VoIP Technology » Traditional Telephone

VoIP Requirements List

admin — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 05:50:57 +0000

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP as it is commonly called, is a revolutionary technology that has created an upheaval of sorts in the domain of long distance communications. End users can now use their personal computers to talk to friends and relatives – who could be located in another part of the globe. A reliable broadband connection is used for the purpose. The need for conventional telephone lines can be done away with; low cost calling made available through IP telephony solutions is increasingly taking the place of traditional phone networks among residential as well as corporate users.

However, certain requirements need to be met for the most satisfactory use of this high-end technology. The equipment used, for one, has to be of the highest quality. Broadband connection in a computer is necessary for good audio quality, for instance. The experience can also be optimised using PC speakers and microphones.

A basic VoIP requirements list has to be in place for users to make the most of the VoIP phone services. As is well-known, the flexibility of voice over IP makes it more user-friendly as compared to traditional telephone networks. Users are able to make quite a few calls over a single connection. A stable Internet connection is all that is needed – and one can make calls from almost anywhere in the world. Innovative features include video integration, fast and efficient exchange of data files, and audio conferencing. Quite a few security features are in place; and users can be sure of security of their calls. Other functionalities found in PSTN networks are also found in IP telephony. These include caller ID, automatic redialing and call forwarding. And with the latest trends in technology, it has become easy to make VoIP enabled calls through mobile devices as well.

VoIP security is not that difficult to implement. Quite a few voice over IP solutions are supported through encryption which make them very much reliable and user friendly. Security is also implemented through patented audio codecs and compression techniques.

Moreover, one should ensure that the broadband connection through which the calls are routed are not congested. This rules out voice drop-outs and long delays.

One can say that the VoIP phone is perfect for quite a few people – from frequent travelers, bored housewives to high-end professionals and busy executives. People who are not near to any fixed line phones or who are traveling the world find these solutions very much affordable and easy to use. With prepaid VoIP phone cards easily available in the market, there are no problems involved in making such calls.

However, when using VoIP products or subscribing to a VoIP service, users must make some provisions against untoward circumstances such as power failures and the services of broadband carriers going down.

By: Kristen Kiya

How Do Businesses Benefit From Having a VOIP System?

admin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 08:54:08 +0000

Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP technology is capable of cutting costs in telecommunications as well as improving the productivity of a business. Is it right for your business? Here is a look at what kinds of benefits VoIP can bring to business.

1 – VoIP service technology quality has really come a long way since its original inception. VoIP may have been extremely limited in the past, but this no longer the case. Today’s Voice over IP services have evolved significantly, allowing for you to make calls and receive calls using not only standard phones but also IP phones, which are rich in unique features. The sound quality has also vastly improved to the point where many companies have abandoned their traditional telephone systems in favor of the VoIP service.

2 – Using VoIP technology is capable of significantly reducing the costs you pay for telecommunications. The operating costs associated with VoIP services are generally quite significantly lower than when you are dealing with a traditional phone company, because the existing phone infrastructure is expensive to maintain and so are the industry regulations. VoIP providers have lower expenses and so they can charge a lot less for the services that they offer.

3 – VoIP services make your entire phone system a lot more flexible. They make it possible for you to do things which simply cannot be possible using traditional telephone technology. For example, they allow you to bring your phone system along with you since you can plug in anywhere where there is a broadband connection such as at someone’s home or in a hotel room. They also allow you to talk using your laptop, and to get your voice mail and your faxes through your e-mail. With this increase in usability, VoIP services make it possible for you to increase the productivity of your business significantly.

One thing is for sure: VoIP technology is continuing to evolve, and there are a number of compelling new features and benefits that are being developed in order to cater to small business. As an example, dramatic increases in mobility are being provided by combining VoIP services with wireless phone and PDA combinations to decrease cell phone charges while boosting functionality and productivity by a great deal. This is just one example of the exciting things that are happening in terms of VoIP service and technology advancements.

