I thought I’d outline some of the basics of VoIP. I use this
service myself and have sold VoIP services to my customers. What
I didn’t understand until last night is how much I assume. You
see my business is mostly web based so my customers read up on
VoIP and have a general understanding of the technology before
making a purchase.

What I came across in my conversations last night was that some
people attracted purely by the cost really don’t understand what
the trade off’s are, what is required and their level of
expectation is, in my humble opinion, to high. Now don’t get me
wrong, I’m a huge fan of VoIP. However, I understand what’s
involved, how to hook it up as well as the pros and cons of
using such a service. For me the cost factor did weigh in when
comparing the pros and cons to the cost savings. My level of
expectation was brought inline with what VoIP can offer me.

Here are some basic assumptions I was guilty of:

1. When using your broadband internet connection for your
computer and VoIP a router is necessary. 2. During a power loss
the phone doesn’t work unless there is a UPS system in place. 3.
ISP goes down, your phone line goes down. 4. Those phone jacks
in the house don’t work with VoIP. 5. The phone base plugs into
the VoIP converter/adapter box which then plugs into your
router. If you want multiple phones in multiple rooms, you will
need a cordless phone or cordless phone system. (Multiple
handsets) 6. E911 is not automatic. You need to check
availability 7. Fax machines may not work 8. There can be call
interference (echo). Voice quality is good, but not yet as
reliable as POTS lines.

Naked DSL or DSL without phone service is not widely available.
As such, if your broadband connection is via DSL you may not be
able to use VoIP as your primary phone service. Simply put, if
your goal is to switch to VoIP and then cancel your existing
phone service, you may loose your broadband connection as well.

During my conversation last night their assumptions were much
different than mine. Their assumptions were

1. Existing phone jacks will still work with VoIP 2. My corded
phone will still work during a power outage just like they do
now. 3. I can send/receive faxes without any issue 4. I can plug
my VoIP into any room I want 5. 911 service is automatic.
Everyone has this. 6. The quality of calls is as good if not
better than POTS lines because after all it’s coming through the
internet right? 7. I don’t need any extra equipment – it’s just
a phone.

After our discussion they were more educated in what VoIP can
and cannot provide for them. In the end they choose not to get
VoIP service and that’s OK. A bundled POTS package was more to
their liking and frankly fit them much better than VoIP would
have.

Yes, I am a fan of VoIP and yes I believe this technology is
here to stay. Having said that, I do not think VoIP is for
everyone. Some consider routers, cordless phone(s), checking 911
availability, etc. to be a hassle. They just want to use their
existing phone and achieve the ‘exact’ same results. Well, VoIP
is almost there, but still has a way to go. If the cost savings
can outweigh your own pros and cons by all means go for it. If
not, wait, watch and read up some more.

Ready to give it a go? Good for you, (hope to see you at our web
site). Not yet ready? That’s OK too. (Still hope to see you at
our web site for possible cost savings on your traditional POTS
line or cellular plan)

Ok, perhaps a shameless plug in that last part. Use our web
site, use someone else’s, use a library, do whatever is
necessary to educate yourself to make more informed purchasing
decisions. It’s better to be a little prepared than completely
disappointed especially with something you’ll use everyday such
as your phone service.

About the author:


href="http://www.fullservice-broadband-provider.com">FullService
Broadband provider. Our free service is possible through href="http://www.trighttech.com">Try Right Technology, Inc.
We provide unbiased and informative information on broadband and
communication products and services.

Although cable broadband internet is a whole lot faster than dialup, I usually experience a slight delay when opening a webpage. Perhaps most people don’t notice the latency associated with cable internet, but as a former DSL user it got my attention right away. I noticed a distinct difference in speed between cable and DSL, but I realized I had to live with it in order to use internet phone service in the most economical way. DSL requires a phone line, which requires telephone service – so if you want to replace your land line phone with low cost internet phone service, the only option is to use cable or T-1 for internet.

