What is VOIP And Why Do I Need It?
VOIP stands for voice over internet protocol. In other words, it's a way to send your voice over the internet, just like the packets of data that are exchanged whenever we send an email or look at a web page. VOIP is a digital technology that translates the sound of your voice into data and back to a sound again, all at lightning quick speed.
VOIP has been around for awhile, but it wasn't until recently that it became something to get excited about. That's because when VOIP was first around, everyone was on dialup, so data transmission was slow and making a VOIP phone call bore no resemblance to making a real phone call. It was slow, there was an echo on the line, sound quality was uneven and you could not conduct a conversation in real time. You can still have some of those problems if your internet connection is slow.
VOIP And High Speed Internet :
But all those disadvantages have disappeared with the advent of high speed internet. Whether you're talking broadband, cable or DSL, the transmission technology has finally caught up with the voice technology. And there's another advantage, too. In the early days of VOIP, it could only be used to talk to someone who was also connected to a PC. Now, there are no barriers. There are adapters and other gizmos which ensure that your VOIP phone is a viable alternative to your analog phone. You don't have to be tied to your PC when you want to make or receive a VOIP phone call. And it's cheaper, too, since VOIP providers have no infrastructure to underwrite and are not subject to the same charges as phone companies. That means it costs you less than your regular analog phone service provider.
In this new improved market for VOIP providers are springing up everywhere and it can be hard to know exactly how to choose between them. There are a number of features you can look at when making your choice among the dozens of VOIP service providers. Here are some of the areas to consider. Think about which areas are most important to you when making your final selection.
Basic VOIP Features :
Most VOIP providers supply many of the features that you would get with your normal telephone. These include caller ID number (you may be able to get the name with some providers), call waiting and call forwarding. Most will also provide voice mail but there's one advantage over your normal telephone - the ability to pick up your voicemail on the web. You may even be able to get your voicemail emailed to you as an attachment for even more convenience. And most providers allow free calls to other people on the same service, further reducing your phone bills.
Advanced VOIP Features :
Some VOIP providers offer conference calling, where one person calls two others to set up a conference call. You will need to make sure that you have enough bandwidth though - each person on the line will use some of the bandwidth. It's worth checking to see what bandwidth a VOIP provider recommends before making your decision.
An even more advanced option is the ability to choose the area code for your phone, known as a virtual phone number. This means that if you make most of your calls within a certain area code, choosing this will keep the cost of your phone calls low. And if your family are all in a particular area code, choosing a virtual phone number with that area code will cut the cost of calls for them.
Other VOIP Features :
There are other features to consider that may make a difference to your VOIP experience. VOIP fax and video phoning are available from some providers. Watch out, though, video is bandwidth hungry so make sure you have enough before getting started. You will also need software, such as the latest versions of MSN, AOL or Yahoo Messenger.
And if you are likely to make a lot of emergency calls then you will need to choose a provider that allows this. Call blocking may also be necessary. You may want to add a second line to your account, have a toll free number or be able to transfer calls. All of these features are available from some VOIP service providers.
With some VOIP providers you may have the option to access your service via a softphone. This is a phone that is attached to your PC and is run via a software program.. This can be useful for making VOIP calls while on the move. However, a provider who offers this option only may not be the best choice.
The Cost Of VOIP :
With traditional phone services, you can end up paying a lot of money, especially if you make a lot of long distance calls. However, many VOIP providers allow unlimited long distance calls for a low monthly fee. This applies to the US, Canada and internationally. And even the basic call rates tend to be much cheaper than standard call rates, so this is another area where savings can be made. The cost varies considerably from under $5 for providers with a basic service to around $35 for those offering unlimited call plans. Business plans may cost a bit more, at around $80 to $90, but it's worth shopping around as prices change all the time.
Using VOIP With Your Existing Phone :
A recent development in the use of VOIP has been the provision of analog telephone adapters which convert the VOIP signal for use with your existing phone. There are two different types of ATAs. One type plugs into your computer via a USB port and uses software, which means your PC must always be running. The other type works via Ethernet with your cable or DSL modem. This means you don't have to turn your PC on to make a phone call and can use your phone in the normal way.
It's worth checking to see what your VOIP provider has to offer. Some providers offer phones with the ATA built in and others offer routers with a built in ATA, though you will have to make sure that these work with your existing internet service. And if you're switching provider, beware. Not all ATAs are alike, so you may have to get a new one when you switch.
VOIP Service Providers :
Some of the top providers include AT&T, BroadVoice, Earthlink, Lingo, Packet8, SunRocket, Verizon, VoicePulse, Vonage, VoxFlow, and AOL. These providers all have open systems (not linked to a specific broadband or DSL provider), but there are also many others which are bundled with DSL services. You'll need to see which are available in your local area. Look out for activation and cancellation fees when deciding which provider supplies the best value.
Summary :
So there you have a list of the features you can expect from a VOIP service provider. Only you will know which features are most important to you. However, you can get some help. Once you have chosen the features you want, there are plenty of service provider reviews out there to help you find out how happy customers are with your chosen VOIP service provider
