Two years ago, flat rate conference call was nothing but a pipe dream. Today, it is a reality. In fact, an increasing number of companies are providing flat rate services since the competition is more fierce than ever before. As a customer, this provides some great advantages for you.
The Internet has brought all of us a variety of great benefits. It has become a new form of media that rivals television. Advertising on the Internet is now a must for business owners who want to run successful advertising campaigns.
The opportunities for doing business with people all over the world in ways no one thought was possible is one of the greatest benefits. It brings people closer together. The Internet allows us to connect to people in other countries as if they were our next door neighbors.
In this article, I am going to help you explore the many ways in which we are able to connect to other people on the web and how that interconnectivity can be used to help your business save time and money.
Early communication on the web was mostly by email. People sent emails back and forth with people around the world. Then along came the chatrooms where people could chat in real-time. The instant messengers also came along to offer real-time chat and millions of people began chatting to each other daily across the world.
However, instant messengers, chatrooms, and email are not exactly the communications solutions business owners needed. Conference calling over the Internet provides that solution like nothing else can.
Conference calling is a very broad term though. It is used to describe a variety of services that all qualify as conference calling, but not all are equal. There are a lot of different options and choices to make when choosing conference calling for your business.
This can save your company a fortune in travel and accommodations for meetings that can be held online instead of the more expensive method of traveling to destinations and holding meetings in person. Also time is a huge factor. Your need for a meeting may be urgent. You may have no time to make travel arrangements to hold that meeting. Conference call meetings can be set up on the fly.
There are monthly services that range from connecting a few people several times per month for as low as $30 per month, to medium range services that connect more people for $80 to $100 per month, to services that connect a lot of people for regular meetings for $150 per month and above.
It all depends on your needs. The best conference call services offer a variety of plans to help you choose the one that is right for your business. Some have live operators to facilitate calls. Some guarantee your sound quality, some dont.
Some conference calling plans include the ability to schedule regular meetings each week or each month, where it automatically calls all of the participants at the right time to join them into the meeting.
Many companies hold daily staff meetings by conference call. If your business has many locations across the country or worldwide, then you need to consider how much time and money conference calling can save your company.
Do not just consider price as the deciding factor for choosing a conference calling service. Remember how much conference calling is saving you and your company. I am not saying you must get the most expensive service out there, but you need to consider all of the options the different services have to offer.
For instance, a live operator to connect the calls can save you a lot of time and hassle. If there are problems connecting or with the audio or video feed, there is someone that can fix the problem without you having to cancel an important meeting.
Audio and video quality are huge items to consider. The better your audio and/or video feed will be the difference between a successful meeting or a miserable one.
The ability to set up a conference call meeting on the fly is another important option to consider. It is very convenient to be able to call a meeting wheneve3r you think one is needed VS using a conference calling service that only allows you a set schedule you give them each month.
The bottom line is this; Decide what your needs are. Decide which meetings can be held online VS being there in person. Once you establish your needs, then shop around and look at the various options that are available from conference call providers, before you make your decision.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
More international conference call
If you are about to close a big deal, but don't want to hop on an airplane to get the job done, and international conference call might be the perfect solution for you. Here's a few pointers to help get you started.
So you’re in business. Whether it is micro, small, medium, or enterprise; you know the one key element you need to succeed in your business … sales.
Now, you have studied and learned many practices on succeeding in your arena, but there may be something still overlooked. You most undoubtedly have strained to learn every technique possible to gain the competitive advantage for ultimate return on your investment. What you may be missing out on is what you use to communicate during your sales process, more specifically; what communication products you currently use to implement your suave techniques of sale persuasion.
Recently a client in Florida phoned me requesting a way to consult with a large potential client and his peers overseas in Africa via telephone. He was a well traveled business man and was used to flying over to leads himself, but he thought he might try something new, something with less overhead; after all, it was still just a potential client. Well that request was a no brainer for me when I talked to him. I automatically suggested conference calling.
He was a little skeptical of using conference calling in place of face to face until I mentioned one of the conference calling services we offered. Being he had many international business leads and clients I mentioned CogniConference which offers toll-free conference calling from over 50 countries. He saw the opportunity the service presented and signed up right after we hung up with one another.
It was only two weeks later that he called our office to rave how wonderful the service was, and how if it wasn’t for the international conference calling he would have never closed the Africa based client, a 4.5 million dollar deal! Expenses totaled under $200.00, a fraction of the cost of just one plane ticket alone.
How exactly did conference calling help save the day? Well, beyond increasing ROI and reducing CPL (Cost Per Lead) by saving on travel and lodging expenses, he leveraged a telecommunications product to warm up his potential client that ultimately closed the multi million dollar deal. He showed them that they were important enough to be given a free way to discuss business with his company across the entire globe. Needless to say, to this day he uses conference calling for his international leads.
Not in all cases, but in many, it is the options your leads and clients have to contact you that can make or break the initial beginning of a sales process. To convey you care about your client and not just their business may not always be as simple as using a communications service, but there are many services out there that can provide the additional morale boost and incentive your clients may need to get into their comfort buying zone.
An example where you might not want to offer toll free conferencing might be if your business is MLM or Network Marketing. Example: Perhaps your offer is good and was advertised well .You might not be interested in paying more money just for the curious. In other words you might want to only attract the “serious ready to go” individuals. The use of a non toll free conferencing solution might make the better option. You’re saying to your leads, “I am giving you an opportunity to learn more about this offer in a group environment, but I need to see your level of dedication.” That level of dedication being the willingness to pay a little out of their own pocket to learn more about your opportunity. It can be a great prescreening tool on who will be effective in the future for your marketing team.
All in all, information is key in virtually all sales processes. Conference calling gives you the ability to get all of your knowledgeable personnel in on the sales call to get questions answered at the most vital point of contact. You may only get one chance to prove your case to win over that client and the voice conversation is your biggest chance over most any other method to win that prized sale. The personal approach is a big winner, ask any successful salesperson and they will agree.
Conferencing is the one tool specified in this article, but of course, it isn’t the one and only solution. You might just need an unlimited long distance calling plan to do cold calling. Maybe you need a catchy 800 number for advertising and taking in leads. Perhaps you need toll free forwarding to spare your potential client the hassle of leaving a message and playing phone tag. Whatever it is, you might just realize that telecommunications is very much apart of your selling process as is your breath to carry your voice. Be creative in meeting the needs of those who may become your customers as well as in reducing the costs to do so.
In closing, the lesson is very general here aside from conference calling benefits. How do you want your company viewed in the eyes of your future clients? Whether it’s how you’re dressed or what joke you use, be thoughtful of customers needs in advance and plan ahead to leverage your selling power, because as you already know … selling is business.
This article was written by Aaron Siegel of TopSavings.Net which provides online consultive services for communications for home and business.
So you’re in business. Whether it is micro, small, medium, or enterprise; you know the one key element you need to succeed in your business … sales.
Now, you have studied and learned many practices on succeeding in your arena, but there may be something still overlooked. You most undoubtedly have strained to learn every technique possible to gain the competitive advantage for ultimate return on your investment. What you may be missing out on is what you use to communicate during your sales process, more specifically; what communication products you currently use to implement your suave techniques of sale persuasion.
Recently a client in Florida phoned me requesting a way to consult with a large potential client and his peers overseas in Africa via telephone. He was a well traveled business man and was used to flying over to leads himself, but he thought he might try something new, something with less overhead; after all, it was still just a potential client. Well that request was a no brainer for me when I talked to him. I automatically suggested conference calling.
He was a little skeptical of using conference calling in place of face to face until I mentioned one of the conference calling services we offered. Being he had many international business leads and clients I mentioned CogniConference which offers toll-free conference calling from over 50 countries. He saw the opportunity the service presented and signed up right after we hung up with one another.
It was only two weeks later that he called our office to rave how wonderful the service was, and how if it wasn’t for the international conference calling he would have never closed the Africa based client, a 4.5 million dollar deal! Expenses totaled under $200.00, a fraction of the cost of just one plane ticket alone.
How exactly did conference calling help save the day? Well, beyond increasing ROI and reducing CPL (Cost Per Lead) by saving on travel and lodging expenses, he leveraged a telecommunications product to warm up his potential client that ultimately closed the multi million dollar deal. He showed them that they were important enough to be given a free way to discuss business with his company across the entire globe. Needless to say, to this day he uses conference calling for his international leads.
Not in all cases, but in many, it is the options your leads and clients have to contact you that can make or break the initial beginning of a sales process. To convey you care about your client and not just their business may not always be as simple as using a communications service, but there are many services out there that can provide the additional morale boost and incentive your clients may need to get into their comfort buying zone.
An example where you might not want to offer toll free conferencing might be if your business is MLM or Network Marketing. Example: Perhaps your offer is good and was advertised well .You might not be interested in paying more money just for the curious. In other words you might want to only attract the “serious ready to go” individuals. The use of a non toll free conferencing solution might make the better option. You’re saying to your leads, “I am giving you an opportunity to learn more about this offer in a group environment, but I need to see your level of dedication.” That level of dedication being the willingness to pay a little out of their own pocket to learn more about your opportunity. It can be a great prescreening tool on who will be effective in the future for your marketing team.
All in all, information is key in virtually all sales processes. Conference calling gives you the ability to get all of your knowledgeable personnel in on the sales call to get questions answered at the most vital point of contact. You may only get one chance to prove your case to win over that client and the voice conversation is your biggest chance over most any other method to win that prized sale. The personal approach is a big winner, ask any successful salesperson and they will agree.
