The VoIP Telephone Services Revolution

Ever since the birth of the internet, entrepreneurs with an eye to the future have predicted that voice communications -- telephone services -- would eventually be merged with internet services. With the widespread adoption of VoIP, that day has come, and it is causing a revolution in the telephone industry.

In simple terms, a VoIP service allows you to use your broadband (high-speed) connection to place telephone calls over the Internet. It is not difficult to see how this is rocking the telecom industry to the core.

It's all about cost

Two things have made traditional telephone service providers so powerful. Their monopoly over local telephone services, and their traditional stranglehold on lucrative and usually over-priced long distance services. Both of these captive markets have been seriously eroded over the last few years, as the reality of VoIP has started to sink in.

In anticipation of the revolution that is now upon us, most aspects of telephone service have gradually been opened up to competition. Most of us now have a choice of providers for both local and long distance telephone service. And the biggest reason for the new competitive environment is the recognition that the widespread adoption of VoIP is inevitable.

The development of VoIP

VoIP has been developing slowly over the last ten years or so. Early implementations allowed computer users to talk to each other through their computers. This was only feasible if you had a voice-enabled computer, a reliable and stable internet connection, and a software program installed on your computer that made it all work.

The advantage of this computer-to-computer communication was that you could completely bypass the traditional telephone system and talk to anyone in the world free of charge -- as long as they had a similar setup to yours. But the disadvantages of communicating this way were also obvious. You could only communicate this way using your computer. You were completely dependent on often unstable dial-up internet connections. And the person at the other end of the conversation had to also be online with a voice-enabled computer.

Today's VoIP has solved these problems

Today's versions of VoIP have left these problems in the past. Two things were required to make VoIP technology feasible on a large scale basis, and both of these things have now been realized.

First, broadband internet service has been widely adopted. This makes it possible to have stable internet connections that are always on. Second, the industry has developed a simple, inexpensive method of integrating the IP network (the internet) with the traditional telephone system. This allows a user of VoIP to use his or her own telephone to call anyone else in the world who has a traditional telephone connection.

This is where we are today. As traditional telecom companies like AT&T, Bell, Qwest, and SBC develop their own implementations of VoIP technology the way has been opened up for a myriad of choices for consumers. Today's VoIP allows anyone with a broadband internet connection to place calls to anyone with an ordinary telephone connection, anywhere in the world.

Why you save money with VoIP

The major advantages of VoIP are lower cost, and greater flexibility with no significant decrease in voice quality. First, a VoIP subscriber does not need a traditional phone line. Instead, you are assigned a phone number by your VoIP provider. Prices for these numbers can be as low as $9 usd per month.

Second, most VoIP subscribers will purchase a bundle of services that includes unlimited incoming calls and unlimited long distance calls to anyone within a defined geographic area. For instance, VoIP unlimited calling plans to anyone in the USA or Canada start at around $20 per month.

Third, most VoIP service providers offer free bundled features that most traditional telephone companies charge for. These include free voicemail, call forwarding, caller ID, call waiting, call waiting ID, 3 way calling, speed dialing, and many more of the services that the traditional companies are constantly trying to sell you.

Greater flexibility and portability

Another significant advantage is the flexibility and portability of VoIP phone service. With VoIP your personal telephone number is programmed into the converter that acts as a bridge between your internet connection and your regular telephone.

This has several important advantages. As already mentioned you do not need an actual land line. Instead your telephone number is assigned to your converter (not to your geographic land line). So you can take your converter with you anywhere in the world, plug it into any available broadband connection, and immediately start using your regular number to make and receive calls.

This flexibility also lets you choose a number in an area code where most of your long distance calls originate. For instance, if many of your friends, family, business associates or customers are calling from a specific city that traditionally involved a long distance call for them, you could choose a number in that area code and immediately turn all their calls to you into local (free) calls for them.

The advantages of VoIP are many, and the savings can be very significant. So it is no wonder that VoIP has become the hottest telecom technology of the decade. Informed consumers and businesses around the world are adopting this technology at a phenomenal rate.

For more information on VoIP features and comparisons of VoIP service providers, see VoIP Comparisons, or visit our blog VoIP Providers.

Rick Hendershot is a writer and publisher of the Linknet Publishing Network - for article writing and publishing services and for high impact blog listings.

Broadband Phones: Myth and Reality

Broadband phones are becoming more mainstream. There are articles whether broadband phone service reached a tipping point or not. What is clear, though, is that phone service delivered over the public internet is the future of telecommunications.

Let's take a step back and examine what the uses are for broadband phone service. More specifically, the technology behind it. Broadband phone service is utilized by a technology called Voice Over IP (Internet Protocol), or VoIP. It utilizes the bandwidth (the speed in layman's terms) to send voice packets. These packets are sent like any other data (i.e. email, web browsing etc.). When they reach their destination the data packets are reconstructed and converted into voice!

All of this happens in a fraction of a second but many issues can arise to degrade the broadband phone service quality. A slow connection, bad phone, over-utilized bandwidth and a bad service provider can all degrade the quality of the phone call.

While broadband phone service uses VoIP not all VoIP is using broadband phone service, at least in the traditional sense. Companies with multiple office can communicate using VoIP over direct connections or over the public Internet. Even though between the remote offices they are communicating over VoIP when a call is made outside the company they can still use regular phone service (PSTN or T-1 service). This allows them to take advantage of Voice Over IP without the detriments of broadband phone service.

There are usually significant cost savings by using broadband phone service that can alleviate the negative effects of service quality. For the general consumer this might be an acceptable trade-off. But a commercial enterprise might not want to accept this risk.

Another issue that arises with broadband phone service providers is their longevity. Since it's relatively inexpensive to start a VoIP company you should be extra cautious about the background of the company before you commit your number. Many consumers have been burnt by using new companies who offered too good to be true deals. Sometimes when it's too good to be true it IS too good to be true. Buyer beware.

There are many cool features that broadband phone companies provide. For example, many of them email you your voice-mails. You can open your email and listen to the audio attachment on your computer. Some also offer a voice menu system that you can change, when you want, on their website.

As the technology matures and the quality gets better broadband phone service will be the norm and old legacy phones will be just that, a legacy from the past.

Cy Yablonsky is a Realtor Associate with ERA Othello Realty, with a strong concentration in technology. Visit Real Estate in NJ to visit the http://www.OthelloRealty.com website. You have permission to reproduce this article as long as this paragraph and all links are live.

VoIP in the Home

VoIP is set to revolutionise home communications. With VoIP you can make telephone calls over your broadband connection for free! Well in some cases you can, in other cases you might need to pay a monthly subscription to a VoIP service provider. There are a few different ways you can take advantage of VoIP at home.

PC to PC

The simplest and most cost effective way to get into VoIP is by installing some free software on your PC and invest in a telephone headset( you can also use a microphone and your PC speakers). Once you have this set up you can talk to other people using the same software from your PC to their PC.

Sounds good? Well yes and no, you both have to be sat in front of your PC's to communicate, which is not particularly convenient. Though if you are making a lot of international calls this can be a great way to speak to relatives overseas completely free of charge.

PC to Phone

You can take phone calls over broadband a step further by setting up a 'PC to Phone' VoIP system. This is similar to the 'PC to PC' method outlined above. You need to have a headset and download specialist software too, though with this method you can contact any phone you like.

However, via this method the calls are not free and you will need to prepay for your calls. The supplier of your software will require you to add money to your phone account much like the pre-pay system for mobile phones. When you choose your service provider you will need to carefully check the rates they offer. Some have great deals for landline calls, but are expensive if you wish to call a mobile phone - so do your research.

Phone to Phone

This is the most exciting incarnation of VoIP for the home, you can either buy a VoIP ready phone or an adaptor that connects your phone to your broadband line, and from there contact any phone over your broadband connection.

You will need to sign up with a VoIP service provider to accomplish this. Usually you will be charged a monthly fee, and typically get all your UK landline phone calls free. There are additional deals for international calls and contacting mobile phones.

Whatever option you chose to connect to at home, you are sure to take advantage of the future of home telecommunications - VoIP!

The author runs a site about UK VoIP Service Providers at http://www.speakonline.co.uk

Facts behind the Myths of Partner Telephones

They?re expensive.
Not true; there are models with 18 and 34 buttons that cost a little more, but Avaya also has an affordable 6 button model, designed for price- conscious customers.

Partner Phones don?t have the features I need. And let me tell you, I need a lot of features.
You?ve come to the right phone. Avaya designed the Partner phones to fit the complex needs of growing businesses. In addition to all the standard features, Partner phones have back- lit displays, programmable buttons, and message- waiting indicators, allowing you to work more efficiently. In fact, Avaya is the only phone company to put easily read back- lit displays on their phones.

And, Partner phones use LEDs for the message- waiting indicators instead of displaying it only on the display. Now, you know if you message from across the room, saving you time.

I?m just a small business, I don?t need that much of a phone.
Avaya made the Partner phones with you in mind; they?re designed for small to medium business, and the features will help you work efficiently and productively.

Partner Phones are hard to use.
In fact, Partner phones are easier to use than other business phones. Some companies have a single button for hold, conference, and transfer, making things more difficult. But Partner phones have separate buttons for each function, and a fixed intercom button. And, the programmable buttons make the phones easy to configure to match your needs.

Partner phones can be installed either on your desktop or as wall- mounts, to best fit your space.

You can?t upgrade Partner Phones.
You sure can: they have an auxiliary port, so it?s easy and inexpensive to add a headset, cordless phone, or an answering machine.

I?m a busy person; I always do 15 things at once, and when I?m on the phone, I?m also typing reports, reading emails, and updating the schedule on my BlackBerry via Bluetooth. I have no use for Partner phones.
You couldn?t be further from the truth; the phones work with headsets, have a speakerphone, and have a hands free answer on intercom option. In other words, you can answer calls without picking up the phone. It?s brilliant, and makes working that much easier. So use the Partner phones and multi- task with abandon.

