| Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP service, is no | | | | For business owners, however, Skype can be |
| longer a novelty. In fact, for many it's getting harder | | | | unwieldy. SIP based calling on a hosted PBX network |
| and harder to tell the difference between VoIP and | | | | is preferable for companies that need to make and |
| traditional phone service. For residential consumers, | | | | receive high volumes of calls and don't want the |
| VoIP is often offered as a package deal with internet | | | | massive overhead associated with traditional |
| and video cable service - a convenient perk. For | | | | telephony. |
| business owners, however VoIP is so much more. | | | | The advantages of VoIP service include drastic |
| When VoIP originally became available the differences | | | | reductions in costs for international calls, and the |
| between the new service and traditional telephony | | | | elimination for the need for workers to be tied to one |
| were vast and unmistakable. Early VoIP software | | | | location. Employees can be moved from one office to |
| implementation required both consumers to be on their | | | | another and retain their personal phone extension. |
| computer, and supported by the same service | | | | Telecommuting becomes easier and costs continue to |
| provider - often using identical or near identical | | | | drop for communications and data networks. |
| equipment. | | | | As VoIP continues to mature, more sophisticated |
| The earliest soft phone VoIP calls were made via a | | | | applications and features are being added. VoIP calls |
| software program that 'dialed' the number, with audio | | | | can now be made to cell phones and traditional |
| managed by a plug in microphone and speakers. Now | | | | landlines, increasing compatibility and ease of use. |
| soft phones exist that hook into the network manually | | | | Regular telephones and handsets are now capable of |
| or even connect wirelessly, and mobile VoIP is | | | | supporting VoIP routed calls, and modems have been |
| becoming more popular by the month. Headsets are | | | | developed that can plug into a wall jack and take over |
| popular for deskwork or call centers, and provide | | | | an entire business office or house's phone wiring. |
| hands free communication. Bluetooth is also an option | | | | For business owners, IP PBX systems quickly came |
| for 'on the go' use. | | | | into fashion, with VoIP replacing standard business |
| One of the most successful early VoIP providers was | | | | phone systems. The simplicity and reliability of VoIP |
| Skype, which is still a major competitor in today's | | | | has reached a level that reassures business |
| market. Skype permits international calls to be made | | | | managers, and the number of companies using VoIP |
| for free between Skype users, and offers calling plans | | | | for data and communication needs is expected to |
| to replace landline phones at a cost effective rate. | | | | continue to grow. |