| Voice Over IP Telephony Spell the End for Traditional | | | | Internet connection. This means that you won’t |
| Telephones? | | | | face any call charges whatsoever, and all you will |
| Just What is Voice Over IP Telephony? | | | | have to pay will be the cost of your Internet |
| Voice over Internet Telephony is technology that | | | | connection. |
| means you can hold telephone calls over the Internet | | | | Is VoIP available for me to use now? |
| or an IP network. It eliminates the need for having | | | | Companies like Vonage, VoicePulse and Packet8 are |
| separate lines for your Internet connection and | | | | already offering flat monthly fees for their VoIP |
| dedicated voice transfer lines. There are many | | | | services meaning you can call anywhere in the |
| advantages to VoIP but because it is still an advancing | | | | country (sometimes even to other selected countries |
| technology you need to shop around to find the best | | | | around the world) and only ever pay one flat monthly |
| deal. No cumbersome circuit switching is required and | | | | fee. |
| there is no depletion in the bandwidth associated with | | | | Vonage offer a service for $24.99 a month that |
| normal dual line systems. VoIP protocol means that | | | | allows you to call anywhere in the US or Canada. |
| voice data is only sent over the network when it | | | | They also offer similar plans for small businesses. |
| needs to be, freeing up that bandwidth when you | | | | Are there any disadvantages to VoIP? |
| aren’t making ‘calls’. | | | | VoIP, as a technology, is still in it’s infancy and |
| What are the Advantages of VoIP. | | | | new developments are being found every day. |
| Voice over Internet Telephony isn’t widely used | | | | However, there are limitations to the service and the |
| in office networks, let alone in the home, however if | | | | technology which need to be addresses before it can |
| you make international phone calls then you are | | | | become a complete replacement for your standard |
| probably being routed through IP infrastructure | | | | phone line. |
| because of the lower costs of calls. What this does | | | | Because the Internet knows no geographic boundaries |
| mean, though, is that the infrastructure is quite | | | | it means that, for example, calling the emergency |
| obviously already in place and anyone who chooses | | | | services would not necessarily put you through to your |
| can do so easily. This means that you can | | | | local emergency dispatch centre. |
| ‘call’ friends, family or associates using | | | | In addition, you can’t send or receive faxes and |
| your own VoIP without the need for them to have the | | | | you can’t route traditional modems, alarm |
| same technology installed. | | | | systems or satellite systems through your VoIP |
| The costs are phone calls that are reduced | | | | connection, because they require access to a voice |
| dramatically by using VoIP and once the infrastructure | | | | grade phone line. For the moment VoIP is a |
| is in place there are usually little or no additional | | | | compliment to your traditional phone line, rather than a |
| infrastructure charges required making it a cost | | | | replacement, until these problems can be ironed out. |
| effective and affordable telephony solution. | | | | Summary |
| Because VoIP is a new technology you get the usual | | | | The advent of the Internet and improved telephone |
| advantages of employing a new technology; increased | | | | technology has seen the introduction of VoIP. It means |
| technological advances and new technologies are | | | | you can make phone calls through your broadband |
| employed meaning you get a state of the art system. | | | | connection; this in turn means that for a set monthly |
| Telecommunications providers have been regularly | | | | fee you can call anywhere in your country and |
| using IP networks to transfer voice data and so most | | | | selected international countries for as long as required |
| of the teething problems have been thoroughly | | | | and only pay one flat monthly fee. |
| investigated and ironed out and all the advancements | | | | The advantages of VoIP are still significant for homes |
| made have been integrated into a system you can | | | | and business users alike. Big businesses are already |
| have installed in your home, office or business. | | | | saving substantial money by installing IP networks and |
| You don’t necessarily have to transmit your | | | | using VoIP protocol to transfer voice data. This |
| calls over the Internet, and for more secure calls you | | | | essentially makes the calls themselves free, only |
| can use private IP networks. For this reason many | | | | having to pay for the Internet connection and the |
| large businesses already have IP systems in place | | | | monthly VoIP fee. |
| making inter-business calls much cheaper. | | | | VoIP looks like it’s here to stay. As the |
| Electronic numbering makes it possible to dial traditional | | | | technology rolls out, it’s impact can only |
| E 164 phone numbers connected entirely by your | | | | become greater. |