I have an old phone and data network, and these new- fangled phones won?t work with what I have.
All Partner phones are backwards- compatible, so you have nothing to worry about; they will work with your existing Partner network.

Yes, it?s all very well and good that Partner phones have LEDs as message- waiting indicators, but I?m color- blind so this feature is useless for me.
Good news- the phones have both red and green LEDs, so if you have trouble telling colors apart, you?ll do just fine with Partner phones.

Cameron Elliott is an Telephony specialist at avaya voip phone systems where he extols the benefits of Avaya Phone Systems

Net Telephone Services In Trouble 911 FCC Rules Upheld

Net telephone service providers are facing a huge problem. A court has upheld FCC regulations requiring the voice over internet protocol providers to provide 911 services.

911 Rules

As you know, traditional telephone companies provide 911 call services to customers. Under long established laws, the traditional telephone companies are required to automatically route such calls to a geographically appropriate area and deliver the originating phone number and address of the call. Net telephone services haven?t done this in the past as the technical reading of the regulations didn?t require them to. Now the regulations do and it is causing problems.

VOIP net telephone services are having severe difficulty complying with the FCC regulations. The calls are not routed through a traditional telephone line structure, which makes it very hard to determine the original calling number and address. On top of this, it is extraordinarily difficult to route the calls to the appropriate geographic emergency phone call center. Throw in politics and you have a boondoggle in the making.

911 In A Digital Age

In many cases, government agencies fail to appreciate the complexities of the Internet and digital technology. They have a habit of issuing rules and regulations that are either antiquated or impossible to implement. The FCC and FTC are famous for doing so, particularly since the agencies seem to have the technical sophistication of dinosaur. On the issue of 911 rules for net telephone services, however, the FCC has acted appropriately.

911 is a critical service that must be made available to the public. It performs a service that is both needed and necessary. As the net telephone services seek bigger shares of the commercial market, they must also assume larger responsibility for the services they provide. This is particularly true for 911 services.

911 emergency call centers help save lives. In health risk situations, time is almost always a critical component in the outcome. Given as much, the FCC has acted appropriately in requiring net telephone services to provide 911 services to customers.

Richard A. Chapo is a San Diego business lawyer with http://www.sandiegobusinesslawfirm.com - a San Diego business law firm in San Diego, California.

The Latest Wireless GPhones

The latest to join the many treats are WiFi cell phones by Linksys with which VoIP calls can be made over Wireless ?G networks.

Expected to retail at US$ 220- US$ 370 the phones have a user interface that can be configured to function using available wireless-G networks.

Wow:

?You can access your VoIP service, check mail, and view videos as the built in browser of WIP 330 will find and access the World Wide Web.The 330 is sleek just 1.84 x 5.32x0.74 and weighs 4.2oz. It comes with a pixel color screen, numeric key pad, soft keys and a 4-way navigation pad.

The WIP330 has:

• SIP v2 standards.
  
• Compliance with IEEE 802.11 b/g standards.
  
• QoS, support for quality of service.
  
• Enhanced power savings.
  
• Quick Hotspot authentication.
  
• The use of HTTP for configuration and upgrades.

?If you choose to use WIP 300 then the connection to Wireless G is through a Linsky router.

Another giant in communications Toshiba has launched two VoIP phones the Hitachi IP50000, Spectra Link 6020, and a wireless PDA. The IP5000 will function on 802.11b Toshiba network and the Spectralink on private wireless networks. These are just two among many choices.

A wireless G phone presents many options: phone calls, web based e-mail and videos, three-way conference calls, call on hold, and a register for incoming calls. VoIP providers like Vonage give priority to the consumer need and facilities come at no extra charge making VoIP an affordable and attractive proposition.

To function G-phones require a broadband connection, a router, or a DHCP server, and an activated VoIP service. The WIP330 is a leader in its niche and it supports WEP encryption and WPSPSK wireless security.

The radio is designed for use in cellular handsets and has enhanced filtering and a trans-receiver with a power amplifier.

The color interface has great graphics and the menu gives phone status, wireless signal strength, battery level, time and date as well as the handsets phone number. The ?settings? screen can be accessed by a button on the navigation pad.

The phone has all a mobile user looks for: vibration mode, ring tones, phone book as well as log. It will allow instant communication at low costs and is declared to be the trend setter of the future.

For the latest information log on to: http://www.linksys.com/; http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/; and http://voipspeak.net/ among the many sites on the World Wide Web dedicated to technology advancements. An in depth analysis of the phones can be found at: http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2005/11/08/linksyswip330wireless/

Before rushing out to buy a phone take a minute to learn all you can about it and its uses. Benefit as much as you can from the advances of technology.

Andrew Bermam is a freelance writer for http://www.1866Voip.com, the premier website to find help on Voip including topics on online voip, voip phone, voip service providers, voip solutions, business voip, internet telephony voip and more. He also freelances for the premier Music site http://www.1888Music.com

An Honest Review of Vonage: A FeatureRich Worldready VoIP

With more players jumping into the already populated space of Voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP), the perceptive user has that much more choice. Vonage is a leading player in this marketplace with over a million subscribers worldwide in a short lifespan of three years. However, there is a set of negatives too, so wait until you reach the end of this review before you decide to switch from your traditional landline service to Vonage telephony.

What is Vonage and how does it differ from your landline connection? For a start, you must have a broadband connection, preferably cable-based; a dial-up is no good. When you call Vonage customer service for a connection, Vonage sends you a tiny box, which you have to plug to your telephone and your cable modem or DSL. You are now set to start a Vonage conversation. With a Vonage connection, you have access to your telephone through your computer and the broadband connection. The other big difference from a traditional phone service is cost effectiveness; with a Vonage, you can cut your telephone bill significantly, and converse worldwide by buying local telephone numbers from Vonage.

Vonage offers a set of four monthly packages for all calls in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico: a premium unlimited offer at US$24.99, a basic plan of 500 minutes at US$14.99, a small-business unlimited package at US$49.99, and a basic small-business offer of 1500 minutes at US$39.99. For calls from the US to other world destinations, there is a nominal per-minute rate applicable, which is well below what you would pay to your landline service provider. For example, for a minute?s call to Mumbai (India), you need to pay only US$0.17; for a call to the UK, it is as low as US$0.04 per minute.

The Vonage Website lists the charges applicable to each city on its network. Perhaps the best part of Vonage is that you can carry your US telephone number to any part of the world with broadband connectivity, and call the US at local call rates. For any reason, if you are dissatisfied with Vonage services, you can opt for the 14-day (or 30-day for some packages) money-back offer. This trial period is enough time to try out the excellent features that you get with Vonage:

?An unlisted telephone number

?Call waiting, callerID

?Call forwarding, 7-digit dialing (rather than area code +number used in many markets, including Lingo)

?An innovative voicemail feature

?Repeat dial

?Dynamic periodic feature updates

However, Vonage is not all positives. Its founding premise is a bit wobbly; your connection is afloat only as long as your broadband connection is. Any Internet outage and Vonage will cease to function. Call quality is also dependent on the speed of your broadband. Then there is the question of availability of a local number for your city; Vonage may not have your city listed, so you should confirm this with Vonage customer support before deciding on the service. Vonage is facing stern competition from AT&T and Verizon, and users have preferred the call quality of AT&T to that of Vonage. Vonage is also not the cheapest VoIP service around in the marketplace.

However, Vonage is a winner on features. If you have a dependable broadband connection, need to make frequent international calls, and travel to world destinations but need to stay in touch with the US, Vonage is for you.

Hamesh Brown enjoys writing about VoIP. See http://www.voipreviewsonline.com/2005/10/vonagereview.html for another Vonage review.

What Makes a VoIP Phone System Work? What Is VoIP Protocol?

The phone services offered by your local phone companies use circuit-switching technologies. In basic terms a copper wire is used to complete a circuit and to connect two people talking on the phone. A VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone system works by the use of packet-switching technology.

This VoIP protocol technology does not use a copper wire to complete a circuit, but instead the voice signals are broken down into tiny packets of digital data and then are sent over the internet and reassembled on the other end and a crystal clear voice message can be heard just like we are used to, but the cost to you to do this at least 50% less than what your regular phone company will charge you!

There are many companies that are now on the cutting edge of this technology. They all offer packages with call waiting, call conferencing, caller ID, and much more at no additional costs. One company offers you a basic free service to use VoIP from computer to computer worldwide and another company offers VoIP services when you travel! All bases,so to speak,of your VoIP needs are now available in the marketplace!

To make the switch from the old (or analog) phone system to the new VoIP (or digital) phone system is a snap! Don't let this new technology scare you off! All you need to do is have a broadband internet connection (DSL or Cable) and the correct hardware as provided by the particular VoIP carrier that you choose. All VoIP Carriers offer easy ways to make the switch including keeping your present number. The hardware needed is usually a phone adapter and a router that you plug into your computer and regular phone.

Your VoIP phone company will supply you with the needed hardware and tell you which plugs go where. It takes a few minutes to plug in the plugs! Before you know it you will be making calls at a 50% savings over your old phone service with unbelievable clarity!

Hugh McMarlin has many online endeavors and his informational VoIP site, http://www.voip-carrier-4u.com is his latest. Read his latest articles on FREE VoIP You can also learn more about the pros and cons of VoIP by reading his article on the Pros and Cons of VoIP

VoIP: A Favourable Solution To Business Communication

Communication is an important part of business systems. Whether it is internal communication between the different functions of an organisation or external communication with the suppliers, partners and customers, the communication channel needs to be highly efficient and cost effective. Telecom revolution has brought a bag full of efficient and cost effective tools for communication and the latest addition to these is Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP.