Conferencing is the one tool specified in this article, but of course, it isn’t the one and only solution. You might just need an unlimited long distance calling plan to do cold calling. Maybe you need a catchy 800 number for advertising and taking in leads. Perhaps you need toll free forwarding to spare your potential client the hassle of leaving a message and playing phone tag. Whatever it is, you might just realize that telecommunications is very much apart of your selling process as is your breath to carry your voice. Be creative in meeting the needs of those who may become your customers as well as in reducing the costs to do so.
In closing, the lesson is very general here aside from conference calling benefits. How do you want your company viewed in the eyes of your future clients? Whether it’s how you’re dressed or what joke you use, be thoughtful of customers needs in advance and plan ahead to leverage your selling power, because as you already know … selling is business.
This article was written by Aaron Siegel of TopSavings.Net which provides online consultive services for communications for home and business.
More conference call service
With the flood of conference call service companies that have entered the market recently, the competition is fierce! Everyone is trying to sway you to use their services for your next event. While it is true that conference call services can save you a lot of time and money, there are several things to consider.
Conference calls have become the new way to have conversations with more than one person at a time when needed. Conference calls pricing, however, can range from a small amount for three-way calling to a large amount for adding in phone lines that can be connected to each other for conference calls.
Many businesses require conference calls to make sure that things are running smoothly, while some people would simply like them so they can talk to their loved ones at the same time. Certain companies now contain conference call plans in their standard offers.
The top three affordable conference calls companies in conference call plans today are TeleCHOICE, Global Conference and conference bridges. These three companies offer competitive prices for people who need to add the ability to add a conference call to their current plans.
Typically, phone companies offer three-way calling with a connection fee of seventy-five cents to connect the third person to the initial conversation. While this doesn’t sound that expensive, if either of the parties you call are long distance, this can add quite a bit to your bill.
TeleCHOICE offers affordable conference calls for six cents a minute, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. This can greatly lessen the costs of adding another person to your conversations, and adds the fun of being able to talk about things together in a group. Global Conference and conference bridges offer the ease of conference calling with a promise that your contract with them is not a binding one and you will be able to cancel your plan at any time.
Instead of having to call one person to talk, then another, and another, using a conference call will help cut down on the amount of time that you’re on the telephone. Using a conference call will also cost less in the end, especially if the people you want to call are all long distance or internationally located.
If you have loved ones overseas due to the military or a job and you have family who are local that would like to speak with them as well, a conference call can make everything easier. You or your loved one can make the initial call and then you can connect everyone else via a conference call. It will make things more time and cost efficient in the end.
Conference calls have become the new way to have conversations with more than one person at a time when needed. Conference calls pricing, however, can range from a small amount for three-way calling to a large amount for adding in phone lines that can be connected to each other for conference calls.
Many businesses require conference calls to make sure that things are running smoothly, while some people would simply like them so they can talk to their loved ones at the same time. Certain companies now contain conference call plans in their standard offers.
The top three affordable conference calls companies in conference call plans today are TeleCHOICE, Global Conference and conference bridges. These three companies offer competitive prices for people who need to add the ability to add a conference call to their current plans.
Typically, phone companies offer three-way calling with a connection fee of seventy-five cents to connect the third person to the initial conversation. While this doesn’t sound that expensive, if either of the parties you call are long distance, this can add quite a bit to your bill.
TeleCHOICE offers affordable conference calls for six cents a minute, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. This can greatly lessen the costs of adding another person to your conversations, and adds the fun of being able to talk about things together in a group. Global Conference and conference bridges offer the ease of conference calling with a promise that your contract with them is not a binding one and you will be able to cancel your plan at any time.
Instead of having to call one person to talk, then another, and another, using a conference call will help cut down on the amount of time that you’re on the telephone. Using a conference call will also cost less in the end, especially if the people you want to call are all long distance or internationally located.
If you have loved ones overseas due to the military or a job and you have family who are local that would like to speak with them as well, a conference call can make everything easier. You or your loved one can make the initial call and then you can connect everyone else via a conference call. It will make things more time and cost efficient in the end.
More conference call recording
Conference call recording can be an absolute nightmare if not done correctly. Imagine losing a 60 minute conference call because the audio recording didn't turn out. It is a cricital piece of the puzzle that many people overlook to neglect until it's too late.
Some people who use audio conferencing for personal or non-formal meetings do not need to engage the services of professional audio conferencing service providers. There are many services available via chat services. Some can be obtained for free if all users are using the same chat service, like Skype, Hotmail Messenger or Yahoo Messenger, just to name a few. However, if you wish to make calls from your computer to a landline or mobile phone then you would need to purchase an online calling card, which are available at affordable prices, and there are many providers to choose from.
The above options may not be the best, if other facilities are needed. They may lack the vital information that you require for work or reporting purposes. This is when professional services provider are highly desirable. Some of the extra services that service providers offer include call recording (where the entire conference will be recorded for the benefit all those who cannot attend), call recording playback, live queued question and answer program, online call scheduler, permission-based users (where access is allowed to people selected by the user to access their account), online billing account, call record history and other services which you may require.
Audio conferencing service providers can also provide similar services, like the conventional conference or exhibition service providers, who can take care of the entire organization of the conference, from sending invitations to the participants, informing the participants on how to go about using audio conferencing, preparing welcome speeches with the help of an emcee, coordinating the arrival of the participants and also arranging for hold music if an interval is necessary.
The services for audio conferences can also be custom-made to suit the needs of the individual or the company. This is a very cost-effective and innovative method of organizing conferences and meetings. This could be the number one choice for conferencing methods in years to come!
Some people who use audio conferencing for personal or non-formal meetings do not need to engage the services of professional audio conferencing service providers. There are many services available via chat services. Some can be obtained for free if all users are using the same chat service, like Skype, Hotmail Messenger or Yahoo Messenger, just to name a few. However, if you wish to make calls from your computer to a landline or mobile phone then you would need to purchase an online calling card, which are available at affordable prices, and there are many providers to choose from.
The above options may not be the best, if other facilities are needed. They may lack the vital information that you require for work or reporting purposes. This is when professional services provider are highly desirable. Some of the extra services that service providers offer include call recording (where the entire conference will be recorded for the benefit all those who cannot attend), call recording playback, live queued question and answer program, online call scheduler, permission-based users (where access is allowed to people selected by the user to access their account), online billing account, call record history and other services which you may require.
Audio conferencing service providers can also provide similar services, like the conventional conference or exhibition service providers, who can take care of the entire organization of the conference, from sending invitations to the participants, informing the participants on how to go about using audio conferencing, preparing welcome speeches with the help of an emcee, coordinating the arrival of the participants and also arranging for hold music if an interval is necessary.
The services for audio conferences can also be custom-made to suit the needs of the individual or the company. This is a very cost-effective and innovative method of organizing conferences and meetings. This could be the number one choice for conferencing methods in years to come!
more unlimited confrennce call information
Unlimited conference calls. Does this really exist? Well, believe it or not, there are services out there that will give you unlimited calling, free trials and a host of other "bribes" just to get you to try their services.
There are many consumer products that we are allowed to try out before purchasing. We test drive cars, we try on clothing and footwear, and we can even taste small samples of food at the grocery store. So why not do the same for conference calling solutions?
Fortunately, most conference call services provide a free trial for their services. Many others provide demos. However, there's really no substitute for using a service as you would in an actual business setting.
One thing to be aware of is that many of the free trial conference calls require that you provide your credit card information when signing up for the free trial. They will not charge your card during the free conference call trial period. However, you then will need to cancel your subscription before the trial period expires or your card will be charged for the next billing cycle of the conference call service. This usually isn't a problem provided you remember to cancel the service if you don't wish to become a long-term subscriber.
Once subscribed to the free trial conference call service, you should take advantage of the opportunity. Put the conference calling service through its paces. Spend some time on the vendor's Website learning about the features of the service. Then recruit some participants from your organization to help evaluate the service by taking part in a conference call.
It helps to have a checklist of the features you want to test out. If the service allows you to share applications over the Web, then make sure that the participants are set up for this. Make note of how intuitive the user interface and instructions for using the service are.
Also observe how responsive the data stream is, especially if using video as part of the conferencing service. Of course a great deal depends on the bandwidth of your connection to the Internet, but the load on the conferencing service's servers will also influence responsiveness. Time of day and demand will also impact throughput.
In order to keep things manageable you should probably take on one free trial conference call evaluation at a time. It may prove helpful to setup several conference call sessions with each service to get used to the service and try out all of its features. Of course, if after the first session you realize that the service just won't work for you, then by all means, cancel your free trial and move on to the next free trial conference call evaluation.
As more businesses look to increase opportunities for collaboration with employees and partners and to better connect with prospects and customers, they will be turning to conferencing solutions. It pays to make the investment in time and effort to evaluate potential conferencing solutions. The service provider offers the free trial conference call, but it's up to you to take advantage of it.
There are many consumer products that we are allowed to try out before purchasing. We test drive cars, we try on clothing and footwear, and we can even taste small samples of food at the grocery store. So why not do the same for conference calling solutions?
Fortunately, most conference call services provide a free trial for their services. Many others provide demos. However, there's really no substitute for using a service as you would in an actual business setting.
One thing to be aware of is that many of the free trial conference calls require that you provide your credit card information when signing up for the free trial. They will not charge your card during the free conference call trial period. However, you then will need to cancel your subscription before the trial period expires or your card will be charged for the next billing cycle of the conference call service. This usually isn't a problem provided you remember to cancel the service if you don't wish to become a long-term subscriber.
Once subscribed to the free trial conference call service, you should take advantage of the opportunity. Put the conference calling service through its paces. Spend some time on the vendor's Website learning about the features of the service. Then recruit some participants from your organization to help evaluate the service by taking part in a conference call.
It helps to have a checklist of the features you want to test out. If the service allows you to share applications over the Web, then make sure that the participants are set up for this. Make note of how intuitive the user interface and instructions for using the service are.
