VoIP technology has resulted in serious changes in the way we communicate with each other. It has succeeded in integrating both voice and data and utilizing the Internet for communication as well. Telecommunication is continually evolving and as people we can only continue to benefit from this evolution. Internet based phones will be the telephony service of the future but are its advantages being overemphasized? All things may not be as they seem.
VoIP has a great number of benefits and advantages. The only requirement that VoIP has is that you use a broadband DSL or cable connection. Provided you have this sort of connection, you can easily use Voice over IP. If you use yours through a PC-to-PC connection calls are usually free just as long as the person you are calling has VoIP as well, other than this most VoIP providers tend to offer unlimited calling plans for calls made outside a certain geographical area for a flat monthly fee. Traditional telephone services are much costlier than internet phones. This technology also offers additional services such as call forwarding and caller id, free of charge.
One other benefit of the integration of voice and data is that the person needs only a single system. It makes it easy to install and save money as well. Each phone is identified by a single IP address regardless of wherever it is plugged into. This makes it easy to move from one place to another or to add it to other networks as well.
These VoIP phones may also be utilized anywhere just as long as they have been connected to an IP network. This assists a lot with telecommuting and international offices as well, saving companies and individuals a lot of money. These devices also tend to be light and very easy to carry.
Regardless of these numerous benefits, there are disadvantages. The biggest disadvantage would be that VoIP is run by a lot of power. If a power outage occurs all voice communications cease, unlike the traditional telephone service which can still be made use of if there is no electricity.
Problems also exist with the calling of 911 emergency numbers. When you usually make a 911 call it is traced back to the sender and sent to the nearest 911 communication center in the area. However with VoIP these calls cannot be traced back to a particular location and cannot lead rescuers to find you.
Voice quality with internet telephony is generally efficient but the use of cable broadband could mean poorer qualities. This is because the data is broken down in order to be transmitted and the delay or a packet of data will sometimes mean that it needs to be dropped. This then results in silent periods.
Phone equipment may also need to be updated since voice over IP only tends to work with newer phone versions. Depending on the number of phones that need to be replaced, this could a substantial expense.
VoIP also has some minor annoyances that have to be sorted out but the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages. From all evident aspects this alternative telephone technology is the phone of the future but the future may already have arrived for all we know.
By: Darren Williger
Posts Tagged ‘Telephony Service’
Advantages and Disadvantages of VoIP
February 22nd, 2010Growing Prospects for Those Utilising VoIP
January 14th, 2010
Gone are the days when communicating with your client from another part of the world would cost your a fortune, making you keep glancing at your watch nervously as minutes would pass by. With technology moving with the speed of light and thousands of engineers working constantly to improve it, communicating has become cheaper without losing out on the quality aspect of it. IP telephony is the reason behind it.
VoIP or voice over Internet protocol has impacted the communication model around the world. Staying in touch with your clients round the clock throughout the year has become possible with the help of this technology, and that too without causing your phone bill to shoot up at the speed of a lighting star!
VoIP telephony is perhaps one of the few technologies that is beneficial to everyone, be it corporates or residentials. VoIP telephony, business solutions and wholesale carrier services are offered by voice over IP service providers. Their clientage mainly revolves around PC to PC service companies, call back service companies, PC to phone service companies, call shops, calling card providers and IP phone providers.
Each of these organisations can benefit from the use of VoIP. For instance, ISP and ITSP’s can include voice over Internet protocol telephony services in their service package, thereby enhancing their product arena. This would be a great way to attract residentials, since most of the people have friends and relatives overseas.
Similarly, call shops can utilise voice over IP telephony service for call transmission. This will result in reduction of call cost, in turn helping to induce more customers.
This way all these sectors can use VoIP for expanding their business, resulting in higher profit margin.
A good service provider would offer best rates ensuring ease of integration along with providing proper training that is required to understand the technology and to utilise it in the best possible way, so as to attract maximum clients.
Along with this, some voip service providers give wholesalers and resellers the freedom to resell their services at rates as desired by them without any interference from the side of provider, unlike those who offer a certain commission on per minute that is sold by the wholesale carrier service providers and resellers. This offers greater freedom of operation, not to mention higher profit to the wholesalers and resellers.
VoIP being the most flexible and easily adaptable technology with a number of benefits along with it, one can experiment it in different avenues to grow with it.
By: Kristen Kiya