It does not matter what size your business is, VoIP technology happens to be a flexible as well as affordable technology that is capable of offering the same level of sophistication in communication tools that enterprise-size companies are using, meaning that VoIP will allow you to stand up against your competitors in terms of communications technology no matter how large or how small your own company happens to be.

By: Amy Nutt

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

Advantages and Disadvantages of VoIP

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:56:21 +0000

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

Discover the Cost Saving Features of a VoIP Solution

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:39:37 +0000

Today’s society is fast paced and demanding, communication technology combined with affordable pricing and flexibility is paramount. VoIP services are fairly new but have addressed these demands through its evolution.

Remember all the extra features that you have to pay for with your traditional phone service? Well, things have changed with the inception VoIP (voice over Internet protocol).

The reasons why a VoIP solution has become so popular today because it offers a boatload of features combined with huge savings when compared to a traditional phone service. VoIP Solution technology route telephone calls over the Internet eliminating the service that public switched telephone networks currently offer.

Essentially, most VoIP service providers offer free bundled features that virtually all traditional telephone charge for. Comparing service plans is actually quite easy. With the technology being so new each service provider offers different plans and pricing. Take time to review and study the most popular plans and services provided to make the best decision that will accommodate your needs.

Some common features include: Unlimited Minutes, Local Number Porting (LNP), Personalized Voicemail, Free In-Network Calling, Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call Transfer, Repeat Dialing, Voice Mail to Email, Call Forwarding, 3-way Calling, Call Return, Online Management & Billing, Choose Your Own Area Code, Call Waiting Disable, Do Not Disturb, Anonymous Call Blocking, Distinctive Ringing for Virtual Numbers, Virtual Phone Numbers, Enhanced 911, Works with your Cell phone features, and Toll Free Services.

Businesses can also enjoy the advantage and benefits of an inexpensive VoIP Business solution without the addition of expensive proprietary software/hardware combinations such as PBX units. Inter-office communication systems and long distance calls for an international company can amount to saving tens of thousands of dollars, if not more, in just one year.

VoIP solutions are something worth while looking into, regardless if you are trying to reduce your budget for home or business, the features and huge savings that VoIP provide huge rewards for all.

By: Roy King

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

VoIP – International Phone Calls For Businesses

admin — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:45:15 +0000

You may have heard a lot of talk recently regarding VoIP as a cheap way to place international phone calls. Using an internet connection, the communication is instituted either via your computer, or with a jack that connects to a regular handset. But is this a viable option for businesses? Definitely.

Many business owners have been programmed to believe that internet phone service is somehow less reliable than that received from a traditional telephone company. This is simply not true. Read on for some of the advantages a company can realise by utilising VoIP to make international phone calls.

New Technology

Perhaps in the early days of VoIP there were problems experienced by some callers, such as poor quality, unreliability, and a lag in connection times. Much of this has changed recently due to the advancement of technology.

In fact, today’s internet telephony service travels at a high rate of speed, dependant, of course, on your internet connection. Most businesses utilise a Broadband connection or faster, so this should not be any issue anyway.

The hardware provided by a VoIP is usually plug and play, meaning it can be taken anywhere at any time and it is very easy to use. It also prioritises the call service over other network traffic.

The quality of the call has improved greatly, as well, with a rating of at least 95% and as much as 105% better than communications travelling over copper wires. Much of this relies on the calibre of phone service provider, so take care when shopping and ensure you find a company that received high marks from customers.

Benefits

Of course the biggest benefit to a business owner is in the cost savings. Compared to a traditional land line, international phone calls placed utilising VoIP can cost up to 75% less.

The capacity is greater. With a traditional phone system, you must pay for each line used in your business and usually a PBX centre as well. With internet-based calling, you merely have to purchase the jacks and ensure that your network capacity is sufficient to handle a high volume of voice communications.

