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VoIP in Different Countries

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:40:05 +0000

The popularity of VoIP is grows rapidly. Voice over Internet protocol is changing the existence of conventional phones. Many PSTN or Public Switch Telephone Network is switching their phone to Voice over Internet Protocol. It makes the use of VoIP is increasing significantly. There are different legal issues coming from different countries regarding to this growth technology of mass telecommunication services.

In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission is requiring all interconnected VoIP service. The aim is to comply with traditional telecommunication services and providers. VoIP in the U.S. is required the support providers to the local number portability. The growth of this technology in U.S. is very rapid. It is because many people switching their use of PSTN and conventional phone service to it, even though VoIP is not covering the emergency phone service, such as 911 services.

On the contrary with the growth in U.S., in India and Guyana, VoIP is being prohibited. The government does not allow this technology is being use in the country. The India government is restricting the use of this technology only for the retail commercial sales only and it is only for the long distance service. In Ethiopia, it will be assuming as criminal offense if using Voice over IP. It is because the Ethiopia government is monopolized the service of telecommunication.

Japan is known as the country with high technological influence. All telephone lines are covering with the VoIP technology. Moreover, the IP telephony was being signed as the telephone numbers since 2003. Later, this IP telephony is covering the service of video phone or video conferencing services. Responding to several complaints, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan is regulating the IP telephony over Japan because telecommunication is very important in people live.

By: Dita Nadia

The Different Stages That Lead to VoIP Service

admin — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 01:46:44 +0000

VoIP service is an ideal means of sending telephone calls over IP networks. The Voice over IP works on the principle of converting analog signals to small packets of digital data and then sending them over a broadband internet connection that ultimately connects the users with the service providers. There are several advantages of using this service. The main reason why people acquire this connection is quite straightforward; the expenses incurred while making long distance calls using such a service is low as compared to the traditional phone line connections.

As VoIP service is based on the transfer of digital data, so the service provider can actually do a lot with this technology. Among the most prominent of the services that a service provider can provide are storing of incoming voice mails in the mailbox, sending of email attachments and 3 way calling. Let us consider a scenario in which the user is busy and wants not to be disturbed by any telephone calls. In such situations, the incoming calls can be stored in the voice mail of the subscribers. A person can also send a voice mail as an email attachment which can be accessed on a computer. Then there are plans where up to three people can involve themselves in conference calling. In fact, calling through Voice over IP is far from restricted. The service allows the user to talk to the entire family in one call. Then there are also the options of sending images, videos and voice to people with whom a person is conferencing.

The internet does not differentiate between calls made to a person living next door from calls to people living in another part of the world. The call charges remain the same; such is the benevolence of the VoIP phone service. It is the benefit in price rates that makes people opt for this service in the first place. Moreover the technology is simple and one only requires some simple tools to access the service. An Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) is provided by the VoIP service provider. This tool helps to convert analog voice to digital samples by use of Analog to Digital Converter. These digital samples are then compressed by the digital signal processors (DSPs). The DSPs make use of codecs for compression and eventually segment ‘voice signals’ to frames that are then stored as ‘voice packets’. The final process involves transfer of these packets in compliance with Voice Communication Protocol or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

When these packets arrive at their destination, they have to be decoded; the entire process is carrier out, albeit in a reverse order. The IP packets are decapsulated in compressed data forms. These data are then decompressed to retrieve the original data making use of the same codec that was initially used to perform the compression. The data is then sent through a digital to analog converter that converts it to the original analog voice format for the listener to hear the voice distinctly. So, VoIP service is actually based on a very simple format but requires fast internet service to ensure an effective and soothing calling experience. This becomes all the more important in the context of business VoIP service, wherein the quality of calls becomes a yardstick in determining the expertise of a particular organization.

By: Kristen Kiya

VoIP is Here to Stay

admin — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:04:32 +0000

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

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

Growth of Business with VoIP

admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:41:16 +0000

Competition is the key word driving businesses the world over. And in the current context, the competition is increasingly becoming more and more intense. Business houses are doing all that it takes to emerge ahead of others. Most of them are employing the latest and the best in technology to enhance their profit margins and reduce their infrastructural costs. VoIP, for one, is increasingly being used to streamline communications within several organizational contexts. The importance of VoIP business services can be understood in this context.

Voice over IP (also know as VoIP) came forward as a solution of telecommunication whereby it is possible for people to make low cost calls. As voice over IP works on the principle of transferring digital voice over the Internet, it thus paves the way for wireless transmission of data packets in contrast to the traditional means of telephony where long wires are required to complete the connection.