With my internet phone up and running over cable broadband, the voice quality was better than expected. I noticed no big difference between VoIP and my land line phone, but did experience “dropped” calls and “incomplete” calls periodically. This is due to the latency in my broadband connection, but since VoIP saves me over $500 a year (unlimited calling for less than $20 a month) an occasional dropped call is fine with me!

While flipping through a computer magazine, I spotted an ad for the Hawking Broadband Booster. This device is designed to eliminate the “lag” in your internet connection by monitoring the data that is coming and going and re-prioritizing the packets. It installs between your cable modem and router, and acts like a “traffic cop”, eliminating congestion by ensuring that both router and modem get nice even streams of data. In an attempt to decrease the latency with my cable modem, I decided to try out this device. Although it is a bit pricy (around $100), I figured I could always return it if it didn’t work as claimed.

The broadband booster was really easy to install (just connect two cables and restart your cable modem) and required no configuration whatsoever. The device is tiny (2″ X 4″) and weighs only an ounce or so. I noticed an immediate improvement in my internet connection, although there is still a very slight lag. In the past several weeks I have logged nearly 3000 minutes on my VoIP service and have not experienced any dropped or incomplete calls. I am very satisfied with the Hawking Broadband Booster (HBB1), and recommend it to anyone using broadband and/or internet phone service. Although I am not a gamer, the company claims it really helps with online playing as well. Many people with satellite internet cannot use VoIP due to the inconsistent satellite signal. If satellite internet is your only choice for broadband, it may be worth your while to give this little device a try.

© 2005 Debbie Jacobsen, all rights reserved
About the Author

Debbie Jacobsen is an IT professional and owner of http://www.saveonphoneservice.com – an informative website about internet phone service as well as a comparison of VoIP providers. To read more of Debbie’s articles on VoIP, please visit her blog at http://djvoip.blogspot.com.

The meshing of old analog telephone connections and href="http://www.tech-faq.com/voip.shtml">VoIP service means
that there has to be something that sort of brings the two
together so that customers don’t have to spend a lot of money to
get the new devices needed for VoIP service. A VoIP gateway acts
as a bridge between the old and the new, allowing customers to
use their same phone lines, their same phones, but still enjoy
the benefits of modern technology. A VoIP gateway is essentially
responsible for connecting your VoIP network to your public
telephone network so that you can keep using features on your
old telephone but also use the VoIP network.

The VoIP gateway aides in call detection and call origin so you
can get the calls when they come through. Live VoIP requires
that there is a gateway or bridge between the old telephone
mechanics and the new VoIP technology. This gateway will become
even easier in the future as the newer technology becomes more
common than the old. The VoIP gateway is also partially
responsible for converting the analog to a digital voice so that
voice quality remains clear and true. Without a gateway you may
not get your calls and voice conversion wouldn’t be what it is
now!

A gateway and a router are really what make it all happen so
that a consumer can take advantage of the great quality and
services that VoIP has to offer. When you sign up for VoIP
service you may get more information about the specific gateway
that your provider uses and they’ll be able to give you more
detailed and in-depth information about the technology
associated with it. The technology is so fascinating that it’s
hard not to stop and listen to all the details!

About the author:


Laura Rupert is a freelance writer who contributes to href="http://www.tech-faq.com">The Tech FAQ

Features and pricing are the two prime considerations in
selecting your VoIP provider and deriving the maximum benefit
from the product. With most VoIP users, all the features
available in a particular product will rarely if ever be used.
All leading service providers promise a range of features that
look impressive as a marketing strategy, but often do not
deliver as practical options. “Features” do not always translate
as “benefits.” Pricing is also a relative factor and is linked
to “quality” in the long run. Let us look closely at the
packages offered by three market leaders of today: Skype, Lingo,
and Vonage.