For any business that already has a substantial computer network in place and a high speed internet connection in place, the move from traditional phone service to VoIP for making international phone calls is a wise one. If you’ve tried this option before and found it unsatisfactory, it is time to revisit the idea. Today’s advanced technology means that internet-based telephony can outperform systems of the past. And the rates cannot be beat.

By: Chris Jenkinson

VOIP Technology in Call Centers

admin — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 08:38:31 +0000

To those who may be less familiar, call center technology consists of automated phone systems capable of answering incoming phone calls and performing outbound autodialing. A call center is a group of telephone agents who receive incoming calls and/or make outgoing calls. Software applications usually associated with calls centers are CRM (Customer Relationship Management) programs.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is a call center technology that allows call center to make and receive calls using the Internet instead of traditional phone lines. As a matter of fact, today, many call centers deploy VOIP technology in a bid to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency as also employ remote call center agents. Businesses worldwide have built VOIP into their call centers, because of the scalability, and VOIP enables call centers to adapt and grow along with business and technology needs.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) technology has come to stay. It has made steady progress in replacing traditional telephone lines in most businesses and even in homes. It is the technology of the future as more and more people are enamored of the features of VOIP technology and the concomitant benefits. For many businesses, reduced cost is perhaps the most compelling reason to adopt VOIP in the office. VOIP allows organizations to set up core operations in their main office, while operatingat many locations across the globe.

Ordinarily, a VOIP is a virtual communication warehouse for marketing, and to a lesser extent, customer relationship management (CRM) functions. Using software on your workstations along with a broadband Internet connection can result in significant savings on operational costs. The telephone communications through the Internet allows the VOIP staff to initiate and respond to any number of simultaneous telemarketing calls, phone orders, and customer inquiries. Essentially, a VOIP centralizes telemarketing, ordering and customer service functions for various manufacturing and service companies.

There are two different choices – one is to make your current equipment -enabled. The other is to build up a new system through a separate gateway. But there are greater gains in having VOIP technology native to your existing system. You can use your current equipment by adding a VOIP interface board or similar bridging device to your current system configuration. There are many manufacturers who offer these products.

While exercising this option, buy a product that is certified and capable of easy integration with your existing equipments. Please remember the vendor’s commitment to developing VOIP solutions for you is important. If you find it difficult, hire a professional consultant, who has already handled multiple VOIP deployments, to guide you through your project.

Since all telephone functions of are computerized, and since the Internet is by far more capable of handling multiple phone transmissions than a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a call center need not be unduly bothered about overburdened telephone lines. This is a huge advantage. A number of opportunities are presented once you have your call center on the VOIP technology.

By: Cyril Bird

VoIP – The Ultimate Calling Solution

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:45:08 +0000

VoIP which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol is changing the way people think about making long distance phone calls.

VoIP uses technology that can translate analog audio signal, the signal traditionally used for telephone calls, into digital data that can be transmitted over the Internet and translated back to analog at the other end, if necessary. This technology can also be used without traditional phones, bypassing the phone company (and the outrageous fees) altogether. This technology has the potential to completely revolutionize the telephone industry offering a whole range of new choices for the consumer.

It is highly possible that this technology will eventually completely replace the traditional phone system.

There are several ways to take advantage of this new technology including both pay and free services available through the Internet. Some require purchasing new equipment to make and receive phone calls with a traditional telephone and others make and receive calls through your computer using the speakers and a microphone.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods with the computer method being available for free, but requiring your computer to be on and connected to the Internet in order to make or receive calls and the traditional phone method usually requiring the purchase of additional equipment and a monthly usage fee. Even with the fee, however, in most cases VoIP would prove to be a considerable savings over the standard telephone company’s bill.

Actually, there is a good chance you are already using VoIP technology without even knowing it. Many of the big-name long distance telephone service providers are already streamlining their networks using VoIP. This technology takes advantage of sending information electronically in the form of packets instead of the traditional method of circuit switching.

