| You've seen the commercials and read the news | | | | problems, weird sounds, echoes and noise. VoIP quality |
| advertisements for telephone service using your | | | | depends on many factors - your broadband |
| computer: very cheap monthly fees; make all the calls | | | | connection, your hardware, your Internet Service |
| you want; keep your telephone number forever; and | | | | Provider (ISP) and the destination of your call, just to |
| voice quality as good as a landline. You've heard the | | | | name a few. |
| claims and you've heard the term "VoIP." Here's the | | | | While Voice over IP has made substantial progress |
| scoop. | | | | over the past 5 years in terms of Quality of Service, it |
| VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and it | | | | still has a way to go. |
| does what the name suggests - it transmits voice | | | | Another disadvantage is that in the event of a power |
| data using IP packets over the Internet. It is also called | | | | failure, you will lose the ability to make and receive calls |
| Internet Telephony. It's easier to understand VoIP if you | | | | unless you have a backup battery for your computer. |
| know a little about our telephone system - PSTN (the | | | | With traditional phone service, the cables are directly |
| Public Switched Telephone Network) and a little about | | | | linked to the phone lines and the phone company |
| the Internet. | | | | provides power independently of your home or |
| Your traditional land line transmits calls through copper | | | | company's electrical power system. Thus you normally |
| or fiber cables in the ground or on telephone poles with | | | | do not lose a phone signal due to loss of power with |
| a cable connected to your home. When someone | | | | traditional service. |
| makes a call, one continuous route is made between | | | | Another criticism of VoIP service is its historical |
| the two phones and the information flows continuously | | | | problems with 911 emergency services. With traditional |
| in this loop. As you know from paying your bills, the | | | | phone service, the 911 system can identify the location |
| longer the route, the more expensive the call. | | | | and number of the call because it is connected and |
| Voice over IP works a little differently. It works using | | | | routed locally. With VoIP, you are calling through the |
| the Internet, which is a packet-based network. | | | | Internet and the actual signal may travel substantial |
| Packet-based just means that instead of sending one | | | | distances before being routed to a local 911-service |
| continuous string of information, it sends out smaller | | | | center. Thus geographically, the 911 system might have |
| packets of information. | | | | trouble identifying your location. Most VoIP services |
| With Voice over IP, your voice is converted into a | | | | today include what is known as enhanced 911 service. |
| digital signal that travels over the Internet. There are | | | | This is a process by which the signal traveling through |
| three ways that this can be done: 1) using a VoIP | | | | the Internet carries with it a physical address for the |
| telephone; 2) using a computer with speakers and a | | | | calling location. At present VoIP equipment providers |
| microphone; or 3) using a regular telephone with a VoIP | | | | may charge an additional fee for this service. |
| adapter. Because the IP packets are tiny by | | | | Businesses that may want to use Voice over IP to |
| comparison, unlike downloading files, this all happens in | | | | save money need to consider any security issues that |
| real time, just like your regular phone. | | | | exist. This is because with VoIP, information is sent |
| Advantages of VoIP | | | | through the Internet. Just as with any computer |
| Because the service is provided through the Internet, | | | | connection, it is possible that a hacker can intercept the |
| once you have the equipment in place there are a | | | | information being transmitted. It is important to |
| number of benefits. | | | | investigate the equipment provider's network to |
| The main reason for VoIP's popularity is its cost | | | | determine how they route data, what firewalls or other |
| advantage. With regular phone service, you usually pay | | | | protections are afforded for security purposes. |
| a monthly flat fee for your local calls and a per-minute | | | | If you are ready to look into VoIP for your phone or |
| charge for long distance calls. Internet connections are | | | | fax service, you can visit electronics retailers, large |
| charged using a monthly flat fee only. Because VoIP | | | | discount retailers and search online for information. |
| doesn't charge a per-minute fee for long distance, you | | | | There are a variety of VoIP providers at present. The |
| wouldn't incur those charges. If you make long distance | | | | equipment that is used, the cost of the equipment, the |
| calls, Voice over IP most certainly will save you a lot of | | | | cost of accessories, and the cost of any enhanced |
| money. If you used the Internet for both your data | | | | services can and should be compared. |
| traffic and voice calls, you could get rid of one monthly | | | | You should purchase the system and use the provider |
| payment. | | | | that you feel would work best for your needs in terms |
| The other cost advantage is that since it uses a | | | | of how many phones you want to connect to the |
| broadband Internet connection, it efficiently uses the | | | | system, what type of security you require and the |
| existing infrastructure you already use with your | | | | cost of purchasing the equipment and the service. |
| computer. There is only minimal software and | | | | You may want to use a telecom management service |
| hardware to buy. | | | | for a cost analysis to see if Voice over IP will be a |
| Disadvantages to VoIP | | | | good fit for your company. |
| There are a few disadvantages with Voice over IP. A | | | | VoIP is still a new technology and hopefully there will |
| major one is QoS or Quality of Service. Since there | | | | be more and more improvements and innovations in |
| are packets carrying your voice information instead of | | | | the coming years. |
| a continuous flow of information, there could be delay | | | | |