A VoIP is nothing but communication between two people over a high speed broadband connection as opposed to traditional telephone lines. The broadband connection needs to be of high speed for better voice quality and high cost-effectiveness. With the help of certain VoIP hardware as well as VoIP software one can make a phone call using VoIP.

Let?s look at the benefits of having a VoIP system in an organisation:-

 Cost effective: - A VoIP call cuts down your telephone bills to the range of 40 to 60 per cent. Depending upon your VoIP service provider and VoIP products you use, calls can also made free of cost to limited areas.

 Inbuilt features: - Various inbuilt features like voicemail, call waiting, call routing; caller id etc gives it an edge over traditional phone lines.

 Flexible: - The VoIP system is highly flexible which means that it can adjust well to your business needs. If you need more lines you can upgrade your system at low cost and vice versa.

 Easy to use: - A VoIP system is highly user friendly and is very easy to use.

Now, let?s look at the organisations that can benefit highly from VoIP systems: -

? Any organisation which uses more than five lines can benefit highly from VoIP systems.

? Organisations which need to communicate across the globe.

? Organisations which want better management of their voice and data traffic.

? Organisations interested in or have customer support services.

? Any organisation which wants to cut their telephone bills.

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VoIP Phone Service

Comparing VoIP Providers For Small Business Solutions

It is no secret that communication is key to survival for small business. The advantage to small busineses of using a VoIP solution is that the market is very competitive. While there are relatively few companies from which to choose for normal phone service, many VoIP providers will gladly offer VoIP phone service at a very competitive rate and with unlimited long distance.

But....you need to do your homework first.

Phone service features indispensable to your business, such as voicemail, conferencing and call waiting, allow business to flow smoothly and efficiently. So....how do you decide if a VoIP solution is best for your business?

One of the first steps when analyzing your current service is to decide what features your business needs. Does it need multiple lines to accommodate the sales force? What about a toll free number for customer service? Make a list of all the features your office uses and think about others you might want to try.

The next step is to make an estimate of all intrastate (in- state), interstate (state-to-state) and international calls. An easy way to estimate these numbers is to view a recent phone bill. You might be surprised at how large or small your call volume actually is. If you rely heavily on fax machines, consider the number of incoming and outgoing faxes. As you review these numbers, remember to consult growth projections for the rest of the year.

Once you've done all this...you're ready to go comparison shopping.

Here's some resources to help you do that:

* VoIP Comparison Reviews

VoIPReview does a good job comparing feature sets from each of the providers. Its user reviews seem a bit skewed, but otherwise the site looks good.

* ZDNet Reviews

ZDNet usually has objective reviews. Read through its commentary on any of the providers you are considering.

* Broadband Reports

Broadband reports has a specific area for review by users...with a regularly updated scoring system. It's often skewed with a tad bit of emotion....and reviews are mostly residential. But it does give you an idea for business use.

* Google

I'm sure most of you already do this, but once you've figured out what you're looking for, perform a search on companies on Google to see what others have said about it.

If you're willing to do a bit more work, contact various providers and create your own comparison chart. You can begin your research by visiting voipreview.org. The site offers VoIP facts and reviews of various broadband phone service providers. Compare the business plans for different providers and research the various features offered with each plan. Also, make sure your current Internet connection can handle VoIP calls. The Web site testyourvoip.com will evaluate and score your Internet connection. You'll know if it makes sense to run your phone traffic over your broadband connection.

Here is a list and description of the top ten (supposedly) VoIP providers (includes home plans for telecommuter staff).

- Axvoice

Axvoice has many plans for you to sign up. Unlimited call to USA/Canada plan costs $ 18.99 per month. Unlimited international & USA/Canada plan costs $29.99. Axvoice also has business plan starting from $ 39.99 per month.

- INVIVNI

INVIVNI has three plans, Residentials, Small Office, and Business. The Residential plan costs $24.95 per month. The Small Office plan costs $32.95 per month, and the Business plan costs is negotiable.

- VCInetwork

VCInetwork has three plans, Unlimited Long Distance :Home, Unlimited Long Distance: Business and 500 minutes to USA/Canada and Europe. Unlimited Long Distance : Home plan costs $28.95 per month. Unlimited Long Distance : Business plan costs $49.95 per month and 500 minutes to USA/Canada and Europe plan costs $14.50 per month.

- Skype

Skype is famous for their slogan, ?The Whole World can Talk for Free?. Skype is a free download and users can make free calls via, Skype to Skype. For a fee, you can advance your Skype to Skype Out and make calls to landline phones. Skype In will let your choose your area code and phone number. This way, friends and relatives can call you locally, if you select the same area code. Skype is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, and Pocket Pc operating systems. Not really a good business solution.

- Vonage

Probably the most well known VoIP providers, you may be surprised to discover that Vonage is also one of the more expensive providers. Vonage offers two plans, residential and small business. Residential users may choose between the Basic 500 plan and Unlimited. The Basic 500 plan offers 500 minutes of talk time for $14.99 a month. The Premium Unlimited residential plan costs $24.99 per month.

The Small Business Basic plan costs $39.99 per month and allows 1500 minutes. The Small Business Unlimited plan costs $49.99 a month and provides unlimited calls throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

- Dialpad

Dialpad and Yahoo have merged services. Currently, Dialpad offers three plans- Dialpad Monthly 300, Dialpad Monthly 500, and Dialpad USA. The cost for Dialpad Monthly 300 is $7.50 per month, Dialpad Monthly 500 costs $9.99 per month, and Dialpad USA costs $11.99 per month.

- Broadvox Direct

Broadvox Direct offers residential and small business services. Their residential services include the Residential Choice Plus plan for $9.95 per month. The Residential Choice Plus plan includes 100 outbound minutes and unlimited incoming minutes. Their Residential Unlimited Plan costs $29.95 a month and includes unlimited calling anywhere in the US and Canada. The SoHo Small Business Regional Plan costs $34.95 per month and includes 1500 monthly minutes in the US and in Canada. The SoHo Small Business Unlimited Plan costs $44.95 per month and includes unlimited calls in the US and Canada and also includes a free fax line and Yellow Page listing.

- Galaxy Voice

Galaxy Voice offers two plans, Residential and Business. Their residential plan costs $19.95 a month and includes unlimited calling, Voicemail, Caller Id, Call Waiting, Call Return, Three Way Calling, and Call Forwarding. Their business plan costs $39.95 per month and includes unlimited calling, Free Voice Mail, Free Call Transfer, Free Call Forwarding, Free Repeat Dialing, and Free Caller ID block.

- Voice Pulse

Voice Pulse has three plans, America Unlimited, Local Unlimited +200, and Business Unlimited. The America Unlimited plan costs $24.99 per month. The Local Unlimited +200 costs $14.99 per month, and the Business Unlimited costs $45.99 per month.

- VoIP American

VoIP American has three different plans. These are the VoIP American PBX plan, the VoIP American Voice plan and the VoIP American bVoice plan. The VoIP American PBX plan cost $19.99 a month for a private line and $44.99 a month for unlimited calling. The VoIP Voice Residential Basic plan costs $14.99 per month and the VoIP Voice Residential Unlimited plan costs $29.99 per month. The bVoice Business plan costs $34.99 per month.

- Packet 8

Packet 8 not only offers phone plans, but they also offer videophone plans. Their residential plans are the Freedom International and Freedom Unlimited. Both of these plans cost $19.99 per month. [note: currently they're running a special for $9.95 per month for your 1st 3 months. The Videophone plan is the Freedom Unlimited and that too is $19.99 per month. Their business plans consists of three different plans. These are the Virtual Office service plans, the Virtual Attendant Service plans, and the Business Phone Service plans. The Virtual office phone plan costs $39.95 per month, the Virtual Attendant service plan costs $14.95 per month, and the Business Attendant service plan costs $34.95 per month.

- Sun Rocket

Sun Rocket offers their signature service for either $24.95 per month or $199.00 per year.

- Speakeasy

Speakeasy offers many different plans ranging from Home Office, Small Office I, Small Office II, and Small Business. Their Home Office plan costs 79.90 per month, the Small Office I plan costs $560.00 per month, the Small Office II plan costs 1,039 per month and the Small Business plan costs $2,349 per month.

Analyzing phone service is often a real headache. However, unreliable line quality, which results in poor customer service and huge monthly bills are even worse. In the end, doing your research will pay dividends for your business. Personally, I have no reservations recommending Packet8 for your business VoIP solution right now. However, go through the above steps first for your own peace of mind.....you'll likely reach the same conclusion.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including Business-VoIP-Solution. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, resources, and insights.

Security Issues with VoIP

Are you acquainted to the pace with which IP telephony is catching up?

With major telecommunication carriers, in the process of preparing to launch VoIP applications it is heading towards a prime time. However a new sense of urgency is developing with the risk of wide spread security violation as VoIP technology is gaining popularity.

Until now VoIP security was not a volatile subject, since IP voice traffic remained on local and wide area enterprise networks mostly but VoIP usage becoming widespread has raised concerns over the VoIP security-security of voice data transferred since these voice networks are IP based and special call signal internet protocols that carry these data contains flaws.

To combat threats on VoIP security system it is essential to first device a method of sending VoIP traffic through firewalls. Which can block or restrict data packets due to their inbuilt security functions. Until then we are all susceptible to security breaches like denial of service attacks, tapping, loss of data, snooping.

The apprehensions attached with VoIP security are the major deterrents in the popularity and acceptance of IP telephony. Issues like invasion of privacy, eves-dropping are a serious matter and one would not want to fall victims to them. And it is this feeling of venerability that discourages people to adopt VoIP technology.