Skype has three basic usages: a PC-to-PC call, which is free
voice communication between two computer users across the world
with an Internet broadband connection; a paid SkypeOut voice
call from a Skype user to a landline/mobile phone; and a paid
SkypeIn call from a landline/mobile phone to a Skype user. For a
home requirement of chatting with family and friends, the Skype
PC-to-PC free call delivers on most promises made on the
official Skype website, including voice quality. If you are not
against being “wired” to your computer with your multimedia
speakers and headphone, this free offer is the best option in
this category.

However, if your requirement is for a full-scale voice service
that caters to PC-to-telephone and telephone-to-PC services, you
need to step up to the paid categories. SkypeOut offers a flat
global rate of ? 0.017 per minute for some of the most popular
destinations worldwide, and has specific rates for other
destinations. SkypeIn, which is still in Beta, makes it possible
for your family, friends, and business acquaintances to reach
you from a landline by dialing a number assigned to you. SkypeIn
charges are independent of your location; if you are assigned a
Chicago number but are currently in Japan, the party making the
call only pays for a call to Chicago. If you buy a Skype
number–an annual subscription will cost you ? 30 and a
quarterly subscription comes at ? 10–you also get Free Skype
Voicemail bundled in the package.

Skype’s cost plans are uncomplicated, and making a choice is
relatively simple. Compare this with Lingo’s Home, Office, and
International plans, and the corresponding plans from Vonage:

From this analysis, Lingo emerges as the service that will save
you more on your telephone bill. However, to get more out of
your VoIP, you need to look at the international pricing because
that’s where VoIP scores over a traditional connection. If you
make frequent international calls to Asia, you can take
advantage of Lingo’s Asia package. Lingo’s international rates
to individual countries are also lower than those of Vonage, but
higher than Skype. Here is a comparison of the rates for three
destinations:

Skype has the lowest call rates, but is limited in features. At
the other end of the spectrum is Vonage, which offers the most
consistent call quality and delivers on features, but is heavier
on your pocket. Although it loses out on voice quality, Lingo
has the features to match Vonage.

There are a few other features mentioned by both Lingo and
Vonage–such as Anonymous Call Rejection and Do Not Disturb in
Lingo, and Click-2-Call and Call Hunt in Vonage–but these are
more in the way of cosmetic embellishments than utility tools.

The features are many, the utility diverse. To get the most out
of your VoIP provider, you need to place the key factors of
pricing and features at both ends of a see-saw, and weigh them
with the cornerstone of quality–that will position you
enticingly in making the right choice and getting the maximum
out of your service provider.

About the author:


Hamesh Brown enjoys writing about VoIP. For more information,
see this href="http://www.voipreviewsonline.com/2005/10/comparison_ling_1.
html">comparison of Lingo, Skype and Vonage.

Voice over Internet Protocol ( href="http://www.tech-faq.com/voip.shtml">VoIP) is a new way
to talk on your phone through your broadband internet
connection. A VoIP router is needed to help you use the same
phone you have been using before your VoIP connection. If you
have voice over internet protocol available to you, you’ll need
a router to sort of make it all happen. It’s a small device that
will take a little time to get used to, but once you’ve used it
just a couple times you’ll be able to use the whole system
without a second thought.

Without a VoIP router your phone will not be able to figure out
where datagrams should go from source to destination, so
information will be lost. Routers will help control phone
traffic, controls and maintains bandwidth, and ensures a good
voice quality for each and every phone call. Basically, router
is responsible for routing all the information in and out of
your home so that you can get the services you are supposed to
get.

It’s said that because of ever expanding technology that VoIP
routers won’t be needed for much longer. With the invention of
digital telephones the need for a separate router won’t be
necessary. But, until this newer technology becomes more
widespread and cost efficient, the majority of VoIP users will
need a router to use the voice over internet protocol features.
Because of this newer technology, having VoIP service will
become easier and more accessible to everyone in the very near
future. But, don’t let the idea of a routing device scare you
off, as VoIP is very easy to use!

