VoIP FaQ
Why use VOIP?
There are many reasons to use VOIP, but the two major ones are Lower Cost and Increased Functionality
Due
to the explosion of broadband in recent years, more and more people
have fast internet connections at their disposal. With VoIP, every call
you make can be treated as a "local" call - the internet has no concept
of international. When you access a web page in the United States from
the United Kingdom, you don't pay an "international" rate - you simply
have a flat rate connection fee. VoIP can be viewed as a similar utility
to web access or email - if you're on the internet with a fast enough
connection, you can speak to another party without incurring any call
charges whatsoever, as long as the other party is using a device
compatible with
yours.
What is VoIP ?
VoIP
is basically a clever "reinvention of the wheel." VOIP stands for Voice
Over IP, or in more common terms phone service over the Internet.
If
you have a reasonable quality Internet connection you can get your
phone service delivered to you through your Internet connection instead
of from your local phone company.
Some people use VOIP in addition to their traditional phone service, since VOIP service providers usually offers lower rates than the traditional phone companies, but sometimes don't offer full 911 service, phone directory listings, 411 service, etc
How does VOIP work?
A way is required to turn analog phone signals into digital signals that can be sent over the Internet.
While
there are a number of ways that VoIP is currently being used, most
individual callers fall into one of three categories: ATA, IP Phones,
and Computer-to-Computer.
VOIP Using an ATA
ATA or Analog Telephone Adaptor, is the most common way of using VoIP. This adaptor actually allows you to hook up the phone that is already in your house, to your computer, and then your Internet connection. What the ATA does, is turn the analog signals your phone sends out into digital signals that can be sent over the Internet. Setting up this system is quite simple. It simply requires that you order an ATA (its an adaptor remember), plug the cable from your phone which would normally go into the wall socket into the ATA, and then the ATA gets plugged into your computer, which is connected to the internet.
VOIP using an IP Phone
The IP Phone looks just like a normal phone, with all the same buttons and cradle, the only difference is that instead of having a normal wall jack connector, it has an Ethernet connector. This means, that instead of plugging in your IP phone to the wall jack like you would with a regular analog phone, it gets plugged directly into your router. This option allows you to circumvent your personal computer, and it also means that you will not have to install any software, because its all built in to the handset. In addition, the fact that Wi-Fi IP phones will soon be available, which will allow subscribing callers to make VoIP calls from any Wi-Fi hot spot, make this option an exciting possibility.
VOIP using a Computer software
The simplest and cheapest way to use VoIP is through computer-to-computer calls. These calls are entirely free, meaning no calling plan whatsoever. The only thing you need, is the software which can be found for free on the internet, a good internet connection, a microphone, speakers, and a sound card. Except for your monthly internet service fee, there is literally no cost for making these calls, no matter how many you make.
Bandwidth consumption
VOIP Bandwidth consumption naturally depends on the codec used. To test your connection for voip compatibility use . (TestYourVoIP.com will make a call from wherever you are to a U.S. or international test locations and report the results for free. It'll only take about 20 seconds if you have Java installed.)
What are the disadvantages of an VoIP telephone?
VoIP telephones sometimes have static or echoing sounds that you can hear in the telephone line. These problems are being fixed and may be a result of your equVoIPment being turned up too loud or the person on the other end of the phone may have theirs turned up too loud.Currently very few of the service providers offer emergency services, such as 911, or information services, such as 411. However, the government is making services providers offer this. It is currently being debugged and will be enforce soon. Information services are also being worked on, even though this is only a major want of the customers. If the electricity goes out you have no way to make an VoIP telephone call. A computer requires electricity to be operational. With the computer operating, you cannot access your VoIP telephone connection. This is also being changed by the technicians and developers. They are currently trying to create computers with built in generators or something close to that.
VoIP FaQ