This has led to a cost effective way of achieving telephony services. The technology has ushered in a new revolution in business with VoIP business services. Now, it has become possible for people to go for existing broadband connections and start availing voice call along with other facilities such as video chats and recordings of a conversation. The installation of this technology is simple; and this is enhanced by the technical expertise of service providers.

These calls are not restricted to any particular country or nation. It means that one can make calls to a person living in the same country or to in a different Nation at the same tariff rate. The VoIP service does not recognize national or continental barriers. All this technology does is that it converts “voice” to digital packets and sends them over the Internet. The receiver on the other end gets the calls after it has been reconverted to analog form from digital packets. Moreover, the technology is feature-rich with options such as auto-attendant, advanced call forwarding, integrated fax support and outlook options.

It can be installed very easily with certain extra gadgets such as Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) and Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC). There is a central office(CO) that determines the voice paths. Moreover, with the presence of wholesalers and resellers, the VoIP phone service sees no boundaries and brings the services to people around the globe. The carriers at the lower tiers lease services from the ones at a higher tier and resell them to their targeted customers. Thus, call termination to international gateways is a reality with the Voice over IP. It is this phenomenon of acceding to international calls that has led to the flourishing of the business VoIP service. Businesses have really seen a new light with the coming of VoIP service. Call centers have their foundation stone laid on such services.

The service providers have improved upon the VoIP business plans and made it suitable for a lot of organizations. There is no doubt about the fact that the providers are offering a platform that is simple and easy for their customers to carry forward an interaction, improve upon a business team’s efficiency and also overcome any frustration of customers. This has really led to the growth of organizations that completely rely on this high-end technology for their day to day business. The VoIP services are thus a unique means of achieving that which was never possible before.

By: Kristen Kiya

Common Questions About VoIP

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:41:25 +0000

Unless you live in a bubble, you have probably been hearing alot of buzz lately about something called Voice Over IP (VoIP). Perhaps you have heard that you can use VoIP to get cheap or free long distance calling, even Internationally. The good news is that this is true!

VoIP, which stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol is an exciting synergy between computers and telephony, but don’t let that scare you. VoIP is just as easy to use as any ordinary telephone. So, you have heard the buzz and perhaps you are curious about taking the plunge and getting set up with VoIP service. Being so new, VoIP is still somewhat shrouded in mystery. Help is here! In this article we will answer several common questions most people have about VoIP Service and help clear up the confusion about the technology and how it can work for you.

What Exactly is VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol)?
VoIP is a new technology that makes use of your broadband connection to route your telephone calls over the internet, rather than using the traditional analog telephone lines. This has proven to be a very efficient and cost effective way to place phone calls to anywhere in the world.

Who Can I call?
This depends upon your service provider. There are a few different flavors of Voice Over IP Service. Most of the larger VoIP service providers you see advertised to the consumer market (such as Vonage, BlueSky, etc..) work just like your existing phone and enable you to call any phone, anywhere.

What’s It Going To Cost?
The cost for this service varies depending on the provider and the service plan you select. Currently, most service providers have plans that cost in the $10 – $25 monthly, which is considerably cheaper than ordinary phone service. Keep in mind that this service includes long distance calls. Usually, you can choose from several plans that vary in cost depending on the level of usage you desire. Most companies also offer an unlimited plan that includes unlimited long distance calls.

You will also be plesantly surprised to find that many services such as caller id, call forwarding, call waiting, three way calling, and even voice mail features often come standard with most VoIP plans. Another great benefit is that as it currently stands (in January 2006), the Government does not apply a tax to your VoIP service, unlike the additional taxes and fees that are applied to your standard phone bill. This can amount to a substantial savings alone, but this may only be a temporary benefit. As VoIP gains in popularity, it is more than likely that the Government will find a way to tax that as well.

Do I Need “Special Stuff”?

This depends on the provider, once again. One thing that you must have is an always on broadband internet connection. This means DSL or Cable Internet, for home users. Depending on whom you get service with, you will likely have to connect just regular phone to an adapter, or maybe purchase a special phone to use with the service. Check for specials before you sign up, sometimes the equipment is given away for free to encourage you to sign up. Regardless, the investment in hardware for home users of VoIP is very minimal, if it costs you at all.

Can I call 911?