About the author:


Laura Rupert is a freelance writer who contributes to href="http://www.tech-faq.com">The Tech FAQ

VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is finally reaching out to thousands of average homes to offer huge savings in telephone costs. Already popular with the corporate world, VoIP, sometimes called Internet Telephony, IP telephony, or Internet phone, uses your computer’s broadband connection – not traditional phones lines – to make long distance, inter-state or local calls.

VoIP works by converting your voice into data, transmitting it over the Internet, and then converting it back into a voice stream so that it can be played on any telephone in the world – almost in the same way your computer transmits email over the Internet.

Less expensive than traditional phones, and convenient — you just use your computer or a VoIP-ready phone and a broadband Internet connection to make your calls — VoIP makes for good economic sense. Around for a decade now, VoIP has overcome teething problems to come of age, using advances in PC and IP technology to provide voice quality telephone calls at low Internet rates.

Rising Popularity
International and state-to-state calls, expensive on conventional phone systems, are available at lower prices on VoIP. Finding this cost saving and its voice quality attractive, more home users and businesses are choosing to opt for VoIP.

But, to work well, VoIP needs a good bandwidth connection, such as broadband cable or DSL. Freely accessible nowadays — 22% of Americans use broadband right now and the numbers are rising each day — analysts estimate that 50% of Americans will use VoIP in the next two to three years.

The Ins and Outs of VoIP
To use VoIP, you need a broadband connection (either cable or DSL), a regular phone or computer microphone, and a special VoIP router adaptor to connect your phone to the Internet. And, you’ll also need the services of a VoIP service provider, such as Vonage or Skype. Depending on the service you use, you can either use the telephone connected to the VoIP router, or call directly from your computer using your computer’s microphone and speaker.

Your call connects to your VoIP service provider, and they route the call to the phone number you dialed, converting the VoIP data into a plain old telephone call before reaching its destination. This is how you connect to any telephone in the world, regardless of whether the person you are calling is using VoIP or plain old telephone service.

There are a number of different companies that offer VoIP services. But make sure they provide good voice quality and reliable support, and comply with Industry Standards. Ask potential service providers about the security controls they use to ensure your data and identity is safe and not open to hackers or virus attacks. You can test several trial downloads before you choose your VoIP service provider, and you can always visit user forums on the Internet to check out the kind of problems that customers experience with these service providers.

Cost Factors
Right now, VoIP is fairly inexpensive, averaging around $15 – $65 per month. This is because the VoIP industry enjoys special tax breaks and other privileges. These privileges may be withdrawn in the future, though lobbyists are trying hard not to let that happen. In any case, VoIP is likely to become less expensive as more people turn to it in the future.

In addition, there are a number of free VoIP service providers (who usually have some paid upgraded services) that will allow you to make free VoIP calls among the users of their network. For example, if you sign up for the free Skype service, you can connect with any other Skype user and talk for free.
VoIP – the Pluses and Minuses
Apart from the ease of use, people choose VoIP because it is inexpensive, letting them “phone-trot” any wherever they want to without having to worry about the length of a call, how often you call, or the cost when the bill arrives. Additionally, with some VoIP services, there are no fixed monthly charges to pay, like a regular phone.

On the other hand, if your Internet connection is down, your Internet phone is inoperable as well. And, slow IP connections can hamper VoIP transmissions, causing problems like echoes, delayed response times or voice failure. It’s the sort of thing that happens when you find it difficult to connect to the Web, or can’t download a file, only it affects VoIP more.

Still, with the advances made in VoIP technology over the past year or so, and the growing momentum with consumers, VoIP is definitely worth looking into for your home. There’s even a site that will let you test whether your home broadband connection is ready for VoIP. Just go to www.TestYourVoIP.com, and test your home broadband connection in less than 5 minutes for free.

So take a chance and look into VoIP. You may be surprised at how much money you can save every month on phone services — and you can brag about your technical savvy to friends, co-workers, and neighbors!

