To VOIP or not to VOIP- that is the question!
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Dottye Blake July 26, 2007
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Dottye Blake |
Dottye is an Educational Consultant and an Internet Marketer.
Please visit Please visit VOIP Made Easy http://www.computingninternet.com/2817 |
Dottye Blake
has written 1 articles for WebKnowHow. |
View all articles by Dottye Blake... |
I used to love the TV commericals that Vonage, a well-known provider
of VOIP or Voice over Internet Protocol telephone service. My favorite
one was the one with the rocket that went berserk and flew all over,
with people dashing around madly to get out of the way. I watched the
wayward rocket totally mesmerized, and then started laughing so hard
when the Vonage theme music started playing that I almost fell off the
couch! I liked the one where the photographer fell into the fountain,
too. I wish Vonage would bring those commercials back- the ones that
they show now are so dull in comparison. Most of these ads try to sell
their calling services based on how much cheaper they are in comparison
to traditional telephoning plans. They also discuss quality and
clearness of telephone calls. If you are smart, you have, in all
probability, questioned how much of this is honest information and how
much is hype.
VOIP or Voice over Internet Protocol is plausibly one of the most
radical advances in the telecom industry. It permits you to speak to
another person on the other side of the world by employing a digital
network connection precisely the same way that you get e-mail or surf
internet sites. Due to the fact that your voice is changed into a
digital signal, it can be transmitted around the block, on the other
side of the country, or around the world for exactly the same price.
For VOIP telephone calls, the idea of long distance does not exist. A
single basic benefit is its low-price. If you have a fast Internet
connection (DSL or cable), you can make computer-to-computer telephone
calls anyplace on the globe FREE. Computer-to-phone telephone calls
normally have a fee, but are usually still less expensive than typical
telephone service. Perks like call forwarding, call waiting, voicemail,
caller ID and 3way-calling, are packaged with VOIP telephone service at
no additional fee. At the same time you are speaking on the telephone,
you can transmit graphics and documents.
VOIP telephoning plans are available in two types; bulk rate pricing
and unlimited calling. Bulk rate pricing permits you to receive a
monthly ration of minutes to telephone anyone you desire (similar to
your cellular telephone ). If you exceed your monthly limit you will
receive overage fees. Unlimited calling is precisely the way it is
meant- you have no cap on the number of telephone calls you can dial.
Limitless telephoning packages start at $35 a month depending on the
VOIP service supplier and the extra perks included with your plan.
Unless you are making many telephone calls or the limitless telephoning
plan is very cheap, bulk rate pricing is normally a more beneficial
choice.
Like cellular telephones, VOIP companies permit you to “port” or
bring your existing phone number with you into their company. This is
very handy since you will not need to advise your friends and family
that you have changed your telephone number. Presently there is no law
that VOIP suppliers must permit you to take your number with you if you
are not satisfied or wish to switch companies. A few of them will,
others will bill you an extra charge, and some will refuse to cooperate
with your wish. Make sure, then, to take a look at this prior to
putting your signature on any contracts.
Another benefit is its flexibility. You can make and get telephone
calls as long as you have access to a broadband connection by just
logging in to your VOIP account. Because of this factor, using VOIP is
as easy as sending e-mail. While you are vacationing, you just take a
headset or Internet phone with you; then you can speak to family or
colleagues virtually for free.
Phone-to-phone VOIP is also portable. VOIP telephones are
pocket-sized and light enough to take anyplace. Once you contract with
a VOIP company , the Internet phone or adapter employed by that company
is given a unique identification number. This 'phone number' stays
valid, even if your VOIP company is in New York and you're connected to
the Internet in Tokyo. While connected to a broadband connection,
anyplace on the planet, you can make and receive telephone calls just
like you were sitting in your own living room .
There are a few bugs that still make a negative impression with VOIP
being more popular with the public. Lack of uninterrupted telephone
service during power failures and problems with 911 emergency calling
make up the 2 largest stumbling blocks.
Traditional telephone service keeps going due to the electric
current running through the phone line at the time of a blackout. This
is not possible with VOIP telephones. At the same time that the
electricity fails, there goes VOIP service. Battery backups and
electric generators that furnish power are the present-day answers to
this dilemna.
A huge headache involves emergency 911 telephone calls. VOIP
services usually aren't useful in emergencies. Traditional telephone
gear can trace the locations of telephone calls. Emergency calls are
channeled to the closest call center where the operator can distinguish
your location, in case you are unable to talk. With VOIP, at this time
there is no way to figure out the location from which Internet calls
are coming. There is an emerging standard called e911 however, which is
trying to resolve this restriction.
VOIP also has voice quality and reliability issues. Data sent
through the Internet normally reaches its destination scrambled. E-mail
and text files can be reassembled in the proper order when it arrives.
Voice data also comes in scrambled, but it's more difficult due to the
real-time nature of VOIP. Many data bundles may have to be unloaded
when they don't make it in time, in order to make voice connections
with the smallest time lag. This can create quick silences in the audio
flow.
Space and speed of the connection specify the quantity of data
dropped. Many networks get more traffic and therefore are more likely
to create audio dropouts. One way to supply superior caliber audio
connections is to produce dedicated data routes.
With the unbelievable amount of work committed to VOIP, these bad
aspects will certainly be settled withinin the next 2 years. It is
forecast that by then VOIP will be better accepted by consumers far and
wide. |