| Voice over IP (VOIP) is one of the greatest things to | | | | Advantages of using VOIP are clear, firstly and |
| come out of the internet. Although not a new concept, | | | | primarily, it is possible to have unlimited phone usage |
| since scientists realised its potential back in the 70s, it | | | | for free. However to get truly free calls, you will need |
| has really only become popular within the last half a | | | | to be connected to a wireless access point, ideally a |
| decade. There are a number of reasons why it didn't | | | | free of charge one, for example in a coffee shop. |
| come about earlier, the main being slow web speeds. | | | | Secondly you can only call someone else who is using |
| Before broadband, using VOIP services was fairly | | | | the same VOIP software as you, and that they are |
| temperamental, often calls were jittery, laggy and poor | | | | online. |
| quality. Thankfully broadband and particularly wireless | | | | Additionally with VOIP international calls are a thing of |
| internet has allowed VOIP to flourish globally. | | | | the past, it doesn't matter if you are calling your |
| When talking about VOIP many people assume you | | | | neighbour or your long lost cousin in Tanzania, as long |
| are talking about Skype. Certainly Skype is one of the | | | | as you are both online you can enjoy unlimited and |
| most popular and well known applications, recently | | | | cost free chatting! The only thing you need to worry |
| reporting over 100 million downloads, however it is by | | | | about is the different time zones. Further more with |
| far not the only VOIP client around. In fact there are | | | | VOIP making conference calls is just as easy as |
| numerous VOIP clients, all with different quirks, features | | | | making any calls, therefore if you wish to chat with |
| and compatibilities. | | | | your long lost cousin, great grandmother and distant |
| Mobile phones are now becoming increasingly | | | | nephew, it is not a problem, the more the merrier. |
| powerful and technologically advanced. Despite VOIP | | | | Other great benefits include web based voicemail, |
| being a competing product to the mobile phone | | | | which allows anyone to access their personal |
| industry, the latest phones are paradoxically supporting | | | | messages wherever is convenient, whether that is a |
| the growth of VOIP. Nokia, one of the largest mobile | | | | public library, friends laptop, or indeed your own mobile |
| phone manufactures in the world, no longer claims to | | | | phone. Virtual phone numbers allow businesses to opt |
| make mobile phones, instead mini computers. Since | | | | for geographical numbers despite not being in the local |
| phones are packed with the latest gadgets, they in | | | | area. This is beneficial to customers, who can speak |
| effect are pocket size computers that can also take | | | | to the company at the cost of a local phone call, and |
| pictures, play games, stream music and now make | | | | the business who can show they have a local |
| free phones calls anywhere in the world using VOIP. | | | | presence. |
| Smart phones, the latest branding for next generation | | | | In conclusion, there is nothing that should be stopping |
| mobile phones, come with powerful operating systems, | | | | you embracing the possibilities of VOIP. Communication |
| plenty of memory and wifi, combining these with | | | | is the principal dimension driving evolution. Join the |
| normal phone features, a microphone and speaker, | | | | millions of users globally and unleash the power of the |
| make a smart phone the ideal platform to support | | | | internet as it had been forecast decades ago. |
| VOIP. | | | | |