see footnotes). Today we will examine
some of the benefits and also the drawbacks of this new opportunity.

In previous articles we discovered that traditional “Landline” type
phone service is set up much like a “Toll Highway”. Billing starts
when the “Circuit” is opened, and continues until it is closed.
Just like travelling down a Tollway, the longer you stay on, and the
farther you travel, the more “Toll Booths” you pass through. These
toll booths are the phone company’s switches, and you get charged
for every one that you pass through.

In contrast, VOIP phones use “Packet” switching. As the broadband
Internet connection is always open, digitized voice signals are
sent to the receiver in discrete packets. The result is that no
“dead air” exists on the line, as no traffic is sent when there is
a lull or pause in the conversation. This allows several two-way
conversations to use the same “bandwidth”, or space that previously
was tied up by ONE call.

This has resulted in great economy for VOIP providers who in turn
pass along the savings to the end user. Most top VOIP plans run
around 30 dollars a month, and the best include International calls
to many countries worldwide within that base fee along with a host
of features like Voice Mail, Caller ID, Call Waiting, Three-way
Calling, Online Access, Etc.

While most major traditional carriers have an “all inclusive” plan,
none that I know of include International calling, and most of their
“basic” plans are double the cost of VOIP. In my experience, the most
coveted features are also charged extra for. Add in the taxes and fees,
and all of a sudden you’re talking REAL money!

The other great benefit of VOIP is the ability to take your device
anywhere and make calls just like you were at home. The best services
are fully find-me, follow-me capable. This means that wherever you
happen to be, your phone number will find you and ring at THAT location.
I use mine with a Laptop, a cheap cigarette lighter a/c converter,
a wireless card, and an old “princess” phone in my truck parked outside
of hotspots all the time. That’s huge. You can have your office in
whatever hotel or airport or Starbucks you happen to be in at the moment.

Having covered most of the benefits of VOIP, let’s examine some of
the drawbacks. The major one is spotty 911 service availability. As
the device is portable, any call to 911 will result in emergency
crews being sent to the device’s address of record, which is set up
when you activate the VOIP device and service. Obviously this doesn’t
do you much good if you are in a hotel in Montana but live in Ohio.

One way around this is to change your address with your provider when
you travel, and then change it back when you return home. Of course,
this only works with domestic addresses, and you must remember to do it.

A better way is to ignore the issue entirely, and keep a very basic,
cheap, no frills service plan with your local phone provider. This will
still be cheaper by far than a full blown plan. Also, you avoid the other
main issue with VOIP- Power Outages. If power goes out, or you lose your
Internet Connection, you lose your phone service. Of course, you run
that risk with today’s cordless phones too, so it’s always a good idea
to have an old hardwired phone around the house, or at least a cell
phone available.

By: Glenn Grundberg

5 Reasons Your Small Business Should Switch to VOIP Technology in 2010

admin — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:11:26 +0000

With the economy in the shape it is today, many small businesses are facing some tough realities as how to manage their business. Small business owners are keeping spending to a minimum and controlling costs while they ride out this economic downturn. Many seasoned business owners will tell you the good thing about running a business during a downturn is that it forces you to really look at your business and decide what’s important and what’s not. All operating costs and expenses are looked over with a fine toothed comb and it is in this time that many business owners find money that has been going to waste.

Depending on your business, your telecommunication costs can eat up a sizable chunk of your budget. Over the last few years VOIP technology has really come of age as costs keep getting lower and service keeps getting better. Listed below are the 5 reasons you should consider making the switch to VOIP technology for you business in 2010.

1 – It’s Cheaper than old fashioned telephone service. Although you will spend several hundred dollars in equipment to get yourself set up, the savings over the long run can be substantial. One of the biggest savings is long distance charges. Besides having to pay long distance access fees each month, most traditional phone companies charge rates considerably higher than VOIP providers. Most VOIP plans come standard with almost every feature you can think of while traditional phone companies usually charge a monthly fee for even the most basic features. These add on fees can quickly add up on your monthly bill.