Also observe how responsive the data stream is, especially if using video as part of the conferencing service. Of course a great deal depends on the bandwidth of your connection to the Internet, but the load on the conferencing service's servers will also influence responsiveness. Time of day and demand will also impact throughput.
In order to keep things manageable you should probably take on one free trial conference call evaluation at a time. It may prove helpful to setup several conference call sessions with each service to get used to the service and try out all of its features. Of course, if after the first session you realize that the service just won't work for you, then by all means, cancel your free trial and move on to the next free trial conference call evaluation.
As more businesses look to increase opportunities for collaboration with employees and partners and to better connect with prospects and customers, they will be turning to conferencing solutions. It pays to make the investment in time and effort to evaluate potential conferencing solutions. The service provider offers the free trial conference call, but it's up to you to take advantage of it.
More set up a conference call
Although it seems rather easy to set up a conference call, there are many things that you must consider first. In fact, many of the things that you'll read about here are not discussed often. Before you book your next conference call, consider this...
The multitude of users of conference calling services makes it apparent that it is one of the favored means of communication in the business world to date. Companies consider it more cost-efficient, less taxing on the company's time and personnel, and more effective in fostering business relations in the international scene.
Like all good things, however, conference calling has several limitations. While the numerous positive aspects of conference calling are highly publicized, the limitations are hardly visible.
The most obvious limitation of conference calling is the speed with which it is developed in some countries and the delay in others. Conference calling now largely involves video and data as well as audio conferencing and makes use of highly advanced equipment to deliver these new and improved services to subscribers. The problem with this lies in the availability of these equipments for the world's majority. Attendance and participation in conferences may now be limited by the fact that potential delegates in areas where the necessary equipment and technological advancement has not yet arrived may not be able to participate at all.
Another limitation is the lack of any set standard for conference calling protocols. Certain measures for order and smooth progress have been set for face-to-face conferences and meetings. For conference calls, no such measures exist. The normal etiquette and standard of behavior necessary is necessary even in these types of conferences to make sure that it would not totally remove the aspect of interpersonal relations in business dealings.
Last, but definitely no less important, is the instances of low security and lack of proper billing standard provided to the clients availing of conference calling services. These conferences are recorded, and the clients should have control over the contents of their conferences. Likewise, they should be properly informed of the breakdown of the costs they have to pay for these services.
From this it is apparent that there is a negative side to conference calling. It is up to a potential user, therefore, to weigh the pros and cons of using conference calls before availing of a particular service.
The multitude of users of conference calling services makes it apparent that it is one of the favored means of communication in the business world to date. Companies consider it more cost-efficient, less taxing on the company's time and personnel, and more effective in fostering business relations in the international scene.
Like all good things, however, conference calling has several limitations. While the numerous positive aspects of conference calling are highly publicized, the limitations are hardly visible.
The most obvious limitation of conference calling is the speed with which it is developed in some countries and the delay in others. Conference calling now largely involves video and data as well as audio conferencing and makes use of highly advanced equipment to deliver these new and improved services to subscribers. The problem with this lies in the availability of these equipments for the world's majority. Attendance and participation in conferences may now be limited by the fact that potential delegates in areas where the necessary equipment and technological advancement has not yet arrived may not be able to participate at all.
Another limitation is the lack of any set standard for conference calling protocols. Certain measures for order and smooth progress have been set for face-to-face conferences and meetings. For conference calls, no such measures exist. The normal etiquette and standard of behavior necessary is necessary even in these types of conferences to make sure that it would not totally remove the aspect of interpersonal relations in business dealings.
Last, but definitely no less important, is the instances of low security and lack of proper billing standard provided to the clients availing of conference calling services. These conferences are recorded, and the clients should have control over the contents of their conferences. Likewise, they should be properly informed of the breakdown of the costs they have to pay for these services.
From this it is apparent that there is a negative side to conference calling. It is up to a potential user, therefore, to weigh the pros and cons of using conference calls before availing of a particular service.
Small Business Telephone System with VoIP
Moving your small business telephone system over to VoIP requires some pre-planning and consultation with an Internet provider. However, by insuring that you have the proper bandwidth, switches, and media gateway, your move to VoIP can be done quickly.
If you are changing your small business telephone system from a traditional dedicated fixed landline to the newer VoIP technology, there are some things you need to have in place to change successfully.
1. Internet Connection
To route your calls over the Internet instead of over the existing telephone fixed landlines, you need to have a powerful Internet connection and equipment to connect and communicate with.
If your small business is using a DSL or cable modem for your Internet connectivity, you need to research the bandwidth needed for of VoIP communications (Voice over Internet Protocol).
If you are one of 1-2 employees, then DSL or cable should work fine to meet your needs. DSL and cable modems are not ideal for VoIP, but they do work acceptably well for a very small office of just one or two people.
If your office grows to more than 2 users, your small business telephone system needs to grow also. It is time to consider a more robust Internet connection.
The standard DSL and cable modems offer you a quicker download than upload speed. This generally works fine for general computer usage, but it won't work so well for voice communication.
So, you will need to make sure that your Internet connection can support both the upload and download speeds that you need to have clear and consistent voice communication.
2. How Much Bandwidth?
The industry standard is enough bandwidth for about 1/3 rd of your employees to be on the telephone at the same time ... so if you have 30 lines, you should then have enough bandwidth for 10 to be used at any one time. With a business of this size, your small business telephone system will usually require a T1 connection to the Internet.
One of the best things you can do is to work with a provider who can support both your VoIP and Internet connection needs. This will insure that you have the bandwidth necessary to get both your calls and data needs taken care of.
3. Hub vs. Switch
In addition to bandwidth to the Internet, internally you should be using switches on your network rather than hubs. While hubs are fine for electronic data transmission, the transmission of voice over your network necessitates the need for switches to be used.
4. Media Gateways
If you already have a small business telephone system in place, such as a small PBX system, you can purchase a device called a "media gateway" to connect your existing phone system to the Internet without having to replace all of your phones and equipment.
This will save you money from the equipment that would have to be replaced to upgrade to VoIP services.
Moving your small business telephone system over to VoIP requires some pre-planning and consultation with an Internet provider. An experienced provider can offer the equipment and the know-how to make your move to VoIP quickly and without any inconvenience for your employees.
If you are changing your small business telephone system from a traditional dedicated fixed landline to the newer VoIP technology, there are some things you need to have in place to change successfully.
1. Internet Connection
To route your calls over the Internet instead of over the existing telephone fixed landlines, you need to have a powerful Internet connection and equipment to connect and communicate with.
If your small business is using a DSL or cable modem for your Internet connectivity, you need to research the bandwidth needed for of VoIP communications (Voice over Internet Protocol).
If you are one of 1-2 employees, then DSL or cable should work fine to meet your needs. DSL and cable modems are not ideal for VoIP, but they do work acceptably well for a very small office of just one or two people.
If your office grows to more than 2 users, your small business telephone system needs to grow also. It is time to consider a more robust Internet connection.
The standard DSL and cable modems offer you a quicker download than upload speed. This generally works fine for general computer usage, but it won't work so well for voice communication.
So, you will need to make sure that your Internet connection can support both the upload and download speeds that you need to have clear and consistent voice communication.
2. How Much Bandwidth?
The industry standard is enough bandwidth for about 1/3 rd of your employees to be on the telephone at the same time ... so if you have 30 lines, you should then have enough bandwidth for 10 to be used at any one time. With a business of this size, your small business telephone system will usually require a T1 connection to the Internet.
One of the best things you can do is to work with a provider who can support both your VoIP and Internet connection needs. This will insure that you have the bandwidth necessary to get both your calls and data needs taken care of.
3. Hub vs. Switch
In addition to bandwidth to the Internet, internally you should be using switches on your network rather than hubs. While hubs are fine for electronic data transmission, the transmission of voice over your network necessitates the need for switches to be used.
4. Media Gateways
If you already have a small business telephone system in place, such as a small PBX system, you can purchase a device called a "media gateway" to connect your existing phone system to the Internet without having to replace all of your phones and equipment.
This will save you money from the equipment that would have to be replaced to upgrade to VoIP services.
Moving your small business telephone system over to VoIP requires some pre-planning and consultation with an Internet provider. An experienced provider can offer the equipment and the know-how to make your move to VoIP quickly and without any inconvenience for your employees.
Office Phone Systems Utilizing VoIP Technology Revitalizes Operation of Small Businesses
Small businesses must stay ahead off the technology curve to compete with bigger firms. To that end, an Internet based office phone system has many advantages.
For small businesses, one of the biggest challenges can be competing with the larger firms fighting for the same market. With limited resources and space, a small business must find economical and efficient ways to make up for their lack of size.
Traditionally, one of the biggest selling points for using a small enterprise is the relative ease with which the consumer can connect with the business, getting around the bureaucratic mess associated with larger offices. The easiest way to streamline a small enterprise and still stay connected to the consumer is through a creatively designed small business telephone system.
One of the newest and most exciting developments in office phone systems over the last ten years has been the creation and growth of the VoIP industry. VoIP or "Voice over Internet Protocol", is a revolutionary plug and play phone system that allows users to make phones calls over the Internet, either to other Voice over Internet Protocol users or users to traditional landlines. With the changes in technology, Voice over Internet Protocol offers an economical phone service at a sound quality level equal to or surpassing traditional landline services. There are many, many benefits of VoIP that make it the perfect fit for growing enterprises on the move.
While VoIP may sound daunting to those only familiar with the traditional landline system, the set-up of small business telephone system using VoIP is safe and easy. VoIP relies upon existing Internet connections that require no additional installation. Using the same system that you use to reach the Internet or access email, an enterprise can now make both long distance and local calls with relative ease. Even the enterprise already using a traditional landline phone system can make the switch to VoIP with little upgrades that will use their existing phone lines to connect to the on-line calling system.