Chuck Smith runs http://www.LGVoIP.com, a resource for information about the Voice over IP (VoIP) industry. Find out more about VoIP, and whether VoIP is right for you, at LG VoIP.

About the Author

None

There are many advantages of VoIP broadband phone service. Over the next couple of years phone over Internet will be the norm for most homes and businesses.

Internet Phone Benefits. More than likely you receive many VoIP phone calls in the course of a week without realizing it. This is because the phone line quality for VoIP is the same as traditional phone services. If you are considering Internet phone service, you are making a good choice. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as it is called is quickly becoming the best value for telephone service. Most companies like Sprint and AT&T are already offering VoIP within their internal networks and are starting to offer it as a complete service offering.

How VoIP Phone Calls Work and Voice Quality.

The simple answer is that your voice is digitalized and transported over the Internet as well as over the phone company’s private network using Internet Protocol (IP) service. A broadband phone call happens in real time just like on a digital TV, except you are using your broadband Internet service (DSL, Cable, or Satellite). Traditional phone services use analog, circuit technology. Because of improvements in voice quality and throughput of VoIP, small idependent carriers have already started offering VoIP to residents and businesses. Now most phone companies are using Internet phone technology over their private networks. This means that most of your calls today go over, at least in part, VoIP networks. This change in technology is a major factor in the drop in long distance rates in recent years. Now that many phone companies are extending VoIP service to the homes and businesses, we can now enjoy additional savings, great voice quality, and great features.

Price.

Low Price. Prices for broadband phone services start at under $10 a month. VoIP service is available to anyone in the world who has an Internet broadband connection. International and in-country rates start at 1.1 cents a minute or even unlimited for some VoIP monthly plans.

Broadband Phone. When signing up with a carrier you will normally have the option of using your own broadband phone, buying a broadband phone from the carrier, or getting a special adapter to connect your existing phone to your broadband connection. You can also elect to make VoIP phone calls using your PC. PCs normally do not need any special equipment, but many people purchase a wired or wireless headset. Broadband phones start under $40 and phone adapters cost under $10 depending on the VoIP carrier. Broadband phones look much like regular phones, but usually have a full range of digital features. Watch for promotional offers and you may get your broadband phone or adapter free when you sign-up with an broadband phone carrier.

No Contract, It’s Prepaid. The other great pricing feature for most VoIP phone carriers is that there is no contract. You just pre-pay. This eliminates the risk of unexpected high phone bills.

No Regulatory Fees. Currently, there are no regulatory fees or special taxes with Internet phone call service. This can be a significant saving as many traditional phone plans have a 20% or more in fees and taxes added to the bill each month.

Features

Internet phone call service has many additional features over traditional phone services. Features include: most traditional add-on services (call waiting, voice mail, caller ID, etc) are standard, video phone option, travel with your phone number, service available worldwide (need high-speed Internet connection), your area code not tied to your geographic area, ultra-low International calling, more… Visit http://www.accessphoneservices.com/broadband-phone-service.html for our article on the Features of VoIP Broadband Phone Service.

About the Author

Randy McClure is a web site publisher of http://www.EasyAccessClub.com. EasyAccess Club is an eCommerce resource for discount shoppers, small businesses, and churches. We feature discount online store reviews, hundreds of discount stores, e-commerce news, and resources for doing business online. Visit our other sites: Small Business Online – http://biz.easyaccessclub.com and Church Online – http://www.access-jesus.com.

VOIP has created so much hype that by now, everyone is aware
about the fact that VOIP is a computer phone that allows you to
make phone calls from your computer to anyone in the world. Over
the next couple of years phone over Internet will be the norm
for most homes and businesses. A href="http://www.xpert4u.co.uk/broadband/voice-over-IP-providers.
html">VOIP provider can save you upto 75% on your
telephone/long distance expenses. Even now, not everyone is sure
how to go about this technology for home use and does it have
any benefit for your family. So lets clear our doubts regarding
this technology.