However there is a newer technology which has developed not very late ago. It?s called VPN (Virtual Private Network) ?it?s a wonderful way to connect through VoIP, fully guarding your concerns on breach of security. VPN forms a personal gateway between two users with the help of routers and forbids any attempts of intrusion. Although placing routers is an expensive affair altogether but many broadband service providers have begun offering a separate VPN servers to their routers.

Hence to ensure a secured calling experience with VoIP, choose a broadband service provider supporting VPN routers. And you could get the best of VoIP telephony.

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VoIP Termination

How to Switch to Avaya VoIP

Avaya Phone Systems has taken several steps to ensure a smooth transition traditional, circuit- based phone systems to VoIP phone systems. The company views the evolution to converged network as a three- step process:

Install IP architecture, laying the foundation for a wireless network capable of supporting data, voice, and video on a single cable.

Incorporate applications, taking advantage of features that increase your productivity and efficiency.

Employ IP telephony, connecting all branches and locations of your business, making the conversion from an outdated, inefficient network, to an industry- standard one.

Step One: Install IP Architecture

The first step in switching to VoIP phone systems takes one of two routes, depending on whether your company has POTS or a PBX. The route from POTS to VoIP phone systems is longer and more expensive, and is generally not recommended unless the monthly toll charges and fees are so unwieldy as to outweigh the high cost of converting.

However, VoIP phone systems architecture can be installed alongside the existing POTS, preserving your earlier investment. Over time, you can phase out your POTS and replace circuit- based telephones with IP- enabled ones, as you embrace IP telephony.

The process is much simpler with a PBX: The computer data network is expanded to support IP telephony on the LAN and VoIP and the WAN, creating a common infrastructure connecting all locations.

Step Two: Incorporate Applications

After a foundation for IP telephony has been built, and a converged network is in place, your company is ready to take the next step to VoIP phone systems: incorporating applications, taking advantage of integrated voice, data, and video.

VoIP phone systems enhance business communications by allowing for critical applications that improve productivity and efficiency: many applications and features that allow you to stay connected and accessible. Cell phone connect and remote call forwarding let your receive business calls when you?re out of the office, and Unified messaging gives you greater control over your voice and email messages.

VoIP phone systems keep you informed: the network has proactive monitoring programs that alert you when it needs repairs before something breaks down.

Step Three: Deploy IP Telephony

The final step in the transition to VoIP phone systems is to deploy IP telephony, creating converged communications. Deploying IP telephony and realizing the full potential of VoIP phone systems allows your company to flourish in an adaptive environment, easily integrating with multiple configurations.

This is possible because of modularization; VoIP phone systems have modular applications and components, increasing flexibility while making it a cost- effective solution.

As a completely optimized and integrated infrastructure, VoIP phone systems can save your business thousands upon thousands of dollars. VoIP phone systems eliminate fees for leasing phone lines, and greatly reduce monthly regulatory fees.

Cameron Elliott is an Telephony specialist at avaya voip phone systems where he extols the benefits of Avaya Phone Systems

Do You Text Chat (IM) Online?

IM (Instant Messaging) - man, we thought we had it made in the shade when we stumbled over this unique way to communicate! Outside of talking person-to-person on the phone, IM was the next best thing. Texting talk was endless and cost was nonexistent. Well, those were the good old days of yore ? you know, those days of glorious innocence.

Just as we were getting oh so comfortable, happily IMing away to each other, then came the cloak-and-dagger entrance of the treacherous ?IM villains?. With their ominous arrival, the party abruptly ended. It seemed like overnight, our instant messaging (IM) turned into instant mercenaries, and the carnage was strewn all over the Internet.

First, it was one by one, then the numbers increased and starting growing exponentially, as friends began receiving, and inadvertently sending, viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. Then it went from bad to worse, as report after report surfaced describing the grisly results of innocent victims losing their identity because these villains had accessed their personal and confidential information. Truly this was the darkest of times for all IMer friends ? regardless of the IM service we were texting on.

How could this have happened? And more importantly, how can we protect ourselves?

Well, I found out that these villainous hackers had accessed a nifty little program originally designed to benefit us, and twisted it to intercept our conversations traveling across the internet. They now have a profitable tool to use that intercepts our data packets and sends us a virus, and duplicates it by sending the same ugly bug to everyone on our Buddy List.

Once a hacker has gained access to our Buddy List, they trick our friends into thinking WE, (a trusted source), are sending them a file to download. Then when our friends innocently download the file, these villains can then access their computers as well, and use the personal and confidential information gathered to line their own pockets. How it affected businesses whose employees used IM to communicate?well, I will just let your imagination take over from there?because the hackers let theirs do the same.

A lot of us were thinking that we had nothing to worry about because we had anti-virus software on our computers, and that provided the protection we needed. Wrong!

Anti-virus software is not designed to protect our data packets traveling across the internet. There are still no anti-virus applications that directly monitor IM traffic. This is due to the difficulty in finding IM traffic as it is often embedded inside http packets. And what is worse yet is that Forrester?s, Root stated that ?In 2005 and 2006, we expect IM to get hit with some serious attacks??

But, don?t despair! I have discovered a cure!

In fact, I discovered the best of both worlds. What I have found is a computer phone (in ?techy? terms known as VoIP ? voice over internet protocol) that is optimally secure. One of the many features of the computer phone is the IM that is built into it. Thus, the IM instant messages are sent over optimally secure lines rather than openly public lines on the Internet -- AND I can also actually talk to friends from my computer phone any time I want. The ?good old days of yore? are back with even more !!!

Here?s what a computer phone is all about.

The computer phone was the creation resulting from taking the convenience and features of the telephone and combining it with the power of the Internet. Pretty ingenious I think! Although most computers have a built in microphone, some do not. Mine was one of those computers that did not. So, I ran down to a local store and bought one for $5. Then, much to my delight, I found out that it easily plugged into the back of my computer.

Here is what is really incredible about a computer phone. I can talk, IM, make 3-way calls, transfer a call to my cell phone if I am running out the door, and much, much more.

Actually, I have become so accustomed to the convenience of the features on my computer phone, that it actually becomes frustrating when I cannot IM a friend I am talking to on their cell phone or telephone. You see, often times, I find great sites to share with my friends, so I have to slowly spell out the location over the phone and repeat the letters so they get the right site, then wait for them to repeat it back to me, rather than quickly IMing them the site and letting them click on it right then and there.

One final word of wisdom -- over 90% of all computer phone (VoIP) services out there do not operate on secure lines. The one I am using is optimally secure because they have their own proprietary high end encryption codec (code) with patented technology that is hosted in a professional facility. You just can?t get any better than that!

Want to try a computer phone out for yourself?

You can download the software and try it out for 7 days absolutely free and without any contract, obligations, or hassles. Here?s the place to visit http://www.free-pc-phone.com Oh, and yes, you will love this?.if you use a dial up connection to the internet, these computer phones work too, in addition to satellite, cable, and wireless connections.

Dee Scrip is a well-known and respected published author of numerous articles on VoIP, VoIP security, and other VoIP related issues. http://www.free-pc-phone.com

Network Services

Ever since the break up of AT&T, companies have tried to save money on their telephone bills. First came changing your long distance carrier. You could get rates that were half or even lower then what AT&T charged. Eventually dozens of companies got involved in reselling long distance to the point where rates have gone to almost $.01 per minute.

Later on came changing your local carrier. Many companies resold the local exchange carrier's lines at a discount. Service was not as good, but the discounts were compelling for many companies.

Now the hot new thing is VoIP. You can get rid of the local phone company all together. You can get your dial tone from your cable company or though your DSL line.

Businesses can get rid of the local carrier too. High speed data lines allow businesses so get their dial tones from their ISP. The discounts are again very compelling. Be very careful, the service you get from some VoIP carriers is very poor. It's not sound quality, it's the up time. Make sure to deal with an established, reputable company and don't let promised savings blind you.

Talk with your telephone system vendor. They probably have relationships with several VoIP carriers. Get references from companies in your neighborhood. That will really help you gauge the reliablity of the service.

Keep some back up service on regular copper lines. If your VoIP service goes down, you can have your calls forwarded to your back up service. It's well worth the extra costs. http://www.teleco4.com

Andrew Taub
Telecomunictions Expert
http://www.teleco4.com

The Pros And Cons Of Using VoIP For Internet Phone Calls

The field of telecommunications is almost constantly in a state of rapid change and that is certainly true today as VoIP technology continues to grow in both quality and popularity. VoIP actually stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, and it is a way of transferring telephone calls across the internet to a distant computer or telephone without the use of your local telephone company.

A very good way to sample VoIP technology is through using instant messaging programs such as Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, and AOL Messenger. All of these programs allow you to use a microphone and a set of speakers connected to your computer to make free PC to PC audio calls. For those instant messaging programs that also include video and allow for more than two people to be connected at any one time, you can even hold your own internet video conference easily and inexpensively thanks to VoIP technology.

All you have to do is download one of these above mentioned programs free of charge, install it on your computer, and connect up your microphone and speakers, to be able to sample this technology and see if you like it or not. If you do, and chances are that you will, you can then sign up for a VoIP subscription plan with one of the major VoIP providers to let you take full advantage of all of the features that VoIP has to offer.

One of the big advantages of VoIP subscription plans is their minimal cost when compared to local telephone companies. When you start shopping these plans you'll see a large difference in cost between them and what you pay for your telephone service now, and that is no doubt the most attractive feature of VoIP technology to most consumers.

However, there are a few drawbacks to using VoIP for telephone communications that you should also be aware of. First of all, you will most likely need a high speed internet connection in order to get the best results when using a VoIP application or program. It can be done on a dial-up connection, but your results can be very spotty and inconsistent, sometimes even downright frustrating. On a high speed connection though, you should experience voice quality that very closely rivals that of land line telephones.