Another benefit of using Voice over Internet Protocol in your office phone system is the ease of upgrades. While more complex traditional systems might require an extensive remodel of the office layout and the actual phone lines themselves, a Voice over Internet Protocol upgrade can be as simple and easy as a software update. Likewise, with the ease of upgrades, VoIP is better suited to deal with the changing needs of businesses.
As technology changes, the small enterprises will be on the cusp of these developments as they happen. Any day now, a piece of technology could come along revolutionize how offices function in the same way that the fax machine or computer changed businesses of the past. Unlike larger corporations, the small business using a VoIP phone system will be able to change their entire phone system with relatively little downtime, adapting to whatever new technology is developed.
Likewise, since VoIP uses the Internet already, it is far easier to integrate other technologies into phone calls without having to create a complex and convoluted hodgepodge of technologies. Your Voice over Internet Protocol provider can help integrate a service like video conference calling directly into your new small business telephone system.
By consulting an experienced office phone system expert, you can weigh the costs of different packages and decide which system will best suit your needs for today and the years to come.
For small businesses, one of the biggest challenges can be competing with the larger firms fighting for the same market. With limited resources and space, a small business must find economical and efficient ways to make up for their lack of size.
Traditionally, one of the biggest selling points for using a small enterprise is the relative ease with which the consumer can connect with the business, getting around the bureaucratic mess associated with larger offices. The easiest way to streamline a small enterprise and still stay connected to the consumer is through a creatively designed small business telephone system.
One of the newest and most exciting developments in office phone systems over the last ten years has been the creation and growth of the VoIP industry. VoIP or "Voice over Internet Protocol", is a revolutionary plug and play phone system that allows users to make phones calls over the Internet, either to other Voice over Internet Protocol users or users to traditional landlines. With the changes in technology, Voice over Internet Protocol offers an economical phone service at a sound quality level equal to or surpassing traditional landline services. There are many, many benefits of VoIP that make it the perfect fit for growing enterprises on the move.
While VoIP may sound daunting to those only familiar with the traditional landline system, the set-up of small business telephone system using VoIP is safe and easy. VoIP relies upon existing Internet connections that require no additional installation. Using the same system that you use to reach the Internet or access email, an enterprise can now make both long distance and local calls with relative ease. Even the enterprise already using a traditional landline phone system can make the switch to VoIP with little upgrades that will use their existing phone lines to connect to the on-line calling system.
Another benefit of using Voice over Internet Protocol in your office phone system is the ease of upgrades. While more complex traditional systems might require an extensive remodel of the office layout and the actual phone lines themselves, a Voice over Internet Protocol upgrade can be as simple and easy as a software update. Likewise, with the ease of upgrades, VoIP is better suited to deal with the changing needs of businesses.
As technology changes, the small enterprises will be on the cusp of these developments as they happen. Any day now, a piece of technology could come along revolutionize how offices function in the same way that the fax machine or computer changed businesses of the past. Unlike larger corporations, the small business using a VoIP phone system will be able to change their entire phone system with relatively little downtime, adapting to whatever new technology is developed.
Likewise, since VoIP uses the Internet already, it is far easier to integrate other technologies into phone calls without having to create a complex and convoluted hodgepodge of technologies. Your Voice over Internet Protocol provider can help integrate a service like video conference calling directly into your new small business telephone system.
By consulting an experienced office phone system expert, you can weigh the costs of different packages and decide which system will best suit your needs for today and the years to come.
A brief introduction to VoIP
t a very basic level it is the idea of using a data network to transfer voice between two points. Although voip has become a buzz word in recent years has it origins as far back as the early 1970s. The pioneering work of Danny Cohen at the University of Southern California.
VoIP stand for Voice-over-Internet protocol. At a very basic level it is the idea of using a data network to transfer voice between two points. Although voip has become a buzz word in recent years has it origins as far back as the early 1970s. The pioneering work of Danny Cohen at the University of Southern California first tested the Network Voice Protocol (NVP) in December 1973.
Although voip seems to imply that it can only carry voice across the network the reality is that voip can be used to communicate voice, data and video across the network if the software and hardware is in place.
Voip works by taking the voice and sampling it. Most of us have recorded our voice to a digital device be it a computer, a mobile phone or a digital dictaphone. You can even get applications for iPODs to record your voice. The voice samples are converted into data and then stored on the device to be played back at a later date. Voip works in the same way, taking the voice, sampling it and converting it into binary data. The different is that data isn’t stored locally but the samples are transferred them via the network to the recipient at the other end.
In order for the data to flow smoothly from one point to the other the samples are compressed with a CODEC and sliced into packets or smaller samples. These packets are then pulsed across the network and reassembled at the other end, decompressed and played backed. The whole process is so quick that the users do not notice the process taking place. If the process does become slowed down then jitter can take place. The voice or video then becomes choppy or glitch ridden. In order to over come the problem a fast Ethernet network dedicated to voip improves the flow of data.
There are two major types of equipment used for voip transmissions. The first is the soft phone, this is a system that utilizes a computer with the addition of a microphone and either headphones or speakers. The computer has software installed that acts as the gateway to the network providing the sampling, CODECS and the steaming of the data.
The vast majority of Skype customers use the soft phone route when accessing the service. Although Skype does provide handsets these are still pseudo soft phones as Skype cannot be used with voip analogue telephone adapters (ATAs) and therefore they are restricted to the Skype network.
The other devices for using a voip network are unsurprisingly called hard phones. These are stand alone devices that look like a regular phone but instead of a phone jack they have an internet cable that can be plugged directly into the network.
The advantages for a business in installing a converged voip network are that by using a single network for all communication the maintenance and deployment costs are keep controlled. In order to set up a voip network you will need to find a secure voip provider who will be able to install and run a fast Ethernet network.
There are various Ethernet solutions and Ethernet connections in the market place. Interoute have the largest single pan-European network for voip provision and work for a variety of European governments in providing their voip services.
VoIP stand for Voice-over-Internet protocol. At a very basic level it is the idea of using a data network to transfer voice between two points. Although voip has become a buzz word in recent years has it origins as far back as the early 1970s. The pioneering work of Danny Cohen at the University of Southern California first tested the Network Voice Protocol (NVP) in December 1973.
Although voip seems to imply that it can only carry voice across the network the reality is that voip can be used to communicate voice, data and video across the network if the software and hardware is in place.
Voip works by taking the voice and sampling it. Most of us have recorded our voice to a digital device be it a computer, a mobile phone or a digital dictaphone. You can even get applications for iPODs to record your voice. The voice samples are converted into data and then stored on the device to be played back at a later date. Voip works in the same way, taking the voice, sampling it and converting it into binary data. The different is that data isn’t stored locally but the samples are transferred them via the network to the recipient at the other end.
In order for the data to flow smoothly from one point to the other the samples are compressed with a CODEC and sliced into packets or smaller samples. These packets are then pulsed across the network and reassembled at the other end, decompressed and played backed. The whole process is so quick that the users do not notice the process taking place. If the process does become slowed down then jitter can take place. The voice or video then becomes choppy or glitch ridden. In order to over come the problem a fast Ethernet network dedicated to voip improves the flow of data.
There are two major types of equipment used for voip transmissions. The first is the soft phone, this is a system that utilizes a computer with the addition of a microphone and either headphones or speakers. The computer has software installed that acts as the gateway to the network providing the sampling, CODECS and the steaming of the data.
The vast majority of Skype customers use the soft phone route when accessing the service. Although Skype does provide handsets these are still pseudo soft phones as Skype cannot be used with voip analogue telephone adapters (ATAs) and therefore they are restricted to the Skype network.
The other devices for using a voip network are unsurprisingly called hard phones. These are stand alone devices that look like a regular phone but instead of a phone jack they have an internet cable that can be plugged directly into the network.
The advantages for a business in installing a converged voip network are that by using a single network for all communication the maintenance and deployment costs are keep controlled. In order to set up a voip network you will need to find a secure voip provider who will be able to install and run a fast Ethernet network.
There are various Ethernet solutions and Ethernet connections in the market place. Interoute have the largest single pan-European network for voip provision and work for a variety of European governments in providing their voip services.
The Appeal of Using VOIP at home
The promise of voip is hugely enticing to the home consumer. The allure of extremely low cost or completely free phone calls across an IP network is a god send in these money tight times.
The promise of voip is hugely enticing to the home consumer. The allure of extremely low cost or completely free phone calls across an IP network is a god send in these money tight times.
I have often wondered if the hype surrounding the voip revolution was just that, hype. It seemed as if the initial buzz that surrounded the first general availability of voip systems wasn’t matched by the technology. I guess the initial problem was that the majority of home network connections were not fast enough to get the system to work effectively. The rapid growth in home broadband means that this hurdle has been removed.
Now with a decent PC some voip software, a set of speaker and a microphone the world of voip phone calls is at the finger tips of most consumers.
What are the advantages of VOIP over the traditional route of landline and mobile phones?
• Cost – Making calls using a voip system dramatically reduces or completely removes the cost of making calls between two PCs. If you are using the same system between you then the calls could be completely free. Long distance and internet calls are also greatly reduced.
• Video – Many voip providers allow you to send moving images at the same time. This means with a webcam attached you can have video calling for less than a mobile phone call. Image the calling you parents on the other side of the world to show them their new grandchild. Voip could open up a completely new vista for personal communication.
• Portability – As the voip connection is via the software on your computer it is as portable as the device it is installed on. With a laptop you can take you cheap phone calls with you as long as you can get access to a decent fast internet network. It sure beats the cost of mobile phone call abroad.