By using packets the information is sent only when it is created as opposed the circuit method which leaves a circuit open for the entire duration of the phone call so that there is a constant flow of information in both directions even when only one person is talking or when nobody is talking at all. Since the packet-switching method only sends actual data as it is created there is much less information “traffic” making the whole system much more efficient.

VoIP phone plans usually include all the premium services such as call waiting, caller ID, call forwarding and three-way calling in their one low (or free) fee rather than charging extra for each of these like the regular phone companies do. This provides yet another advantage for the VoIP customer.

There are even more premium features that go beyond what a standard phone company is capable of, such as filtering calls and routing specific phone numbers to either another number or a predetermined recorded message. Imagine sending all telemarketers to a “this phone is no longer in service message.”

The only potential drawback for some customers is not having access to a high-speed Internet connection. This can pose a problem for close to 50% of Americans who are still forced to use traditional dial-up connections. For the other 50%, however, VoIP is a viable alternative to the high phone bills and lackluster service they have been getting for years. The technology is still in its infancy and its popularity is likely to skyrocket in the coming years.

By: Aaron Siegel

The VoIP Race – New Technology in Communication

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:10:57 +0000

VoIP, or Voice over IP, communications and service providers are situated an industry with a furious growth rate and positive trends, paving the future for business, corporate, social and scientific communication. VoIP usage in the USA is expected to have soared from just over one billion Dollars in revenue in 2004 to almost twenty billion Dollars by 2009. VoIP services are relatively new to the market prompting an incredible boost in its usage and sales. Although it would seem that the change from regular phones to VoIP phones and services is predominant in large enterprises and the small to medium enterprises, as well as domestic settings are sticking with the traditional telephone services available, VoIP is still taking over the world.

The VoIP Race
With the influx of demand on VoIP services, communication carriers and suppliers are taking up the trend and converting to these services, offering customers the best in VoIP technology whilst being teamed with an existing carrier. However, an issue affecting the service providers’ business is the usage of VoIP. Many companies are installing it simply for the extra benefits and complex applications such as voice mail and relying on traditional telephones as means for direct communications instead of converting their entire PBX to VoIP. Most people are happy with regular telephones and high bills – something new is somewhat frightening to them. With these perceptions and “fears” of new technology such as VoIP, the industry will not progress as quickly as it should.

Due to the race for better prices, more features and lowest costs, the marketing features surrounding VoIP companies comes at quite a price, leading fees to increase. The cycle is a vicious one and the only provider able to combat this problem is the provider who focuses on their features being better than the rest. Small business enterprises will benefit greatly from the better features available from competing companies.

Times are a-changing!
The fearful perception of VoIP is a huge downfall for businesses still relying on old methods. The out dated methods of communication simply do not offer the advantages a VoIP PBX can. Many small businesses are fearful of moving to this technology because the technology is advanced and relatively unknown to employees and leaders of the companies. However, VoIP providers today have managed to escape the confusion and fear labelled to their services through clever changes. For example, some providers allow calls to be made through the normal phones over PSTN until clients are ready to receive calls using VoIP.

Users and observers not “in the know” may be under the misconception that VoIP is only concerned with phone calls using the internet. VoIP is not simply “talking over the internet.” Features such as voice mail that is accessible over any phone or internet connection, Call Forwarding; CLI; Hunt Groups; Call Barring; Call Restriction; 3-way Conferencing; Music and Message on-hold email, fax, multiple connectivity, easy access to user features settings and much more.

Smart Communication
Many communication companies are catching on to the benefits of joining forces with VoIP service providers, incorporating good value for money deals whilst expanding both companies customer base. This amalgamation of companies allows cheaper calls and services to subscribers in the sphere of customers of both companies.

The VoIP generation is growing. Despite some fears from the public as to the technical side of the services, the growth of VoIP in the communications market, especially in corporations and businesses, is becoming greater and greater.

By: Rosemary Grace Brooks