| I was on a tech support call with a client in Australia | | | | Why would I want this? |
| for over forty-five minutes. Guess how much that cost | | | | One major advantage of VoIP and Internet telephony |
| me. If I told you less than a dollar, would you believe it? | | | | is that it avoids the tolls charged by ordinary telephone |
| Well it is true indeed. | | | | services that use the standard public switched |
| I called my friend in England just the other day. We | | | | telephone network. Sure Pac Bell and ATT don't like |
| talked for about half an hour and it didn't cost either of | | | | the sounds of that, not unless they figure out how to |
| us a nickel. Free and clear as crystal, I used my | | | | jump on the bandwagon and capitalize on this |
| computer. Nothing fancy, just a simple sound card, | | | | somewhat new form of technology. |
| speakers and microphone is all I needed. | | | | Actually VoIP has been around for a while, yet it is |
| If you haven't heard about Voice over IP yet, you most | | | | starting to pick up speed now as an alternative means |
| definitely will soon. There are several different | | | | of communication. And the primary reason is that it will |
| methods to the crazed digital telephony protocol that | | | | save you money. |
| could change the way you make calls and save you a | | | | Another money saving fact about VoIP is that since |
| bundle. | | | | VoIP utilizes your broadband Internet connection for its |
| What is VOIP? | | | | delivery, customers do not pay Federal USF and FCC |
| Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is the concept for | | | | Line Charges and pay lower Federal Excise Tax. |
| managing the delivery of voice information in digital | | | | WI-FI and VoIP |
| format through the Internet rather then conventional | | | | Now we're getting serious! Where is this going? Can it |
| voice telephone lines. In the simplest form, VoIP turns | | | | really compete with the cell phone? Well, at this time |
| any computer into a telephone. | | | | the wireless technology has some security risks and |
| Although there are complex and costly ways to do | | | | setup difficulties to overcome before it becomes a |
| this in the enterprise level, there are also simple, nearly | | | | significant player in the game. But on a local, enterprise |
| free ways do use VoIP on the personal level. All that's | | | | level, we are not far off. |
| required is a broadband Internet connection of some | | | | What is the bottom line? |
| type. Now I am not here to advertise for any single | | | | If you are tired of lofty telephone bills, perhaps there is |
| organization selling VoIP equipment or services, but just | | | | a solution for you that will help with this years budget. |
| to let you know, there are some that offer very nice | | | | You don't need to transform your entire phone system |
| package deals with equipment, Internet phones, | | | | to utilize the benefits of VoIP. Start small and learn its |
| headsets and all the fixings of standard enterprise | | | | potential. |
| phone systems. There are also software based | | | | A Rule for the Road: |
| systems that operate like your everyday chat | | | | Keep up with technology or else technology will pass |
| systems and require only computer speakers and a | | | | you by; and the ignorance will cost you more than you |
| microphone. | | | | will know. |