One other consideration is that it can be difficult to call 911 using a VoIP program if you don't know where you are. 911 operators are unable to perform a trace on calls that originate from an IP telephone or computer, so there would be no way to locate the caller if they cannot identify exactly where they are. However, VoIP providers are currently working on this problem and hope to have a solution soon.

As you can see, there are both advantages and disadvantages to using VoIP technology for your telephone communications. By being aware of both the pros and cons, you should be able to make an informed decision about whether or not VoIP will work for you.

Steadman Issenburg writes on many consumer related topics including communication. You can find a voip broadband phone provider and voip broadband phone service and more by visiting our communication website.

Is Your VoIP Hosted PBX Provider Blind to Your Troubles?

A recent survey conducted by Emprix revealed that more than one third of all VoIP service providers, which includes Hosted PBX service, are unable to recognize they have a service quality problem until a customer complaint is received.

In a world where mission critical business applications routinely flow through data networks, it is distressing that no monitoring capability exists for many service providers of our newest and best technology. In the enterprise market, the financial viability of a business can very well depend on a vendor?s technical strength and on their capability to proactively monitor and fix problems before the end user is affected.

Before selecting a vendor for your VoIP Hosted PBX service make sure they are equipped with the proper Network Management System (NMS) for their VoIP deployments, one that allows their Network Operations and Field Technicians to identify and troubleshoot VoIP problems without relying upon a complaint from you to trigger an action on their part.

Your Hosted PBX provider should have the capability to proactively monitor detailed call quality statistics including MOS, jitter, latency, and other measurements. State-of-the-Art network monitoring systems have advanced diagnostics linked to an online knowledgebases that automatically provide network technicians with troubleshooting tips. This capability dramatically reduces the effort and time required to identify the root cause of poor quality calls, and more importantly it reduces the time that your business is affected by the trouble.

Their system should also incorporate trend analysis and pro-active notification of poor VoIP call performance so that the network technician is able to identify and resolve issues that would otherwise impact VoIP service delivery to your business. With the proper network management system, in the event that you do have a problem, it is likely that the trouble can be rectified remotely rather than waiting for a time-consuming truckroll.

When you are in the process of evaluating Hosted PBX service offerings, make sure that your evaluation criteria is heavily weighted to include the vendor's network monitoring capabilities, and that they have the proper tools to effectively measure, monitor and manage all of their VoIP endpoints.

Whatever you do, don't buy VoIP service from a blind provider.

VOIP/Net Phone Revolution

Have you seen them? The commercials about Net phones and how they can save you a ton of money on long-distance? Okay, so now you want to know how it works, what's in it for you, are there any hidden charges that will have me paying the same if not more per month than my current, reliable land-line phone, Am I going to sound like E.T. attempting to phone home on this thing and what are they not telling me that could nix the whole deal? Well, here you are.

How it works:

VOIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol, is just that. Your voice is sent in what are known as packets, accross the internet and re-assembled at the receiving end. Kind of like that machine in the The Fly, only a lot more stable (no incects messing up your DNA or anything). You plug your internet connection (which must be broadband, DSL or Cable) into your modem (as usual), you then plug the modem into your adapter, and then connect your adapter to your other devices (Phone, Fax, Computer).

Not that difficult, but since configurations vary from provider to provider,I urge you to check it out yourself.

What's in if for you:

Lower prices. Truthfully, VOIP delivers on it's promise of lower prices. There are taxes and fees, but they will only bump your final monthly bill about 2 to 3 dollars. Quality, still lags behind land line, but that is to be expected. What is not to be expected how far VOIP quality has come in a short amount of time. Many people never notice a difference between speaking to someone using VOIP and speaking to someone using land line technology (See Net Phones Grow Up by Jeff Betolucci and Tom Kortie, PC World, September 2005).

What Are They Not Telling Me That Could Nix the Whole Deal?

There are a couple of concerns with VOIP. One is that, with VOIP relying on an internet connection, if your internet connection is down for some reason, you have no phone. The other concern is 911. 911 systems and VOIP vendors have not been playing nice in the sandbox. Fortunately, E911 is being enforced by the FCC and all VOIP vendors must provide 911 service that rivals that of landline users by November 28, 2005. So, basically, the second issue is no longer an issue.

What's the difference between Net Phones and a Service like Skype?

Skype requires a PC for both users. It is PC to PC communication. There is no true Phone, while Net Phone uses your phone and a portable adapter. The adapter can be taken on the road and used anywhere you find a high-speed connection. Skype is not a replacement for your current phone service, net phone is. You can bypass the phone company completely. You don't end up paying for services that the phone company charges you for, like voicemail, 3-Way calling, Call-Forwarding, etc.,; these fees are all covered in your $25-$40 a month for unlimited calls.

Economically, VOIP makes sense. You get comparable quality for a much lower price and more standard features. Hopefully this will help you make a more informed decision or at the very least help you decide if VOIP is right for you or your small/home business.

Yolanda McDonald is Business Systems Analyst in Baltimore, MD. She has 15 years of experience in programming, design and analysis on several platforms including Midrange, Client/Server and the Internet. You can find more of her articles at http://www.ymcdonald.com.

Save Money On Long Distance 5 Ways

Considering VoIP? Do you make plenty of long distance calls or just a few? Do you spend a fortune no matter what you do to lower your rates? Call after 9pm. Wait until the weekend to share your good news with those across the ocean? Perhaps you even have stopped using the services at all? You can stay connected with those that you love no matter where they are located. Have a look at the following ways to save money on long distance:

1.Do you VoIP? The first thing that you can do is to consider the service known as VoIP. This service uses a technology called voice over internet protocol to allow you to talk over the web instead of talking over your phone lines. The installation of equipment is fairly painless and the fee for the equipment is usually a one time thing. If you have a service provider that provides VoIP in your area, you may want to look into it. Why? No additional long distance fees!

2.Ready for some comparison shopping? You can compare the prices on those long distance companies that offer service within your area. Which have the best rates overall? Which will offer both high quality service and excellent prices? Narrow down your list to a few. Do some more research ? check out consumerguides.com or some other online reviews.

3.Do you really need long distance? Next on your list of ways to lower your rates is to consider getting rid of any and all of your long distance all together. Many people have found that cell phones are an excellent way to make all the calls that you need to. You?ll need to compare how much you use your service and how much it will cost you to use the correct, no roaming cell service. Only keep a land line for emergency reasons.

4.Keep an eye out for deals! Some will use programs such as late night and weekend calling to get the best rates available. Many long distance companies are out there that offer excellent programs. Some allow for you to purchase long distance for only a limited area. Watch for packages and deals that are always coming out.

5.Some offer a flat rate service - Look into the unlimited long distance programs that are available in your area. Many companies are offering a flat rate service. If you make enough calls this is a great way to save money

Mike Singh is a webmaster and successful publisher of why-switch-to-voip.com. He provides more articles dealing with VoIP such as disadvantages of VoIP.

Take Advantage of Internet Phone Calls (VOIP)

Voice Over IP (VOIP) is a relatively new technology. Voice Over IP allows people to leave behind the old and very traditional analogue phone networks and now adapt in favor of the very new and very progressive Internet-based calling system infrastructure. Using this technology for your communications actually works out cheaper for you in the long run as it means you won't need to pay for calls if the people you are calling and speaking to are also using the same VOIP system.

Voice Over IP runs on several different types of infrastructure. This is the main reason why you should take the time to do your homework and find out how it works and what is involved, before you even consider setting up a Voice Over IP network at your home or place of business. When you do your homework you will see that invariably VOIP offers lots of advantages over and above the standard traditional telephone based analogue service that most people are currently using. Let's take a moment to examine some of the advantages of using Voice Over IP.

The main advantage of Voice Over IP is to be honest - the cost - the cost benefit goes directly back into your pocket. And because Voice Over IP uses the infrastructure of the Internet to make outgoing calls, you will never need to pay your traditional phone provider to maintain a telephone line or for phone and line rental. In addition, many Voice Over IP service providers allow customers to make long distance calls that attract minimal or no long distance charges at all. Many service providers even offer customer VOIP packages that allow you to opt for discounted internet call rates so you can save even more.

But what about this for a benefit? If you have Voice Over IP software installed on your PC and you want to speak to someone who is also uses Voice Over IP, then you are able to talk for as long as you want without having to pay a single cent. This is because your voice is actually transformed into digital data packets rather than audio, and the data is transferred in a similar fashion to that of email. Voice Over IP also makes it very easy and cheap to conduct conference calls and video calls.

There are, of course, some minor disadvantages to using Voice Over IP and you should consider these before you embark on setting up Voice Over IP. Since Voice Over IP is a relatively recent and largely untapped technology, Voice Over IP is prone to experience more errors than using a normal phone would. In addition, if you experience a power failure, then you would be unable to make a call, like you could with a traditional analogue phone. In any event, Voice Over IP is something that you should investigate for your own home and business needs and you should consider it soon while the rates are cheap and the deals are good.

Colin Brin is the owner of AB Voip which is a premier source of information about Voip. For more information, go to: http://abvoip.com

VoIP Telephony ? Time to Cut Your Apron Strings

It?s time to fire your mother.

Well, not your real mother, but that other mother who?s ruled you with a copper fist for most of your life: Ma Bell.

Don?t get me wrong; you can appreciate everything the Bell phone companies have done for you over the years. Life would be bleak and you wouldn?t be able to work or keep up with family and friends without your telephone service.

Some of you may be old enough to remember rotary dial phones and having to get an operator to make a long distance call. Maybe you?re not old enough to have been on a party line, but you may remember your parents or grandparents talking about having to share a line with their neighbors.

My, how times have changed. And now you can kick Ma out of your home and office for good. Not to switch exclusively to using a cell phone as many have (a new email is making the rounds that tells of another scientific study showing prolonged cell phone use can cause brain tumors), but because you can have VoIP!