You need to check with the provider to ensure that they do indeed provide this functionality. That said, in May 2005, the US Government ordered all interconnected VoIP Providers to provide 911 functionality to their subscribers.

Sounds… Too Good, What’s the Catch?

Well, there is a minor catch which is that if your internet goes out, so does your phone. This isn’t usually too big of a problem, however as most modern broadband ISPs do a great job of maintaining reliable service.

Where Do I Find VoIP Providers?

Usually, it is not important that you find a local provider just as long as the provider you choose is based in the same country. Therefore, the internet is a very valuable resource for finding and comparing VoIP providers.

Which one Do I choose?

The VoIP provider that you choose is a personal choice, as they all tend to work slightly differently. What sounds the most feasible for your setup and usage requirements is the best choice for you. Do keep in mind that this is a rapidly maturing technology and that changes are occurring all the time. You will want to choose a company that you feel will be able to provide you reliable service in the future.

By: Amber Lowery

The New VoIP Service

admin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:17:13 +0000

VoIP is the recent revolution in voice based processes. With Voice over IP, you can make calls at ease over broadband Internet connections. The VoIP services also vary in their nature. Some of these services allow you to make calls to other people using broadband connections. While others offer you the scope for making calls to anyone with a telephone number, which could be local, mobile or international. This new and innovative technology can be used for making calls to a computers as well as traditional phones.

Like with all other services, the services pertaining to VoIP also faces competition from certain quarters. However, the fact that it is able to hold its own despite the intense competition goes to show the strength of the underlying technology. And there are several merits that can be attributed to this service.

Unlike the cable network connection, the VoIP services can be availed without any extra wires. A broadband internet connection is all that is required in many instances. And the best part is often the optimized “voice quality” that can be attributed to the broad bandwidth of the network connections. Such connections are also reliable as users know what bills they have to pay at the end of the month. So, that adds to the reliability of this latest technology. There are also other options that Voice over IP offers. These are facilities such as call waiting, visual voicemail, caller ID and even weather alerts. Then there may be free call to European countries.

Many a times, the VoIP service also comes with free software. Potential users can make the most of these software options to make no-cost voice calls to any person in the world. The VoIP phone service can be accessed in a variety of ways. There are packages meant exclusively for residential and business lines. You can also remain hassle free by pre-paying for the entire year. It is a one-stop solution for everything as it offers access points, local phone numbers and feature rich services and so things become very simple. With the VoIP service providers having units almost everywhere, accessing these services become quite easy. Moreover, these services are easy to set up and save a lot of your money. As a matter of fact, a VoIP phone service provides more features as compared to most other phone services.

VoIP started off as a computer to computer communication system and later developed to the telephone to telephone service. The free structure also differs. There may be plans such as 500 calling minutes which means that beyond 500 minutes, the user is charged in per minute rates. This per minute rate differs for local and international calls. Calling with VoIP also becomes very fast. Features like Voicemail, Caller ID, speed dial, 3-way calling make all that possible. Then there are also other interesting services. The service providers transfer their existing telephone numbers to their service choosing an area code that is different from the one that you live in. This enables you to access internet connection using a portable telephone adapter anywhere you go.

The VoIP phone service is also easy to install and setup. For any such service, the pre-requisite is that there is a high speed internet connection. For services that involve computer to computer connection, special software is required. For telephone to telephone service, only a telephone adapter is required. So, VoIP services are an inexpensive and functional technology that is an alternative to the traditional analog telephone services.

So, now with VoIP, the dream of wireless telephony is realised. Voice over IP can be accessed either from a personal PC or a standard telephone connected to a special adapter. Nowadays there are many VoIP service providers in UK. The difference lays in the rates that each of these service providers charge for in case of long-distance or overseas calls. Most of the service providers offer call forwarding, call waiting and call display in their monthly bills. So, it is left upon you to choose a plan that would be the most economical for you.

By: Kristen Kiya

German VoIP Ban to Be Lifted

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:29:03 +0000

It looks as though German telecommunications company T-Mobile/Deutsche Telekom is likely to lift their ban of VoIP (Voice Over IP address). They had banned use of the technology and received a court order preventing customers from using it over their network.

T-Mobile claims that there are two main reasons for this VoIP ban. The first is that the high traffic that can be generated by VoIP would hinder their network and prevent their other users from the high quality service they would expect. The second is that if the Skype service, for example, didn’t work then it would look as though T-Mobile is responsible for these issues. Some have claimed, though, that they are just worried that they will loose revenue if cheaper VoIP services can be used on their networks by their customers.