First of all, you must have a high-speed Internet connection,
which can be, satellite, or DSL Internet. The high-speed
connection is required for href="http://www.xpert4u.co.uk/broadband/voice-over-IP-providers.
html">VOIP to function properly and dial up connection
doesn’t have the capacity to transfer voice without compromising
on quality. Secondly, you need a gateway that is connected
between your computer and Ethernet modem. The VOIP gateway is
where your phone line will be plugged into. With gateways, you
can be sure of getting improved voice quality.

VOIP is easy to use, and depending on the service and method
you choose, installation can be as easy as downloading software
or attaching an adaptor to your computer. With the elimination
of long-distances charges, unregulated charges, and all the
freebies that come standard with VOIP service, it can actually
amount to a significant saving for you. For example, you may be
paying extra for features like: Call waiting, three way calling,
Call forwarding, Caller I.D, Repeat dial. If you don’t want to
leave out of the exciting face-to-face conversations with
friends and relatives, get your videophone. One important thing
to remember is that your gateway is reliant on electricity to
function, which means power outages, will put your phone line
out of service.

So, if you want to save money on your telephone service using
the Internet, you will need to sign up with a href="http://www.xpert4u.co.uk/broadband/voice-over-IP-providers.
html">VOIP service provider. Most providers allow you to
call any phone number in the world for a moderately low fee.
They also provide voicemail, call forwarding and conference
calls, at no extra charge. Decision to choose VoIP depends on
your needs. If you make a large number of long distance calls,
it may be well worth looking into. VoIP services are often much
less expensive than traditional providers.

About the author:


Alen

xpert4u.co.uk

UK mobile phone
directory

Voice over internet protocol or VoIP is beginning to come into
it’s own. The promise of cost savings over traditional phone
lines is driving this technology into the mainstream. Leveraging
your existing broadband connection to save on your monthly phone
expense at first glance makes sense. Let’s take a closer look.

First off, can your existing broadband throughput handle the
additional strain of digital voice transfer? You can use your
favorite search engine (google, msn, yahoo, etc.) and search for
‘VoIP broadband test’ to get a general idea of the speed of your
connection. This is only the first consideration.

How is your existing broadband access coming into your home? If
you’re using DSL then using VoIP for your ‘primary’ phone line
may not be an option. DSL availability without existing phone
service is not generally available. You should check with your
local phone company before canceling service. You just might end
up with no phone service, VoIP or traditional. Check first.

If you’re using cable internet access and your connection speed
test looks good, find a VoIP provider that allows for a trial
period. You may find a good provider that offers up to 30 days
for you to cancel if you are not satisfied with voice quality or
service.

A VoIP converter and a router will be required to setup your
VoIP service. Your modem would plug into your router. Next your
converter plugs into your router and your phone base plugs into
your converter. Most normal phones should work fine. There isn’t
any ’special’ phone required to use this type of service. The
entire process is pretty painless, but if you should run into
any issue, your provider should be ready to help.

If you’re looking to leverage your existing broadband internet
access to save money on your monthly phone expense, VoIP can be
a great option. Just remember to check your connection, check
with your local phone provider (for DSL users) and find a
provider that offers a money back trial period. This can be a
great way to save money, but don’t be pressured before you know
the facts. Even if it doesn’t work out for you now, keep your
eye on this technology.

The FCC is already involved in the apparent conflict between
VoIP service providers and DSL access. E911 service (Enhanced
911 service) is already being mandated and additional steps will
be made to bring this technology further into the mainstream.
Make no mistake about this technology. It has arrived and is
here to stay.

About the author:


href="http://www.fullservice-broadband-provider.com">FullService
Broadband provider. We provide unbiased and informative
information on broadband and communication products and
services. Our free service is possible through href="http://www.trighttech.com">Try Right Technology, Inc.