• Value Added Service – Most voip providers offer voice mail, conference calling, call forwarding, call waiting, caller ID and more advance telephone services. You can make your voip experience as bespoke as you need. You can set the system up to email you or send an SMS when you miss a call.
If you have a fast ethernet network connection and a degree of understanding about technology then it is now so easy to install voip. For the cost of headset and a webcam you could be talking with family members and friends in different cities and countries for a fraction of the cost that you currently incur. Seek out a good voip provider that won’t tie you into a long contract and will allow you to upgrade your system to a voip phone system at a later date.
The promise of voip is hugely enticing to the home consumer. The allure of extremely low cost or completely free phone calls across an IP network is a god send in these money tight times.
I have often wondered if the hype surrounding the voip revolution was just that, hype. It seemed as if the initial buzz that surrounded the first general availability of voip systems wasn’t matched by the technology. I guess the initial problem was that the majority of home network connections were not fast enough to get the system to work effectively. The rapid growth in home broadband means that this hurdle has been removed.
Now with a decent PC some voip software, a set of speaker and a microphone the world of voip phone calls is at the finger tips of most consumers.
What are the advantages of VOIP over the traditional route of landline and mobile phones?
• Cost – Making calls using a voip system dramatically reduces or completely removes the cost of making calls between two PCs. If you are using the same system between you then the calls could be completely free. Long distance and internet calls are also greatly reduced.
• Video – Many voip providers allow you to send moving images at the same time. This means with a webcam attached you can have video calling for less than a mobile phone call. Image the calling you parents on the other side of the world to show them their new grandchild. Voip could open up a completely new vista for personal communication.
• Portability – As the voip connection is via the software on your computer it is as portable as the device it is installed on. With a laptop you can take you cheap phone calls with you as long as you can get access to a decent fast internet network. It sure beats the cost of mobile phone call abroad.
• Value Added Service – Most voip providers offer voice mail, conference calling, call forwarding, call waiting, caller ID and more advance telephone services. You can make your voip experience as bespoke as you need. You can set the system up to email you or send an SMS when you miss a call.
If you have a fast ethernet network connection and a degree of understanding about technology then it is now so easy to install voip. For the cost of headset and a webcam you could be talking with family members and friends in different cities and countries for a fraction of the cost that you currently incur. Seek out a good voip provider that won’t tie you into a long contract and will allow you to upgrade your system to a voip phone system at a later date.
VoIP Business Phone Systems Reduce Your Telecommunications Costs
Business VoIP, Voice over Internet Protocol, has completely changed business phone system technology.
Business VoIP, Voice over Internet Protocol, has completely changed business phone system technology. Businesses are reducing costs using VoIP, improving customer service while gaining access to features and applications that increase worker productivity. The best business phone systems can stand the test of time and grow with your business needs. A business VoIP phone system is a long term asset that should serve your business for many years.
Purchasing the wrong business phone system can be a costly mistake. It can mean high levels of maintenance, service calls, and hardware that becomes obsolete in a couple of years. Service interruption alone can cost a business that relies on customer phone calls a tremendous amount of money. Most businesses spend a lot of time and money trying to get people to call so it is very important that those calls are handled with the utmost care. If they’re not, prospective customers are lost, profits are lost, and the business will suffer. It is important to have a reliable business phone system, skilled receptionists, and a voicemail system that works.
When a business decides to make the change to VoIP, professional help is needed all along the way from purchase to installation and administration to ensure a seamless transition to a new phone system. Important features such as call recording, call monitoring, call transfer, conference, hold, and access to the voicemail system must be considered. The business VoIP phone system that you choose should be designed for many years of quality service.
With VoIP service, phone calls travel over the internet as data just like e-mail does. A VoIP Business phone system can dramatically lower your telecommunications costs while increasing worker productivity. A recent survey estimated that the increased productivity, enabled by business VoIP, added up to 3.9 hours per week, per employee.
VoIP technology also provides useful features and capabilities that a conventional phone system can't offer. VoIP service makes your phone system highly flexible, you can use your VoIP phone system anywhere there is a broadband connection. Many business VoIP systems include telephony software that enables you to send and receive calls using a headphone/microphone unit connected to your laptop. Many VoIP services allow you to have voice mail and faxes automatically forwarded to your regular e-mail inbox. Your phone number can have any available area code, not just the one assigned to your region which is a plus if your business is located in one city and your customers are in another.
No matter what size your business is, VoIP is a surprisingly flexible, affordable technology. Nationally recognized as a leader in the field of business VoIP phone systems Cross Telecom (www.crosstelecom.com is uniquely equipped to develop your communications plan from start to finish.
Business VoIP, Voice over Internet Protocol, has completely changed business phone system technology. Businesses are reducing costs using VoIP, improving customer service while gaining access to features and applications that increase worker productivity. The best business phone systems can stand the test of time and grow with your business needs. A business VoIP phone system is a long term asset that should serve your business for many years.
Purchasing the wrong business phone system can be a costly mistake. It can mean high levels of maintenance, service calls, and hardware that becomes obsolete in a couple of years. Service interruption alone can cost a business that relies on customer phone calls a tremendous amount of money. Most businesses spend a lot of time and money trying to get people to call so it is very important that those calls are handled with the utmost care. If they’re not, prospective customers are lost, profits are lost, and the business will suffer. It is important to have a reliable business phone system, skilled receptionists, and a voicemail system that works.
When a business decides to make the change to VoIP, professional help is needed all along the way from purchase to installation and administration to ensure a seamless transition to a new phone system. Important features such as call recording, call monitoring, call transfer, conference, hold, and access to the voicemail system must be considered. The business VoIP phone system that you choose should be designed for many years of quality service.
With VoIP service, phone calls travel over the internet as data just like e-mail does. A VoIP Business phone system can dramatically lower your telecommunications costs while increasing worker productivity. A recent survey estimated that the increased productivity, enabled by business VoIP, added up to 3.9 hours per week, per employee.
VoIP technology also provides useful features and capabilities that a conventional phone system can't offer. VoIP service makes your phone system highly flexible, you can use your VoIP phone system anywhere there is a broadband connection. Many business VoIP systems include telephony software that enables you to send and receive calls using a headphone/microphone unit connected to your laptop. Many VoIP services allow you to have voice mail and faxes automatically forwarded to your regular e-mail inbox. Your phone number can have any available area code, not just the one assigned to your region which is a plus if your business is located in one city and your customers are in another.
No matter what size your business is, VoIP is a surprisingly flexible, affordable technology. Nationally recognized as a leader in the field of business VoIP phone systems Cross Telecom (www.crosstelecom.com is uniquely equipped to develop your communications plan from start to finish.
What's The Story With VoIP?
Unless you've been residing in a cave for the last few years, you've probably at least heard the word "VoIP" even if you didn't understand what all the excitement is about.
VoIP stands for "Voice over Internet Protocol" and it's going to change the way you think about making long distance phone calls. Basically, VoIP technology turns analog audio signals (like the sounds you hear when talking on your regular telephone) into a digital signal (which is then transmitted over the Internet.) And so why is VoIP revolutionizing the industry? Because it means that by acquiring your hands on some of the free software that's available right now, you can completely bypass your telephone company, and start making long distance phone calls for free!
Here's what's got the phone companys buzzing: This revolutionary technology has the ability to totally change the phone system of the entire world! Maybe you've seen television commercials for one of the pioneers of VoIP - Vonage. Vonage brands itself as the "broadband telephone company", and offers enticing perks to customers who switch to its service, like low-cost 800 numbers, very cheap international rates (fees are waived from the American to Canada, and how about .03 cents a minute to call Paris?) But Vonage isn't the only company who is interested. AT&T is setting up VoIP calling in several areas of the United States and there are other major players on the scene as well, such as Skype, who is relying on viral advertising to get the word out.
One of the really interesting thing about VoIP is that there's not just one way to make a call. There are actually three:
ATA - is the most normally used VoIP method right now. Using the ATA (analog telephone adaptor), you connect your regular telephone to your computer or Internet connection. The ATA is an analog-to-digital converter and it takes the analog signal from your phone and converts it into digital data and transmits it over the Internet.
This is how Vonage does it, and AT&T 's CallVantage will be doing it. The ATA is free with their services. And utilizing an ATA is so simple that anyone can do it. Open the box, plug the cable from your phone into the ATA instead of the wall socket, and you're set. Depending on your computer, and where you live, and what type of Internet connection you have, you might have to also install the software onto your computer, but even my grandmother knows how to do that these days.
IP Phones - They look just like the phones we're used to. They have a handset, cradles and buttons. But an IP phones use an RJ-45 Ethernet connector instead of the standard RJ-11 phone connectors. It connect directly to your router and all the hardware and software is already built inside to handle your IP calls. Look for Wi-Fi IP phones to be available in the near future, which will allow you to make VoIP calls from any Wi-Fi spot. (Can you see the power of that? Just take your IP phone with you when you travel, and stop in at any Internet café, hotel or other location where you can use your Wi-Fi laptop, and you can "phone home" wherever home happens to be!
Computer-to-Computer. This is arguably the easiest way to use VoIP. Not only do you not have to pay for long distance calls, there are several companies that are offering free or low-cost software right now for you to make use of the VoIP technology. All you need is the software, a microphone, speakers a sound card and a broadband or cable DSL Internet connection, and your loved ones sound as if they're in the next room. And, except for your normal monthly ISP fee, there is no charge for any computer-to-computer call…no matter how far.
And guess what? Chances are, you've already been using the VoIP technology without even being aware of it, any time you've made a long distance telephone call recently. Many of the major phone companies are already using VoIP technology to reduce their own bandwidth . It's a simple matter of routing thousands of phone calls through a circuit switch and into an IP gateway. When received on the other side of the gateway, the calls are decompressed, reassembled and routed back to a local circuit switch.