This ban imposed by T-Mobile looks set to be lifted. However, they are considering a surcharge for the use VoIP. Reports suggest that there will be a EUR9.95 charge for any customers wishing to use VoIP over their network. The company say that this surcharge will fund the investment that would be required for the network to work efficiently with the extra VoIP usage. They say it is not fair for their customers who do not use VoIP to have to pay more on their bills to pay for the improvements. They have been accused, though, of just trying to make up for their losses. If their customers are using a cheaper VoIP service then they will inevitably loose revenue, and this EUR9.95 a month may be a way of making up the difference.

Germany isn’t the only place where a potential VoIP ban has been talked about. In the United Arab Emirates, where many of the biggest telecoms companies are linked to the government, the have been worried about how VoIP might effect profits. In Russia a lobby is attempting to get either a full or partial VoIP ban within the country, on the grounds of security and that Russian companies will be unable to compete with foreign VoIP operators. This all shows that many companies are running scared of VoIP; they are concerned that the cost savings that can be made with VoIP will entice customers to switch to these services. The costs savings with VoIP can be significant, as running the technology is not as costly. The quality is also getting better, meaning that more people are considering it as a viable option.

Questions could be raised as to the fairness of VoIP being banned in such ways. Is it fair competition that potentially better services for customers should be banned to protect certain businesses? At the same time, some businesses may argue that they are not competing on a level playing field, as the VoIP providers are able to offer a cheaper service than they are. Questions should be asked as to whether this should be a matter for the courts, or whether all businesses should be fighting it out to produce the best service, in terms of price and quality.

A lifting of the ban in Germany would suggest that eventually VoIP will prevail and this could have a huge impact on the telecommunications industry.

By: Andrew Marshall

Reducing Costs – VOIP – Can it Really Save You Money?

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:05:33 +0000

Voice Over IP is often cited as a cost-saving technology. But will it really save you money?

What is it?

VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a protocol used to make voice conversations over your organisation’s private data networks and internet connections.

How does it work?

VOIP services convert your voice into a digital signal that travels over the Internet or network as data. At the destination it is converted back to an analogue signal for use with traditional telephony services.

Ready For VOIP?

For organisations with multiple offices, whether it be in the same town or a different country, the answer is ‘Yes’.

How much do you currently spend on calls between your own offices? Using IP handsets or by linking your communication platforms to each other can offer considerable savings. Other scenarios that would indicate benefits from moving to VOIP include:

- Voice recording. If you are required to record voice conversations, VOIP together with a digital recording system is a very cost-effective and flexible solution .

- Remote office reception. Due to the flexibility of VOIP systems, remote office reception provision is easy and cost-effective.

- Re-cabling your building. Eliminating the cost of renewing your voice cabling – and just re-cabling the data network – can be justification for a VOIP deployment.

However, if you are a more centralised organisation VOIP may well not be for you. Where your office to office calls are minimal, or non-existent, the pure cost argument for VOIP will fail.

By: Annabelle Ross

Voice Over IP Phone Service

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:07:23 +0000

The possibilities of Voip are endless even though we are still in the very preliminary phase of discovering how Internet telephony will change our lives. It primarily allows you to call over the Internet, instead through the land lines, which is the way that phone calls have been made for decades since the inception of the telephone.

How does Voip work

I am sure that you know that VoIP lets you make extremely cheap phone calls. Voip or Voice Over IP is a new technology that was discovered with the Internet and perfected over time.

What do you need to call with Voip

All you need is a fast Internet connection and headset or a microphone and a speaker.

Internet telephony makes life a whole lot comfortable not only for business people. It is no more necessary to have an answer service or a secretary while you are out of office. Only install a soft-phone or a software phone onto your laptop and get all of your calls directly through your laptop with Voice over IP.

VoIP is a mobile technology – Students, chat with your parents for free!

When you’re a student and study far away from home. than get a local phone number in the city where you’re studying and make phone calls home at cheap local rates.

We live in an increasingly mobile world. Technology continues to affect us into the future. If you are considering to use the Voip technology and it all sounds confusing to you, make the change in modest steps. Sign up with one of the large companies that will connect your regular phone, through a gateway to the Internet. Once you are comfortable with this, it will just be a matter of time before you are using more complex set ups. Search the Internet to find the service which best fits to your needs. There are a many Voip related site withs Voip provider reviews.

By: Jim Francisto