You may not be the kind of person who embraces a new technology right away, so it doesn?t have to be a sudden breakup with Ma Bell. You can keep her on for while if you?re afraid to cut the fiber optic umbilical cord and unconditionally accept this new broadband telephone technology until you know how it works.

That?s what I did. For a while I had two telephones on my desk: the Bell phone for incoming calls and my VoIP phone for outgoing calls ? especially for long distance, since it now costs nothing.

Once you have Voice over IP you won?t be able to imagine paying anything to make long distance calls in the U.S. and Canada, or paying $80 or more a month to get a few hundred minutes of long distance on a cell phone.

If you have a contract with a Bell company or reseller, you may be hesitant to buy out the contract. But do the math. Figure out how much it will cost you to buy out the contract (mine charged $20 for each unused month). Then figure out how much you?ll pay if you stay with that company for the length of the contract. Subtract the cost of the buy-out and that?s how much money you?ll save in the long run.

You can probably cut your phone bill in half and have a clearer phone line. If you have a separate long distance company, you can fire them immediately because you?ll get unlimited local and long distance with VoIP for a flat, low monthly rate.

You may worry that when there?s a power or cable outage, your phone won?t work. True, but you?ll have a control panel that you programmed to tell your VoIP server to automatically forward your calls to your cell phone when the VoIP connection is out.

So, maybe it?s time for you to join 17-million other VoIP user and say, ?Sorry, Ma, we?ve grown up and we?re moving on.?

? Copyright 2006. Annette Estes. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint granted as long as entire article and tag line are included.

Annette Estes is a Certified Professional Behavioral and Values Analyst. She?s a life coach specializing in helping people save money. She is an award-winning columnist and author. Her book Why Can?t You See It My Way? Resolving Values Conflicts at Work and Home is in its fourth printing. Annette was a television news anchor for 15 years at WYFF-TV and WSPA-TV. One of her missions is to help others understand VoIP technology. You can subscribe to her free newsletter at http://www.BestVoipTips.com.

Why Should You Switch To VoIP?

By now, you've probably heard about the new technology called VoIP, or Voice Over IP. VoIP is a replacement for a standard telephone and phone line. It uses your high-speed internet connection instead of regular phone lines. Millions of people all over the world are embracing this new technology. Should you?

Let's take a look at the benefits and features. After all, you should make an educated decision and not just an instant decision. So why is VoIP so great?

- Price. VoIP's price, most of the time, will beat standard phone rates. Companies usually offer free long distance and foreign calling ? so you could call someone on the other side of the world for the same price as a friend down the street. On the other hand, price would not be a huge advantage if you pay per minute with a standard phone and make only 2 short calls a month!

- Computer compatibility. You can use your computer as your phone instead of using a regular-style phone. Why would you do this? Well, with some computer software, you can share documents, messages, and videos (think webcam plus audio) with friends that also have VoIP.

- More features. VoIP isn't just a normal phone technology. It usually comes with many different features that you would have to pay for or couldn't even get with a regular phone service, like free caller-ID, conference calls, on-hold music, free voicemail, and more.

These are just some of the basic new VoIP features. Some companies even offer unique services and bonuses, so be sure to examine what you get so that you can fully compare between companies.

If, right now, you are thinking that VoIP is right for you, why not try it? After all, many companies offer a 30-day (or longer) money-back guarantee, so if you decide you're not happy with it, just ask for your money back!

Free VoIP Articles on VoIP Services & Solutions

Keith Gilbert is the author and webmaster of http://www.freevoiptips.com.

Weeding The VoIP Garden

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is fast becoming the way for the world to communicate and the VoIP market jungle is full of weeds wanting to become trees.

VoIP has been around for the public market since 2002 and you can only find about a handful of stand alone VoIP service providers. Vonage who is the king of marketing still clings to its ?Woo Hoo? song and their ever rising marketing costs and lower profits. Packet8, the old pioneer of Internet phone service, is chugging away while building up consumer confidence and new innovative VoIP products. We see Lingo, who likes to push their International calling plans, struggling to regain ground on the rest of field, and the new kid in the garden, SunRocket, who brings their trusty Bottom-Line pricing along for the new growth of VoIP. These and a few other companies are around for the long haul.

It is important in these early growth stages to weed out those who are trying to choke out the main growth. These are VoIP providers who are only in for the early money grabbing glory days and will die off when the heat starts to beat down on them.

If you are looking for a new VoIP service provider you need to take a few hours and weed out the jungle. You can check out the online VoIP news reports for their achievements and future plans, find and study the VoIP forums. Internet phone providers who have little or no news at all are mainly the ones that will die out. You?ll find that the strong growing VoIP companies are bringing new and improve products and services to the field everyday. Researching like this can be tough going and very time consuming.

Another option is to locate an independent VoIP, broadband or telecommunication consultant who is consistently researching and learning about the new VoIP services and products offered. These consultants are not being paid by just one provider or company to sell only their products. They are able to give you unbiased advice concerning the services you are considering. They can tell you the pros and cons of each individual provider even for those who they don?t represent.

Using an independent telecom consultant will ease the pain and time in finding that right VoIP or broadband phone provider especially in this weed choked Internet phone garden. An independent consultant will be able to inform you of what all of the top VoIP providers are doing with new services, products and future plans for the leading VoIP solutions. The great thing is you get all of your information in a few minutes and its free (Do Not Pay For Consulting).

For more information on VoIP services, products and news contact: http://www.altabroadband.bravehost.com

Voice Over Internet Protocol A Few Things You Need To Know First

Unless you have had your head in the sand lately you will have heard of VOIP. Everyone seems to be talking about VOIP, but you can be forgiven for probably not knowing much about it. VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol and if you believe the media hype this new phone service is about to revolutionise the telecommunications market. As with a lot of new technological developments there are a few causes for concerns that you probably will not hear the marketing campaigns talk about.

What is it?

Just to give you a bit of background lets take a look at how VOIP works for those of you that are unsure. You will need to have a broadband Internet connection and to then open an account with one of the many new VOIP providers. By having an account with a VOIP provider you will be able to make a telephone call through your computer and its Internet connection. Many VOIP providers will allow you to call another user on their system for free or phone a standard telephone number for a low cost. Without getting too technical, VOIP works by converting your voice into lots of small packets of data. These data packets are then routed through the Internet to your VOIP provider?s servers, and then onto the person you are calling. The reason people are raving about this new service is the cost. It is much cheaper than a standard fixed line telephone and you will also get all the same services.

Is there a downside?

Now we do not want to put you off setting up a VOIP service, but we think you should know a couple of things before you do. Obviously low cost telephone calls is a very attractive offer, but there are drawbacks to VOIP. One a major issue you need to be aware of is that a VOIP service requires you to have a power supply, as it requires your computer to be on. This means should your electricity be out you will not be able to use your phone. In some circumstances this could just be a minor inconvenience, but in an emergency situation it may be much more serious. In heavy storms and natural disasters electricity power is often lost first. Would you really want to be without a phone?

Should your PC decide to stop working for whatever reason, you?ll be left without a phone. Computers are prone to crashing and should this happen, you will not be able to make any phone calls. A concern of a different issue, is one of security. Because your phone calls will be transported as data via the Internet, you will be opening up the possibility of having your phone system hacked into. A scary thought, especially for business users.

As we said previously, it is not our intention to put you off VOIP. We actually think it is a great service with so much going for it. It is something that you should look into setting up, and you can find out the most current developments from our website (link below). We just want to give you the full picture though so you can make an informed choice.

Take a look at VOIP Basics top ten things you need to know.

VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol.

VOIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol is a new way for you to make a telephone call.

You will need to get yourself a broadband internet connection in order to set up a VOIP service.

There are more and more companies setting up VOIP services. Skype is probably the most known.

VOIP works by converting the sound of your voice into tiny packets of data and then transmitting these via the internet.

Your PC needs to be on in order to use a VOIP service, which could be a drawback should your electricity be off.

VOIP services provide extremely cheap calls.

Think about the possible security issues as your internet connection could be hacked.

Should your PC get a virus this could stop you using the phone if you are on a VOIP service.

Many VOIP providers will allow you to call another of there users for free anywhere in the world.

Seymour Brown writes articles for http://www.voip-basics.com

VoIP: A Wise Investment for Small Business

Small businesses are always looking for ways to increase their competitiveness by cutting costs, improving their value proposition and requiring their staff to work more efficiently.

Today, in the telecommunications industry, a new technology called VoIP - Voice over Internet Protocol (Internet-based phone service) has emerged and is making all of the above and more, possible for SMBs (small and medium-size businesses). VoIP technology compresses voice (audio) data into packets that can be transmitted over data networks and the public Internet, and converted back into voice at the receiving end. This is the basis for some of the significant cost savings as voice now becomes just another form of data, allowing for integration with web based applications and the development of new features that would be impossible using traditional networks.

SMBs Demand Higher Functionality at a Lower Cost

Traditional telephone networks were designed solely to carry low-fidelity audio signals with a high level of reliability. Although these networks are very reliable for voice communication, they are not well suited to service today?s explosive growth of digital communication applications, because they: are expensive to build; must have the capacity from day one to address potential growth, increasing initial costs and creating an underutilized investment; transmit data at very low rates and resolutions, making them poorly suited for delivering high-fidelity audio, entertainment-quality video, or other rich multimedia content; use dedicated circuits for each call, which allot fixed bandwidth throughout the call?s duration, whether or not voice is actually being transmitted; cannot be leveraged to provide new or differentiated services or functions, such as video communication, that the network was not originally designed to accommodate.