IP telephony is the wave of the future. It makes sense in terms of ROI, from both an economic and infrastructure point of view. It may take some time, but eventually all of the current circuit-switched networks that are in use in todays world will be replaced by packet-switching technology. More and more businesses are already installing VoIP systems. And as the technology makes our way into our everyday language our lives, and our homes, it will continue to grow in popularity.
According to Forrester Research, they predict that nearly 5 million U.S. households will have VoIP phone service by the end of 2006. The 2 biggest advantages for home users so far are price and flexibility.
There are some advanced features that make VoIP something worth looking into. With some carriers, professional people can set up call-filtering options, and actually have some control over how calls from certain numbers could be handled. For example, you can: · Forward the call to a particular number · Send the call directly to voicemail · Give the caller a busy signal · Play a "not in service" message · Send the caller to a funny rejection hotline
With most VoIP services, you can also check your voice mail on the Internet, or attach messages to an reach that is sent directly to your computer or handheld. (By the way, if you're interested in any of these features, not all VoIP companies are created equal, so do a little shopping around first, because prices and services do vary).
The 2nd benefit that makes VoIP so attractive for home and small business users is the flexibility. Using VoIP you can make a call anywhere you can get broadband connectivity. Since the IP phones or ATAs broadcast information over the Internet, they can be administered by any provider. For business travelers, this means they can take their phone or ATA with them on the road, and never miss a home phone call!
In a way, VoIP is just a "better mousetrap." But it looks like it's one mousetrap that's here to stay.
VoIP stands for "Voice over Internet Protocol" and it's going to change the way you think about making long distance phone calls. Basically, VoIP technology turns analog audio signals (like the sounds you hear when talking on your regular telephone) into a digital signal (which is then transmitted over the Internet.) And so why is VoIP revolutionizing the industry? Because it means that by acquiring your hands on some of the free software that's available right now, you can completely bypass your telephone company, and start making long distance phone calls for free!
Here's what's got the phone companys buzzing: This revolutionary technology has the ability to totally change the phone system of the entire world! Maybe you've seen television commercials for one of the pioneers of VoIP - Vonage. Vonage brands itself as the "broadband telephone company", and offers enticing perks to customers who switch to its service, like low-cost 800 numbers, very cheap international rates (fees are waived from the American to Canada, and how about .03 cents a minute to call Paris?) But Vonage isn't the only company who is interested. AT&T is setting up VoIP calling in several areas of the United States and there are other major players on the scene as well, such as Skype, who is relying on viral advertising to get the word out.
One of the really interesting thing about VoIP is that there's not just one way to make a call. There are actually three:
ATA - is the most normally used VoIP method right now. Using the ATA (analog telephone adaptor), you connect your regular telephone to your computer or Internet connection. The ATA is an analog-to-digital converter and it takes the analog signal from your phone and converts it into digital data and transmits it over the Internet.
This is how Vonage does it, and AT&T 's CallVantage will be doing it. The ATA is free with their services. And utilizing an ATA is so simple that anyone can do it. Open the box, plug the cable from your phone into the ATA instead of the wall socket, and you're set. Depending on your computer, and where you live, and what type of Internet connection you have, you might have to also install the software onto your computer, but even my grandmother knows how to do that these days.
IP Phones - They look just like the phones we're used to. They have a handset, cradles and buttons. But an IP phones use an RJ-45 Ethernet connector instead of the standard RJ-11 phone connectors. It connect directly to your router and all the hardware and software is already built inside to handle your IP calls. Look for Wi-Fi IP phones to be available in the near future, which will allow you to make VoIP calls from any Wi-Fi spot. (Can you see the power of that? Just take your IP phone with you when you travel, and stop in at any Internet café, hotel or other location where you can use your Wi-Fi laptop, and you can "phone home" wherever home happens to be!
Computer-to-Computer. This is arguably the easiest way to use VoIP. Not only do you not have to pay for long distance calls, there are several companies that are offering free or low-cost software right now for you to make use of the VoIP technology. All you need is the software, a microphone, speakers a sound card and a broadband or cable DSL Internet connection, and your loved ones sound as if they're in the next room. And, except for your normal monthly ISP fee, there is no charge for any computer-to-computer call…no matter how far.
And guess what? Chances are, you've already been using the VoIP technology without even being aware of it, any time you've made a long distance telephone call recently. Many of the major phone companies are already using VoIP technology to reduce their own bandwidth . It's a simple matter of routing thousands of phone calls through a circuit switch and into an IP gateway. When received on the other side of the gateway, the calls are decompressed, reassembled and routed back to a local circuit switch.
IP telephony is the wave of the future. It makes sense in terms of ROI, from both an economic and infrastructure point of view. It may take some time, but eventually all of the current circuit-switched networks that are in use in todays world will be replaced by packet-switching technology. More and more businesses are already installing VoIP systems. And as the technology makes our way into our everyday language our lives, and our homes, it will continue to grow in popularity.
According to Forrester Research, they predict that nearly 5 million U.S. households will have VoIP phone service by the end of 2006. The 2 biggest advantages for home users so far are price and flexibility.
There are some advanced features that make VoIP something worth looking into. With some carriers, professional people can set up call-filtering options, and actually have some control over how calls from certain numbers could be handled. For example, you can: · Forward the call to a particular number · Send the call directly to voicemail · Give the caller a busy signal · Play a "not in service" message · Send the caller to a funny rejection hotline
With most VoIP services, you can also check your voice mail on the Internet, or attach messages to an reach that is sent directly to your computer or handheld. (By the way, if you're interested in any of these features, not all VoIP companies are created equal, so do a little shopping around first, because prices and services do vary).
The 2nd benefit that makes VoIP so attractive for home and small business users is the flexibility. Using VoIP you can make a call anywhere you can get broadband connectivity. Since the IP phones or ATAs broadcast information over the Internet, they can be administered by any provider. For business travelers, this means they can take their phone or ATA with them on the road, and never miss a home phone call!
In a way, VoIP is just a "better mousetrap." But it looks like it's one mousetrap that's here to stay.
VoIP - A Closer Look At Choosing An Internet Phone Service
Voice-over Internet protocol (VoIP) services are certainly becoming more and more popular and for the most part it's because they are a quality alternative to traditional landline and cell phone based calling plans. I'm no prophet but the future of the technology and how people make phone calls is definitely pointing towards VoIP.
As is the case with most new technologies trying to decipher through all the hype and claims is a daunting task indeed and with companies popping up left and right to grab their share of this ever increasing pie, it gets more challenging by the day.
So what do you do? Well, on the positive side, virtually all of these new web-based phone services (VoIP) are packed with features, including unlimited local and long-distance calls and yet, they cost less than most traditional plans. Another plus is how simple they are to set up. Most simply require that you plug your regular phone into an adapter connected to your computer.
Of course, what is and what isn't essential in any plan is debatable but a few "essentials" you may want to consider when choosing which VoIP provider to go with are outlined below.
Connection Compatibility
One of the few VoIP requirements is a high speed connection but with the ever expanding reach of broadband into all parts of the country access to a high speed connection is no longer restricted to just the major metropolitan areas. That being said, all high speed connections don't provide enough performance to handle IP calls, so before you start researching different service plans you should take a look at Test Your VoIP (http://www.testyourvoip.com) to see if your connection is up to snuff. The test is free and it should take less than 30 seconds.
Assess Your Calling Needs
You need to ask yourself a few questions before you go out and select a provider because if you don't know what you're looking for it's pretty difficult to find it. A few questions you should consider are: What do you want most out of your phone provider? Are you looking to just cut costs?
A basic plan that offers a bunch of long-distance minutes is extremely inexpensive and if that's all you care about perhaps that's the route you should take. On the other hand, if you want business flexibility you should consider a small business package that costs more, but adds services like conferencing, a separate fax line, even an 800 number.
Want to take it on the road? Vonage (http://www.vonage.com) and others offer "soft phone" services, which let you make and receive calls on your PC. Another option to consider is where you place the most calls. If you make a ton of international calls, you might want to consider one of the smaller players like Lingo (http://www.lingo.com), Broadvoice (http://www.broadvoice.com) or CingUCel (http://www.cingucell.com) that offer unlimited dialing to select countries. Another nice VoIP feature is that most providers treat calls to Canada as domestic long distance. Determine where you call the most and then match the most appropriate service to your needs.
Feature Comparison
Virtually all VoIP service packages will exceed the minimal call waiting and voice mail bundles of traditional phone services. One example, CallVantage (http://www.usa.att.com/callvantage/index.jsp?) from AT&T may cost a bit more than some but it includes a useful call forwarding capability that will try to find you by ringing up to five different phone numbers when you aren't home.
You'll have to decide after shopping around whether you feel comfortable going with one of the smaller startups or if you should stick with one of the big players. With the big players you'll usually pay $5 or $10 more per month more for the "peace of mind" of a well-known brand name like AT&T or Vonage (http://www.vonage.com) which are currently the two largest VoIP providers in the market.
Verizon VoiceWing (http://www22.verizon.com) is fairly new to this ever increasing niche but with its merger with MCI it operates under one of the biggest brands in the telephony world. Once again, it's clearly up to you and your comfort level but if a service has fewer than 100,000 subscribers, you may want to look closely before jumping in.
Cold Turkey
Like all new technology VoIP continues to improve and the result is better call quality and service levels but switching cold turkey may not be the best idea. With many providers offering 30-day money back guarantees (always read the terms carefully) you can test the waters and ease into the transition. Initially, you may want to consider switching to VoIP on a second line and then, if you're happy, make the full transition.
This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.