2 – Unified Communication. Unified Communications is a fancy word to describe the ability to integrate your VOIP phone service with other communications such as email and computer programs. With unified communications you have the ability to have voicemail messages emailed directly to you wherever you may be. Long gone are the days you have to repeatedly call into the office to see if there are messages waiting. Another great application for VOIP is integrating it into a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) program for you business. Imagine when the phone rings the computer screen automatically pops up the account history of your customer before you even pick up the phone. Talk about a great customer service tool.

3 – The technology is here. In the early days of VOIP chronically dropped phone calls and sounding like your calling from Mars were the norm. Over the last few years bandwith has increased to a rate where businesses can operate several applications, including VOIP, over their internet connections without losing quality. Quality of Service technology, which gives VOIP and streaming video priority over data transmission has also paved the way to superior Voice over Internet phone calls.

4 – Hosted PBX. Traditional PBX (Private Branch Exchange) systems were usually reserved for big business as it is very expensive to set up. You also need someone with IT experience to manage it. With a Hosted PBX, the entire system is hosted on a remote server, where you, or your service provider, can manage it remotely. All of this can be done at a fraction of the cost of a traditional PBX system while giving small and home based businesses the professional image they need to compete with the big boys.

5 – It’s coming anyway, whether your ready for it or not.

Traditional phone services are going the way of the dinosaur. High fees, long term contracts and poor customer service has been the hallmark of traditional phone companies for a very long time. VOIP and Hosted PBX plans offer the small business owner lower telecom costs, more productivity and a chance to take their customer service to the next level. There are dozens of VOIP providers to choose from, the important thing is to educate yourself on this technology and seek out a vendor who can provide the proper support and consultation for a seemless transition.

By: Gary Shouldis

Ways to Use VoIP Technology

admin — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:09:00 +0000

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, uses your broadband internet connection to place phone calls. By converting your voice (or analog) signal into a digital signal, this makes for a more efficient way to talk on the phone and can save you money.

There are three ways you can use VoIP. You can either connect using your regular phone and an adapter, a special internet phone, or download software and use your computer. Here are the methods, in greater detail:

Using your home phone. If you would like to switch from your regular phone line to VoIP, many people opt to continue using their home phone. To do this, you must use an analog telephone adapter, or ATA. This device converts the analog signal (your voice) to a digital signal. Once the signal is converted, it goes through the internet connection. When shopping for a service provider, ask them if they include this adapter with their packages. Most do.

Connect using an IP phone. When using a special IP phone, you don’t need a separate ATA. Everything you need to use your broadband internet connection as your telephone service is included with the hardware. Instead of using a regular phone jack and connector, it uses an Ethernet connection to plug into your router.

Connect using your computer. If your computer has speakers, microphone, a sound card, and a high speed internet connection you can use your computer for VoIP. Companies offer free or low cost software downloads which allows you to use your computer to make phone calls. Using this method is either free, costing only the price of your internet connection, or nearly free. Earthlink’s Vling software is both free to download and free to use. The only hitch is that you can only talk with other Vling users.

By: Michael Bell

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 Carriers Bring You The Hottest New Technology In Telecom – VoIP

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:29:50 +0000

Understanding the new technology which has the power to not just touch your life but also to empower you and your business is extremely essential if you want to be the winner in the ongoing rat race. Telecommunication sector has come up with one such service which has changed the entire structure of telephony communication. Long gone are the days when there would be endless long white colored cables moving around your house to provide you with telephone service. VoIP call termination service has become a crucial link that interconnects you with the rest of the world through high speed Internet connection.

VoIP service converts the voice signal into small digital packets and transmits it over the Internet; much like the way your emails and other data like video et cetera is send via world wide web. VoIP service is taken to the end users through a number of channels called VoIP carriers. Voice over IP wholesale providers and VoIP resellers procure minutes from the Voip service providers of this technology and then the minutes are finally taken to the end customers.

One of the key reasons of its fast spreading popularity is that it helps you to curb your telephony expenditure by helping you save almost half of what you spend on your telephone calls as of present. The savings would in turn by humongous. Big bucks saved!

Another benefit of this service is that a VoIP carrier can assist you in sending voice, data and video through a single network namely the internet. This enables optimum utilisation of a network thereby increasing the efficiency of service. Increased efficiency translates into escalated productivity of a business house.