Advantages of VoIP Technology

VoIP uses packet-switched networks to carry non-real-time data using much less bandwidth. The advantages of such networks are flexibility, efficiency, and scalability. Flexibility: networks can be built in a variety of configurations to suit the number of users, client/server application requirements, and desired bandwidth availability. Efficiency: bandwidth is consumed only when needed; service providers can converge their traditionally separate voice and data networks, and carry voice, video, fax, and data traffic over the same network; many terminals can share the same connection to the network and as a result, significantly more traffic can be transmitted over a packet-switched network than over a circuit-switched telephony network. Scalability: Extensions can be easily added to the network as growth demands.

These advantages help create cost savings that can be passed on to consumers in the form of lower telephone bills. Around the world, more than 25 million SMBs could realize significant benefits by employing VoIP as their phone service.

A Hosted PBX

A Hosted IP PBX system is built using a VoIP infastructure specifically for small business. This system offers many advantages to SMBs compared to traditional telcom offerings. Businesses that opt for non-hosted VoIP phone systems, must first invest in a scalable and very expensive platform; as well as devote resources to set up, configure, and maintain them ? a significant overhead cost.

In a hosted PBX service, configuration and maintenance are handled by the service provider and included in the monthly service price. In any price comparison, an SMB must look at all these costs and consider the entire total cost of ownership associated with on on-premise based system versus a hosted solution.

In a hosted IP PBX environment, a subscriber uses their broadband IP network for a small business phone system as well as data service. Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) for VoIP service requires only IP phones, or analog-to-digital converters for analog phones. This dramatically reduces start-up costs. Typically, all applications are also hosted, eliminating multiple vendors and points of contact.

Hosted PBXs Reduce Costs from 50 to 90 Percent

With traditional business phone systems, each company must pay for expensive equipment, phones, applications, installation, and maintenance, as well as bring in trunk lines. On top of this, a business will need to add in expensive monthly fees for local and long distance calling, a maintenance contract and annual upgrade costs.

Payback periods for a PBX phone system may never occur, preventing smaller companies from considering a traditional business phone system and forcing them to rely on basic, multi-line service and phones, which can be really expensive. Even after the upfront and quite substantial investment, customers could hear a busy signal if traffic exceeds the number of available lines.

For small businesses, the only alternative has been to use regular, basic phone service, which requires that all users must be in the same physical location, have a limited features and pay a large up front cost. Hosted PBX services nearly eliminate the upfront investment and cover the local and long distance calling costs for a low monthly fee, and include all the features.

For a monthly subscription fee, a business enjoys unlimited long distance and local calls in the U.S. and Canada, and can use all the advanced applications including auto-attendant, ring groups, and extensions. These features would cost much more if provided with traditional solutions. Also, since each user can have two non-blocking lines, up to 20 calls can be handled by a single extension, reducing busy signals and customer abandon rates.

Hosted PBX Features

Most hosted PBX include unlimited calling to the US and Canada; E911 emergency calling; a business class telephone with one-touch controls, DND, park, conference and much more; auto attendant that will route your calls to the appropriate extensions; full featured conference bridge and much more!

For SMBs that demand more features at a lower cost, VoIP is an alternative with great results!

Click here for more in-depth information about business voip products and services.

Michael Brito is an internet marketing consultant and freelance writer for a variety of consumer related products.

What is Internet Phone Service?

Internet phone service, broadband phone service, IP phone service and digital phone service are all terms that are commonly used to describe VoIP. Voice Over Internet Protocol is a technology that makes it possible for telephone calls to be made over the internet.

Unlike traditional land-line service, internet phone service does not rely on the public switched telephone network (PSTN) that telephone companies use; it uses a broadband internet connection to route calls over the World Wide Web. Broadband phone service is unbelievably cheap because there are no high phone company fees involved.

Internet phone calls originate on the internet, but do not have to terminate on an internet phone. You can use broadband phone service to call anyone anywhere in the world. The person you are calling does not have to be using internet phone service.

There are two types of internet phone service that are very popular and widely used today ? hardware VoIP and software VoIP. Although both use the internet to route phone calls, hardware VoIP uses a small piece of equipment called a VoIP adapter to process calls and software VoIP (also known as softphone or SIP phone) uses your computer and a special software program for calling. Both hardware and software-based internet phone service provide a money saving alternative to regular land-line service, but each is best suited to meet a certain type of need.

Software-Based Internet Phone Service

Because software-based internet phone service works via your computer, it works best for occasional use or for traveling. You have to have a PC with a sound card, speakers and microphone. For the best quality, it is recommended to use a headset with microphone, or a special device called a USB phone or IP phone. Once you have established an internet connection, you use a VoIP software program to make and receive calls. Although it is possible to make internet phone calls over a dial-up connection, broadband internet is recommended for the best quality.

Most software-based VoIP providers allow you to download their software and set up an account for free. With most IP phone companies, ?in network? calls are usually free, and you only pay if when you make calls to outsiders. You can get really cheap international long distance rates with this type of service, and many people use it solely for this purpose. There are many good softphone internet phone service providers to choose from, including Skype, Net2Phone and WebPhone. Vonage, who has up until recently been a hardware-based VoIP provider, is now also offering software VoIP service.

Hardware-Based Internet Phone Service

Hardware-based internet phone service is much easier to use, as it looks and feels just like regular land line phone service. This type of service is best suited for home and business use, as it requires no computer and you use regular telephones to make calls. Most people use this type of VoIP service as a replacement for traditional phone service. When people talk about broadband phone service, digital phone service or internet phone service, they are usually referring to hardware-based VoIP. The VoIP company you subscribe with provides a small device called a VoIP adapter, which connects to the internet on one side and to a telephone on the other. The adapter takes care of routing all calls to/from the internet.

Broadband phone service requires a subscription, and you can normally choose between a ?limited? plan of 200-500 local and long distance minutes or an ?unlimited local and long distance calling? plan. With unlimited plans costing anywhere from $18 to $30 per month, the majority of internet phone service subscribers choose this because it is most cost-effective. All VoIP providers offer cheap international calling rates. Many have an optional ?unlimited international calling? plan that usually runs around $50 per month and includes local and domestic long distance as well. There are several good broadband phone service providers to choose from. Some of the better known VoIP providers are Vonage, SunRocket, Packet8 and AT&T CallVantage.

Debbie is an information technology professional and author of the following sites about broadband phone service:

Internet Phone Service - The Future is Here!
The Best VoIP Providers for the Money

VoIP Software

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, architecture consists of end-user devices, gateways, gatekeepers and the IP network. The software for VoIP is a collection of programs, applications and protocols to manage the architecture. The significance of VoIP software is underlined by the increasing demand for higher quality of service from consumers. Effective software programming translates into effective management of calls?in terms of routing of the calls through the least congested paths?and clarity of voice.

VoIP software can be classified according to the different functionalities in the VoIP network. These functionalities include the management of user interfaces, call processing, network management and billing. User interface software handles the interface to the user of IP telephone. The important features of the user interface include algorithms to compress voice data, echo cancellation and encryption.

Call processing servers are run by software to map the destination of the call. The software is a database program called soft switch. The software translates the phone number into a unique IP address after checking the validity of the number. It connects the two devices on both ends, after alerting the called party of the incoming call through a ring.

Call administration software, called consoles, are applications that manage the state of the calls and the distribution. This software provides bandwidth management. Some of the standard protocols are H.323 session initiation protocol. In order to maintain the quality of service, real time protocol (RTP) is employed. The software also manages the networks.

Some of the customer-oriented services managed by software are billing services. This includes pre- and post-paid services. Some provide voicemail services that synthesize voice for mails. IP soft phones are managed by software that lets the user directly connect with the VoIP provider through a computer. Skype software is rapidly capturing the market with millions of phone minutes.

Another area where software provides services is in the call-monitoring systems for call offices to manage the calls and Computer telephony Integration for businesses.

Software development is accelerated by the need to solve various issues such as loss of packets and sequencing of packets.

VOIP provides detailed information on VOIP, VOIP Providers, VOIP Phone System, VOIP Solutions and more. VOIP is affiliated with Wireless IP Phones.

VoIP Is Moving to Wireless Applications

The world is making the move to wireless applications of all sorts. Users of computers and telephones are losing the plugs. The great inventors of the last century, Albert Einstein and Nikola Tesla knew that in the future the world would be a wireless one. The vision of these great inventors is now coming about as people are able to jump from one hotspot to another and are no longer bound by telephone cords and power outlets.

As men and women become more mobile, the demand for wireless technology continues to increase. Computers are portable, telephones are cellular, and now VoIP is enabling a entirely new family of wireless conveniences.

VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol, transmits Packets (data filled information) over the Internet. VoIP can be used anywhere a broadband modem is connected to the internet, or with the integration of a suitable wireless network card, it may be connected over a wireless local area network.

Wireless technology or WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) is accomplished by the use of networks and access points. A wireless enabled device can access the Internet any time it has access to network signal. It is similar to radio signal and there is a range of operation known as a hotspot. A hotspot is an area where there is an access point (connection to the internet) facilitated by a wireless transmitter/receiver. It is possible for wireless users to basically hop from hotspot to hotspot and utilize a number of networks access points as they travel. This is known as lily padding and operates much the same as going from one cell phone tower to another.

There are, however, still important security issues that need to be worked out concerning the avoidance of viruses, Trojans, and worms from contaminating the wireless web and halting communications. When people can jump from hotspot to hotspot this leads to a essential need for stricter security rules and regulations. Protection is and will remain the number one concern for those involved in building the wireless world. But people want wireless technology. They need to conduct meetings while travelling and the ability to stay in touch with clients, customers, employees, and employers. The engineering community is addressing these needs as quickly as they can. The technology is developing rapidly and definitely faster than it can be regulated.

