| As technologies mature and more households gain | | | | local phone companies are offering DSL on the "local |
| access to high speed Internet, consumers will come to | | | | loop", without the wire with the dial tone. The fact is, |
| realize that it is simply more efficient and cost | | | | having a broadband connection that requires you to |
| effective to send packets of voice over the Internet | | | | also buy a conventional telephone connection pretty |
| than over a point to point circuit switched land line. | | | | much defeats the purpose, thus making VoIP through |
| Long distance charges become a thing of the past, | | | | DSL impractical for most people. |
| and international calls are pennies a minute if not free | | | | That said, the Telco's see the writing on the wall and |
| to some countries. | | | | are slowly beginning to implement Voice over IP |
| VoIP solutions are readily available to anyone with a | | | | telephony. AT&T and Quest Communications |
| high speed Internet connection, and the only hardware | | | | offer residential VoIP solutions starting at $25.00 and |
| needed is an Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) and a | | | | $30.00 respectively, just slightly higher than a pure VoIP |
| phone. For most consumers, utilizing a calling plan from | | | | service provider. All of the basic features such as call |
| a VoIP service provider is the best solution. Most VoIP | | | | forwarding, speed dialing, and 3-way calling are |
| service providers will provide the ATA hardware (or | | | | included, and premium services like virtual phone |
| software) for free, and monthly charges range from | | | | numbers, conference calling, and call filtering can be |
| free on up. | | | | had for an additional charge. International rates seem |
| Peer to Peer VoIP | | | | to be somewhat higher than pure play rates, though |
| The least expensive VoIP solution would be using a | | | | only by pennies. |
| computer on a peer to peer network. Offered from | | | | VoIP and Cable Companies |
| such VoIP service providers as Skype or the Gizmo | | | | If anyone is in a position to win the Telecommunication |
| Project, the software is free to download and calls | | | | wars, it's the cable companies. Massive consolidation in |
| within the network are free worldwide. Calls to PSTN | | | | the cable industry has led to huge privately owned |
| numbers are charged at a low VoIP rate. Peer to Peer | | | | networks that in many cases make it unnecessary to |
| VoIP is a software solution, meaning that no ATA is | | | | route calls over the public Internet. Quality of Service |
| required, and your phone is a pair of earplugs and a | | | | issues can be handled in house, and after all, |
| microphone plugged into your computer. The downside | | | | companies like Cisco Systems pretty much built the |
| is that call quality is lacking compared to some of the | | | | Internet and are largely responsible for the |
| hardware VoIP solutions available. | | | | development of Voice over IP Telephony. |
| The "Pure Play" VoIP Service Provider | | | | Cable companies as VoIP service providers have the |
| Over the past few years, a new generation of | | | | ability to bundle voice with high speed data and digital |
| upstarts has introduced themselves into the residential | | | | cable TV, and are even now running introductory |
| VoIP arena. Probably the most successful (at least | | | | offers of all three for 99.00 a month in some markets. |
| popularity wise) would be the VoIP service provider | | | | But be careful, introductory offers end and VoIP plans |
| Vonage. Thanks to their lavish spending on advertising, | | | | with the cable companies are some of the most |
| the technology of VoIP is becoming mainstream, and | | | | expensive to be had. |
| the general public is beginning to realize that if the | | | | While VoIP service providers like Comcast and Time |
| circumstances are right, Voice over IP can be a viable | | | | Warner generally receive good reviews for sound |
| cost saving alternative to the Plain Old Telephone | | | | quality, monthly calling plans cost $40.00 and $45.00 |
| System (POTS). | | | | respectively. Not bad when looking at a $70.00 phone |
| Vonage, Packet8, and SunRocket are just a few of | | | | bill from Bell South, but over twice as much as a |
| many companies that are pure-play VoIP service | | | | pure-play VoIP service provider. No doubt, a good |
| providers. They have no interest in selling you cable | | | | reliable broadband connection through a cable modem |
| TV, conventional telephone service, or cellular minutes. | | | | is the ideal VoIP solution (wireless notwithstanding), but |
| Monthly plans range anywhere from $7.00 to $40.00 | | | | you don't have to use your cable company for VoIP. |
| and calls are free in the U.S., Canada, and in some | | | | In the end, it all depends on what's important to you. If |
| cases Europe. International rates vary with many | | | | all you need is to call a friend in China on the same |
| countries as low as 2-3 cents a minute. | | | | network, then a peer to peer VoIP service provider is |
| These are the companies that have pioneered | | | | for you. If you live in an area where it's offered, a |
| residential VoIP for the consumer and with their low | | | | telecom VoIP solution promises lower bills than their |
| monthly calling plans, the companies that will keep the | | | | conventional connections, provided you can drop the |
| giants in the Telecommunications Industry honest. | | | | land line. |
| Telco's as VoIP Providers | | | | For those that have cable modems, the choice of |
| Just as deregulation and the advent of cellular | | | | VoIP service providers is vast. For the monthly cost of |
| technology in the past, VoIP is poised to revolutionize | | | | another broadband connection, cable companies will |
| the Telecommunications Industry. And the large | | | | come out to install the equipment and rewire every |
| telephone companies, even the cellular phone | | | | jack in your house. And they are just a service call |
| companies are entering this new era kicking and | | | | away. Alternatively, the pure play VoIP providers offer |
| screaming. | | | | the lowest rates around, and the quality is usually just |
| Telco's like AT&T, the regional Bells and others | | | | as good. |
| are happy to provide broadband internet access | | | | Just remember, it's all in the pipe. Calls will be as clear |
| through DSL, but very few are willing to unbundle the | | | | as your VoIP service providers' network is |
| internet service from their conventional telephone | | | | uncongested. |
| services. They could do it technologically, and a few | | | | |