So a business house won’t just save money but its overall productivity too would be increased. Additionally an established voice over IP carrier can help you integrate this cheap telephony along with your existing communication structure with much ease.

By: Kristen Kiya

New Technology With VoIP Toll Free Numbers

admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:02:25 +0000

When Alexander Graham Bell first created the telephone, I’m sure he never anticipated how far telephone service would progress. I’m sure 800 numbers were never part of the equation and VoIP toll free numbers wasn’t even a thought. The 1st generation 800 numbers began in 1967, as an alternative to collect calls. They created the service in hopes of reducing the need for paid operators. In the 21st century we’ve moved from typical phone service to VoIP services. Since the creation of the internet new technology has improved tenfold. Consumers now have an option to choose which service they would like to utilize.

VoIP is a new technology revolutionizing the world of communications. They developed the technology to allow consumers to receive and place calls over the internet, instead of using your typical phone service. The service even provides VoIP toll free numbers for businesses. The technology provides away to drastically reduce cost by helping to lower your overhead. You’ll be able to call someone half way around the world without paying the high cost of long distance. While cutting cost is paramount, the system also provides a communication experience with a richer and nicer tone. The system comes with more enhanced features and extended possibilities that your plain old telephone system (POTS). Some of the enhanced features let your phone system interact with your computer; i.e. enabling the VoIP user to receive phone messages via email. You’ll be able to receive your home voice mail via email. If you can access your email remotely, you’ll be able to receive all of your messages in one location.

Installing a VoIP line is simple as long as you have a computer, internet connection, a sound card, speakers and a microphone. Once you’ve chosen a VoIP company and purchased a program you will be given a phone number. If you are using the number for business purposes you may want to research the possibilities of ordering a VoIP toll free number. This will enable your customers and/or business partners to contact you without having to incur long distance charges. Even though the call will come over you internet system, it will not interfere with your ability to use you computer. You will have full access to all of your computer programs and files. After using your VoIP system your will never want to go back to using your standard phone line again.

By: Ruth Campbell

VOIP Technology – the Next Step in Phone Industry

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:52:13 +0000

Most likely, voip will replace telephone service in the near future. VOIP is becoming very reliable and thus, receiving acceptance. Phone companies are already taking advantage of the technology to provide inexpensive long distance rates.

Voip generally has low costs, which is one big indicator of its growing popularity. You can sign up with a voip service provider for a monthly fee and get unlimited calls within a specified geographic area. There are some voip services in the United States that allow connections for no extra charge.

There is another benefit of having voip as opposed to a regular form, and this comes in the form of portability. You can make and receive phone calls wherever there is a broadband connection by simply signing in to your voip account.

When you are traveling, you simply pack a headset or Internet phone. Internet phones are small and light enough to take anywhere. When you sign up with a voip service provider, the Internet phone or adaptor used by that service is assigned a unique number. This ‘phone number’ remains valid, even if your voip service is in San Diego and you are connected to the Internet in Spain. When plugged into a broadband connection, anywhere in the world, you can make and receive calls as though you were at home.

Call forwarding, call waiting, voicemail, caller ID and 3way-calling, are included with Internet telephone at no extra charge. While you are talking on the phone, you can send pictures and documents at the same time.

Although there are many attributes to a voip phone, there are also some things to consider that could fall on the negative spectrum. For one, services are not useful in emergencies. Traditional phone equipment can trace the locations of calls. Emergency calls are diverted to the nearest call center where the operator can identify your location, in the event you can’t talk. With voip, there is no way currently to determine where Internet calls are originating.

Standard phone service continues by the current supplied through the phone line during a blackout. This isn’t possible with Internet phones. When the power goes, there goes voip service. Battery backups and power generators that provide electricity are solutions to the problem.

In addition, you should keep in mind that voip has sound quality and reliability problems. Data sent across the Internet usually arrives at its destination scrambled. E-mail and documents can be reassembled in the correct order when it arrives. Voice data also arrives scrambled, but it’s more complicated because of the real-time nature of VOIP. Some data packets may have to be dropped when they don’t arrive in time, in order to make voice connections with the least delay. Distance and speed of the connection determine the amount of data lost. Some networks receive more traffic and thus are more likely to cause audio dropouts.

By: Groshan Fabiola