As is the case with most new technologies trying to decipher through all the hype and claims is a daunting task indeed and with companies popping up left and right to grab their share of this ever increasing pie, it gets more challenging by the day.
So what do you do? Well, on the positive side, virtually all of these new web-based phone services (VoIP) are packed with features, including unlimited local and long-distance calls and yet, they cost less than most traditional plans. Another plus is how simple they are to set up. Most simply require that you plug your regular phone into an adapter connected to your computer.
Of course, what is and what isn't essential in any plan is debatable but a few "essentials" you may want to consider when choosing which VoIP provider to go with are outlined below.
Connection Compatibility
One of the few VoIP requirements is a high speed connection but with the ever expanding reach of broadband into all parts of the country access to a high speed connection is no longer restricted to just the major metropolitan areas. That being said, all high speed connections don't provide enough performance to handle IP calls, so before you start researching different service plans you should take a look at Test Your VoIP (http://www.testyourvoip.com) to see if your connection is up to snuff. The test is free and it should take less than 30 seconds.
Assess Your Calling Needs
You need to ask yourself a few questions before you go out and select a provider because if you don't know what you're looking for it's pretty difficult to find it. A few questions you should consider are: What do you want most out of your phone provider? Are you looking to just cut costs?
A basic plan that offers a bunch of long-distance minutes is extremely inexpensive and if that's all you care about perhaps that's the route you should take. On the other hand, if you want business flexibility you should consider a small business package that costs more, but adds services like conferencing, a separate fax line, even an 800 number.
Want to take it on the road? Vonage (http://www.vonage.com) and others offer "soft phone" services, which let you make and receive calls on your PC. Another option to consider is where you place the most calls. If you make a ton of international calls, you might want to consider one of the smaller players like Lingo (http://www.lingo.com), Broadvoice (http://www.broadvoice.com) or CingUCel (http://www.cingucell.com) that offer unlimited dialing to select countries. Another nice VoIP feature is that most providers treat calls to Canada as domestic long distance. Determine where you call the most and then match the most appropriate service to your needs.
Feature Comparison
Virtually all VoIP service packages will exceed the minimal call waiting and voice mail bundles of traditional phone services. One example, CallVantage (http://www.usa.att.com/callvantage/index.jsp?) from AT&T may cost a bit more than some but it includes a useful call forwarding capability that will try to find you by ringing up to five different phone numbers when you aren't home.
You'll have to decide after shopping around whether you feel comfortable going with one of the smaller startups or if you should stick with one of the big players. With the big players you'll usually pay $5 or $10 more per month more for the "peace of mind" of a well-known brand name like AT&T or Vonage (http://www.vonage.com) which are currently the two largest VoIP providers in the market.
Verizon VoiceWing (http://www22.verizon.com) is fairly new to this ever increasing niche but with its merger with MCI it operates under one of the biggest brands in the telephony world. Once again, it's clearly up to you and your comfort level but if a service has fewer than 100,000 subscribers, you may want to look closely before jumping in.
Cold Turkey
Like all new technology VoIP continues to improve and the result is better call quality and service levels but switching cold turkey may not be the best idea. With many providers offering 30-day money back guarantees (always read the terms carefully) you can test the waters and ease into the transition. Initially, you may want to consider switching to VoIP on a second line and then, if you're happy, make the full transition.
This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.
Questions And Answers On VoIP Phone Service
What is VoIP phone service?
VoIP phone services let you replace your traditional landline phone with one that connects over the Internet. Today, your phone works on what is called the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a private network that reaches into your home through the standard phone jacks in the wall.
With VoIP services, your phone connects to the Internet over your cable or DSL modem. To do this, VoIP service providers bundle a small device, called a telephony adapter that plugs into the broadband modem and translates the electrical pulses from your phone into IP packets that travel over the Internet. The way you use your phone is the same, even though the network underneath changes.
What makes it so popular?
What made VoIp phone service gain so much attention is MONEY. Internet telephony is cheap. A local and long distance dialling package can cost as little as $19.95 a month. You won’t find any mainstream, traditional calling plans that meet these rates.
What do you need?
To set up your VoIP, you just first need a reliable broadband Internet connection. If your cable or DSL service cuts out even occasionally, you need to stay away from VoIP services. Every time your Internet access hiccups, so will your phone service.
Second, you will need to install the telephony adapter (TA), which comes with the service. Using a standard phone jack, you can plug your existing home phone into the TA, and then plug the TA into your cable or DSL modem using a standard network cable.
Who should you sign up with?
To answer the question of to whom you should sign up with, many providers offer limited national coverage, so the first order of business is to hunt down a provider that offers local area codes and phone numbers in your location. For example, I’m a big fun of AT&T’s CallVantage, but the service lacks 802 area codes for Vermont. So I will use Vonage.
You should also consider up-front cost in the form of activation fees and penalties for disconnecting a service. For instance, Lingo, Packet 8, and VoiceWing, all charge $40 to $60 if you cancel the service within the first 12 months.
How do you know who is reliable?
Brand names like AT&T CallVantage and the new Verizon VoiceWing probably offer the best assurance that the service won't disappear. But there's a parade of VoIP startups, ranging from the well-established Vonage and long-running Packet 8 services, to up-and-coming offerings like Lingo, VoicePulse, and Broadvox. If it's assurance you want, go with the biggest. And right now, the biggest are Vonage and CallVantage.
Another thing to consider is what happens if the VoIP provider goes out of business. Traditional telephone service is highly regulated, but VoIP providers are popping up all over the place in a laissez-faire marketplace. Should your provider go under, it's quite likely you'll lose access to your phone number (in addition to your phone service). There simply isn't a mechanism for recovering from such an issue yet.
What's the best way to switch?
If you're able to, adopt VoIP for a second line, a home office or kids' phone, for example. That way you won't be in deep trouble should the service go south on you. And you'll get a very good feel for all the quirks that Internet phone services can bring. If you are happy with the second line after three months or so, it's probably safe to switch your primary line over.
VoIP phone services let you replace your traditional landline phone with one that connects over the Internet. Today, your phone works on what is called the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a private network that reaches into your home through the standard phone jacks in the wall.
With VoIP services, your phone connects to the Internet over your cable or DSL modem. To do this, VoIP service providers bundle a small device, called a telephony adapter that plugs into the broadband modem and translates the electrical pulses from your phone into IP packets that travel over the Internet. The way you use your phone is the same, even though the network underneath changes.
What makes it so popular?
What made VoIp phone service gain so much attention is MONEY. Internet telephony is cheap. A local and long distance dialling package can cost as little as $19.95 a month. You won’t find any mainstream, traditional calling plans that meet these rates.
What do you need?
To set up your VoIP, you just first need a reliable broadband Internet connection. If your cable or DSL service cuts out even occasionally, you need to stay away from VoIP services. Every time your Internet access hiccups, so will your phone service.
Second, you will need to install the telephony adapter (TA), which comes with the service. Using a standard phone jack, you can plug your existing home phone into the TA, and then plug the TA into your cable or DSL modem using a standard network cable.
Who should you sign up with?
To answer the question of to whom you should sign up with, many providers offer limited national coverage, so the first order of business is to hunt down a provider that offers local area codes and phone numbers in your location. For example, I’m a big fun of AT&T’s CallVantage, but the service lacks 802 area codes for Vermont. So I will use Vonage.
You should also consider up-front cost in the form of activation fees and penalties for disconnecting a service. For instance, Lingo, Packet 8, and VoiceWing, all charge $40 to $60 if you cancel the service within the first 12 months.
How do you know who is reliable?
Brand names like AT&T CallVantage and the new Verizon VoiceWing probably offer the best assurance that the service won't disappear. But there's a parade of VoIP startups, ranging from the well-established Vonage and long-running Packet 8 services, to up-and-coming offerings like Lingo, VoicePulse, and Broadvox. If it's assurance you want, go with the biggest. And right now, the biggest are Vonage and CallVantage.
Another thing to consider is what happens if the VoIP provider goes out of business. Traditional telephone service is highly regulated, but VoIP providers are popping up all over the place in a laissez-faire marketplace. Should your provider go under, it's quite likely you'll lose access to your phone number (in addition to your phone service). There simply isn't a mechanism for recovering from such an issue yet.
What's the best way to switch?
If you're able to, adopt VoIP for a second line, a home office or kids' phone, for example. That way you won't be in deep trouble should the service go south on you. And you'll get a very good feel for all the quirks that Internet phone services can bring. If you are happy with the second line after three months or so, it's probably safe to switch your primary line over.
VOIP against the traditional phone services
VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) - allows you to make telephone calls using a computer network in very simple way . It converts the voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that’s why you can speak to anyone with a regular phone number. You can change the way you think about long-distance phone calls. People generally like to use the new technology because its costs are less than traditional phone Below are listed some of the advantages and disadvantages of using VOIP .
VOIP offers you:
Lower costs per call, especially for long-distance calls VOIP can reduce international call tolls by as much as 40%. You can talk with many people at the same time without any additional cost. The call can be made to a local number, a mobile phone, to a long distance number or an international number – without any additional cost. You can also use services that are not available with a traditional phone – you can send data, like pictures and documents while talking on the phone. As long as you have access to a broadband connection you don’t need to pay for roaming or long distance charges wherever you travel. That’s why the VOIP is very important in business. You have also ability to receive internet phone calls anywhere you are, as long as you are accessible to the internet. One of the various advantages is that many services such as caller id, call forwarding, call waiting, three way calling, and voice mail features often come standard with most VOIP plans. Unfortunately I have to report some problem with the integration between VoIP system and Internet. The main problem is as you can imagine voice data communication must be a real time stream (you couldn't speak, wait for many seconds, then hear other side answering) - the risks involved with poor internet connections, lost signals, and dropped data packets. Below are listed of some other problems of using VOIP:
1. Not all VoIP services connect directly to emergency services.
2. The risks involved with poor internet connections, lost signals, and dropped data packets.
3. It only works if your computer is switched on and the VOIP software is running.
4. The other person with whom you are trying to communicate with has to get the same program loaded and running on his computer.