Wireless technology and VoIP technology have been merged to create another innovation-VoWiFi. VoWiFi is an acronym for Voice over Wireless Fidelity. VoWiFi phones are beginning to hit the market. They work like cell phones, except they use VoIP technology, (transmitting over the Internet) and are wireless, operating in a number of hotspots. Many of the major service providers are embracing VoWiFi technology. Currently Cingular has a VoWiFi plan available. Although this technology is still relatively new, we can anticipate to see a large increase in both products and service providers in the coming years.

A new technology, the Hybrid, is currently on the market, yet still in it's early developmental stage. The Hybrid utilizes both cellular and VoWiFi. The advantage of a Hybrid phone is that it uses your network calling range as a cell phone. When you leave your range, you can avoid roaming charges by accessing a VoWiFi hotspot instead, thus avoiding those costly roaming charges. There are no roaming fees involved with VoWiFi. This is just one example of how the advances in wireless technology are creating new products. Verizon is said to be developing a VoWiFi phone, and many larger telephone companies are looking at WiFi as the direction of the future. Service providers who have dealt with one infrastructure for decades are now beginning to understand that technology is changing not only the future, but also the need for the products they have specialized in.

In the near future, we can expect to see many more access points opening up nationwide. With the integration of VoIP and wireless technology the future is a technological breakthrough that will allow us all to be more mobile while still keeping in touch with the important things that fill our lives.

Jay Mark is the webmaster of http://voip-topics.com. VoIP-Topics is a resource for those interested in VoIP Service Providers and Equipment, and News in the VoIP Industry.

Why Over 90% of VoIP Services Are Vulnerable to Attack

John Ashcroft, Attorney General, in remarks at the High Technology Crime Investigation Association 2004 International Training Conference held on September 13, 2004 stated, ?We have seen worms and viruses attack?disrupting basic services?And with the increased use of the Internet and especially peer-to-peer networking, we have seen malicious code spread more quickly and infect more personal computers than ever before. The cost of these worms, viruses, and denial-of-service attacks?reaches into the billions of dollars.?

In an article written by Daniel A. Morris, Assistant US Attorney, Computer and Telecommunications Coordinator with the District of Nebraska stated in ?Tracking a Computer Hacker?, that the ?The modern thief can steal more with a computer than with a gun. Tomorrow?s terrorist may be able to do more damage with a keyboard than with a bomb.?

Ralph Echemendia, head of Intense School which trains executives regarding network security risks, stated that ?Telecom providers are one of the main targets for malicious attackers because they control communications for everybody.?

Sophisticated hackers have learned how to tap into sensitive information traveling on the Internet, and their focal point is communication.

How is this possible?

It is fairly simple. First, you should be aware that email services operate off of email servers, and web services operate off of web servers. Both email servers and web servers are built for data and not for voice.

Because VoIP has voice, it requires a system that will convert the voice into data packets to travel across the Internet, and then convert back to voice at destination. However, VoIP should not be considered just another application residing on a data network, as it necessitates a real time service due to performance expectations (e.g., quality of sound).

The majority of VoIP computer phones require a minimum of 20 kps (kilobytes per second) of bandwidth (information carrying capacity) for data packets to travel across the Internet, which is why most require a minimum high speed Internet connection in order to function without corrupting the quality of the voice.

Although in the minority, a few VoIP computer phone providers, some of which are reputable, require a minimum of less than 10 kps (kilobytes per second) of bandwidth (information carrying capacity), which is why their services can be used with dial-up connections or high speed (e.g., cable), satellite, and wireless connections.

Over 90% of VoIP services operate using industry standard codec (encryption codes) and industry standard protocols.

Computers are assigned a different numeric Internet Protocol (IP) address while on line, which is analogous to mail where you would have an identity location with your street number, city, state and zip code.

Relative to a protocol, the IP (Internet Protocol) address is a number that identifies the user and their computer. Industry standard codec and industry standard protocols are open and interpretable to the public. Unscrupulous hackers frequently launch their attacks against VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services that operate on these publicly open and interpretable standards.

Peer-to-peer services, as well as over 90% of all VoIP computer phone services, operate on industry standard codec and industry standard protocols. In other words, their lines are not secure.

IM services also create targeted vulnerability to vicious hacker attacks by a simple monitoring program made available that enables electronic eavesdropping.

The above information is an excerpt taken from an in-depth and exclusive Report entitled ?Why Hackers Love Computer Phones ? A Shocking Report You Must Read!? by Dee Scrip available only at http://www.whypay4calls.com/gtp/to.pl?l=ART-03

Looking For Headsets For VOIP?

Many people use headsets when talking to their friends and family using VOIP. VOIP stands for voice over internet protocol and it is a very inexpensive and a popular way to make phone calls from your computer or land line phone over a broadband internet connection. If you are using your computer to make phone calls, then you should definitively check out headsets for VOIP.

Benefits Of Using A Headset For VOIP
Headsets for VOIP computer calling makes it easier when on the road or at home to make free or very affordable phone calls. Headsets main benefit is that they set your hands free, enabling you to be more productive. And using a headset for VOIP is very easy! Most headsets are extremely comfortable and either fit over the head, behind the neck or is ear buds that gently fit in your ears. The difference between a cell phone headset and headset for VOIP is that a VOIP headset has a microphone RCA connector and an earphone RCA connector which is made specifically for a computers sound card. A quality headset system can dramatically improve the quality of your VOIP calls and will as well considerably reduce shoulder, back and neck strain.

Costs Of VOIP Headsets
Headsets for VOIP are extremely affordable and usually start at about $10. There are several models that are wireless if you don't like to be connected by a cord, which makes it easier for you to walk around your room or office. Keep in mind that wireless headsets are generally more expensive than headsets connected by a cord.

Where To Buy VOIP Headsets
You can buy headsets for VOIP at all computer stores, office supply shops and online at VOIP provider shops. Ebay is also a great way to grab inexpensive headsets. Just be sure that the shipping costs are not going to cost you more than the headset! GN Netcom, Headsets.com, Jabra, Plantronics, Sennheiser and Sony are the main manufacturers of headsets and they all provide quality equipment.

What If You Do Not Want A Headset?
Headsets for VOIP are just one way to talk over VOIP. Other ways are to use a land line phone plugged into an adapter or a USB phone that plugs directly into your computer's USB port. However, headsets for VOIP are usually the cheapest option and are the easiest to install. So if you are looking to talk over VOIP, check out headsets for VOIP, you will not regret it!

Oliver Peters invites you to visit http://voip.info-and-tips.com/ VOIP Info and Tips is the #1 resource for Voice Over Internet Protocol facts, tips and advice.

VoIP Phone Home?

The movie Extra Terrestrial (ET) coined the phrase ?phone home? and each year American?s look for more cost effective ways to do just that. The past 10 years have seen the development and growing popularity of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies to achieve cost savings over the traditional circuit-switched telephone networks. The two dominate technologies used for VoIP are: (1) the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and (2) Peer-2-Peer (P2P). For business and educational institutions SIP VoIP solutions have produced substantial savings. For home voice users, however, SIP VoIP is still value challenged.

A typical circuit-switched landline phone costs about $19.95 per month (plus tax). The good old American landline phone should be graphically depicted beside the word ?reliable? in the dictionary. Not only does it keep working, even when all electrical power fails, but it can even provide you with a light to dial with. At $15 dollars per month SIP VoIP is still value challenged due to the lack of full support for E9-1-1 emergency services and of course the reliability issues inherent with using a real time application over a ?best effort? network like today's Internet. Although few VoIP articles still reference Internet Request For Comments (RFC) 3714 ?IAB Concerns Regarding Congestion Control,? the technical challenges associated with VoIP are widely known. Further, even with the recent dubious edict by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that VoIP service providers will provision support for E9-1-1 within 90 days, this still leaves the reliability issues unresolved. The use of adaptive rate CODEC?s to prevent congestion collapse is a swell idea if it applies to my neighbor?s service but not my own. Using adaptive rate CODEC?s to elicit voluntary user preemption has no appeal in the modern world. Technology is supposed to be getting better and it is clearly not better that users receive disconnects or degraded service quality in order to constrain network bandwidth consumption.

Quality of Service (QoS) has been the four letter word of the Internet for a very long time. Yet, we know that real time applications such as video and voice are a mismatch for ?best effort? service models. Cost savings are important, but not if they require users to accept backward technology leaps. After 9/11 the United States should have begun standardization efforts to insure that VoIP QoS levels would be equivalent to circuit-switched networks, especially where emergency E9-1-1 calls are concerned. The recent FCC order only requires that E9-1-1 call center traffic be properly routed. It does nothing to insure QoS of the connection once the call is completed.

As for SIP VoIP in the home, there is too little incentive for savvy consumers to part with more of their hard earned communications dollars for an industry offering that simply does not meet the needs of the user. Until something concrete can be done to move SIP VoIP forward, service based on P2P such as Skype seems to be the only sensible choice on the kitchen table. Why should home users pay $15 or more per month for less reliable communications than they already have with their land line? Skype gives users the ability to experience ?best effort? voice over the Internet for FREE. Could this be the reason why more than 125 million copies of Skype?s P2P software has been downloaded? And for the occasions where interconnection with the existing circuit-switched telephone networks is required, Skype offers a very competitive 2 cents per minute interconnection rate. With Skype you can talk for 12 ? hours interconnected to the phone system for the same cost as a basic rate SIP VoIP service.

Until genuine changes are made to support SIP VoIP QoS there does not appear to be a convincing or compelling reason today for users to choose anything other than P2P VoIP services such as Skype to render Internet ?best effort? home phone services.

You can read the complete article and view associated graphics online at: http://canon.org/VoIPPhoneHome.html.

? 2005 Peach ePublishing, LLC

Jason Canon has authored numerous technical research papers including: photonic switching, gigabit networking, VoIP E9-1-1 and others. He is an expert author for EzineArticles.com. E-mail: Jason Canon at jmc@canon.org.