5. Poor quality of the sound- phone calls often have lot of delay with lot of echo.
6. To get lower bandwidth you need additional processing power that makes digital phones more expensive than analog phones.
7. You must have a DSL router or a second computer set up to run a second phone line. With traditional phone services, a phone jack is in almost every room.
Today we can see a real revolution in communication world.. That technology has the potential to completely rework the world's phone systems because the internet has grown very much in the last years and it is free that’s why could be the right communication media for future. It may be the right solution but it may not be suitable for everyone.
VOIP offers you:
Lower costs per call, especially for long-distance calls VOIP can reduce international call tolls by as much as 40%. You can talk with many people at the same time without any additional cost. The call can be made to a local number, a mobile phone, to a long distance number or an international number – without any additional cost. You can also use services that are not available with a traditional phone – you can send data, like pictures and documents while talking on the phone. As long as you have access to a broadband connection you don’t need to pay for roaming or long distance charges wherever you travel. That’s why the VOIP is very important in business. You have also ability to receive internet phone calls anywhere you are, as long as you are accessible to the internet. One of the various advantages is that many services such as caller id, call forwarding, call waiting, three way calling, and voice mail features often come standard with most VOIP plans. Unfortunately I have to report some problem with the integration between VoIP system and Internet. The main problem is as you can imagine voice data communication must be a real time stream (you couldn't speak, wait for many seconds, then hear other side answering) - the risks involved with poor internet connections, lost signals, and dropped data packets. Below are listed of some other problems of using VOIP:
1. Not all VoIP services connect directly to emergency services.
2. The risks involved with poor internet connections, lost signals, and dropped data packets.
3. It only works if your computer is switched on and the VOIP software is running.
4. The other person with whom you are trying to communicate with has to get the same program loaded and running on his computer.
5. Poor quality of the sound- phone calls often have lot of delay with lot of echo.
6. To get lower bandwidth you need additional processing power that makes digital phones more expensive than analog phones.
7. You must have a DSL router or a second computer set up to run a second phone line. With traditional phone services, a phone jack is in almost every room.
Today we can see a real revolution in communication world.. That technology has the potential to completely rework the world's phone systems because the internet has grown very much in the last years and it is free that’s why could be the right communication media for future. It may be the right solution but it may not be suitable for everyone.
PC To Phone Using (VoIP) With Dial-Up
Have you heard that you can make phone calls over the internet cheaply? Have you had a chance to try it? Most people that have had a chance to try it have experienced hit or miss quality, dropped calls as well as some speech delays. But there are some steps that you can take to really improve the quality and consistency of you VoIP calls over your internet Connection.
There is a lot of buzz these days around Internet based communication, VoIP, replacing regular/traditional telephone service. Much of the buzz has been created by/around a company called Vonage, who’s motto is “Leading the Internet Phone Revolutionâ€.
Even if you do not have a broadband connection, you can still save a fortune by using VOIP service for long distance calls. A broadband connection will give you more consistent, reliable call quality, but similar results can be obtained using a dial up account if some guidelines are followed.
All VoIP service providers are different, they do not all support dial-up users. Companies such as Vonage happens to be one that backs away from dial up connections. The providers that do support dial up usually only support dial-up above certain speeds. The two most popular companies that do support dial up VoIP are Callserve and Go2Call.
If you close programs that are running in the background, you will get higher call quality. If you are using windows, just right click & close all open non-essential applications that are shown in your taskbar at the bottom right of your screen. If you are using windows XP & there are other users logged on, be sure they log off before trying to make a call.
You also need to be conscience of what you are doing while you are on the call. If you overload the limited data capability your call quality will suffer. Other activities that will compete for bandwith are: Instant Messaging, checking your email, web cameras, surfing the internet or downloading anything.
Scan your system frequently for Viruses and Adware, these programs can tie up your browser and internet connection, slow down your system and affect your call quality.
Make it a habit to scan your system every month so your virus software remains uo to date. McAfee or Nortons are good programs, Spybot – Search & Detroy is good for removing spyware.
Use a headset with a boom microphone and this should eliminate annoying voice echoes often associated with VoIP phone calls. If you use a headset, voice signals are limited in volume and thus the chances of your microphone 're-transmitting' those voice signals is greatly reduced.
So if you have dial up you can still enjoy the cost savings of making PC to VoIP call.
There is a lot of buzz these days around Internet based communication, VoIP, replacing regular/traditional telephone service. Much of the buzz has been created by/around a company called Vonage, who’s motto is “Leading the Internet Phone Revolutionâ€.
Even if you do not have a broadband connection, you can still save a fortune by using VOIP service for long distance calls. A broadband connection will give you more consistent, reliable call quality, but similar results can be obtained using a dial up account if some guidelines are followed.
All VoIP service providers are different, they do not all support dial-up users. Companies such as Vonage happens to be one that backs away from dial up connections. The providers that do support dial up usually only support dial-up above certain speeds. The two most popular companies that do support dial up VoIP are Callserve and Go2Call.
If you close programs that are running in the background, you will get higher call quality. If you are using windows, just right click & close all open non-essential applications that are shown in your taskbar at the bottom right of your screen. If you are using windows XP & there are other users logged on, be sure they log off before trying to make a call.
You also need to be conscience of what you are doing while you are on the call. If you overload the limited data capability your call quality will suffer. Other activities that will compete for bandwith are: Instant Messaging, checking your email, web cameras, surfing the internet or downloading anything.
Scan your system frequently for Viruses and Adware, these programs can tie up your browser and internet connection, slow down your system and affect your call quality.
Make it a habit to scan your system every month so your virus software remains uo to date. McAfee or Nortons are good programs, Spybot – Search & Detroy is good for removing spyware.
Use a headset with a boom microphone and this should eliminate annoying voice echoes often associated with VoIP phone calls. If you use a headset, voice signals are limited in volume and thus the chances of your microphone 're-transmitting' those voice signals is greatly reduced.
So if you have dial up you can still enjoy the cost savings of making PC to VoIP call.
The Basics Of VoIP Devices
Making long distance phone calls usually means that you have to commit to a long distance carrier through your phone company, and pay often steep per-minute charges and fees just to call a friend or loved one. Often, the cost of the phone call depends on the day and time of the day that you are making it, as well as the location you are calling to. The minutes you talk add up quickly, and the monthly long distance bill can be a shock to your system and your bank account. Fortunately, there is an exciting technology that is gives you the option of saying goodbye to traditional long distance for good. It is VOIP is or Voice Over Internet Protocol, and it's in the process of changing the face of long-distance telephone systems forever.
VOIP works by taking analog audio systems and converting them into digital data, which can be sent over the Internet. This means that your kitchen telephone could possibly become obsolete. It will not be the only place to call friends and family that live far away. VOIP can make your Internet connection, and your home computer, the place that you make your long-distance phone calls - free of charge. Because you use VOIP devices and software that are widely available, the phone company is not involved. No phone company means that there are no hefty long-distance charges for you to pay. VOIP is a convenient and affordable way to keep in touch with those who live far away from you.
There are several types of VOIP devices available that can be used to place calls from your home computer. They are relatively simple to use, and often cost very little, if anything at all, to implement. They are all commonly in use, and each provides a slightly different take on this exciting technology. The most common device used in VOIP service currently is the ATA, or Analog Telephone Adapter. This VOIP device allows you to hook your typical telephone up to your home computer Internet connection. This device converts the analog audio signal from the phone and makes it possible to use over the Internet by converting it to transmittable digital data. The ATA is simple for anyone to use. Just plug the cord from your home phone that would usually go into the wall jack into the ATA, and it is set up for you to call anyone anywhere in the world.
Another type of VOIP device is the IP, or Internet Protocol, phone. An IP phone looks like a regular home telephone, complete with a handset and buttons for dialing. But, rather than having standard phone connectors (RJ-11), an IP phone is equipped with an Ethernet connection (RJ-45). This VOIP device connects to your computer's router, and allows you to make phone calls directly from your home computer, dialing it just like a typical home telephone.
Yet another type of VOIP device is known as computer-to-computer. With this method, long-distance phone calls are made free of charge. All you pay is the monthly ISP fee you are already paying. Many companies offer free or low-price software that you install on your computer. If your computer is equipped with a microphone, PC speakers, and a sound card in addition to your Internet connection, then you will quickly be set up to talk to anyone in the world using VOIP. This is an extremely easy and affordable type of VOIP device that allows you to keep in touch with those far away from you.
As you can see, not only will VOIP change the way you make phone calls forever, but it will save you money as well. Utilizing equipment that the vast majority of us already have in our homes today, VOIP technology provides consumers with easy and affordable options in long distance phone service. With the exception of your current ISP's monthly charges, there is little to no expense at all. And since there are several options of VOIP devices from which you can choose, there is no reason not to consider VOIP as your primary means of making long distance phone calls to far away friends and family.
VOIP works by taking analog audio systems and converting them into digital data, which can be sent over the Internet. This means that your kitchen telephone could possibly become obsolete. It will not be the only place to call friends and family that live far away. VOIP can make your Internet connection, and your home computer, the place that you make your long-distance phone calls - free of charge. Because you use VOIP devices and software that are widely available, the phone company is not involved. No phone company means that there are no hefty long-distance charges for you to pay. VOIP is a convenient and affordable way to keep in touch with those who live far away from you.
There are several types of VOIP devices available that can be used to place calls from your home computer. They are relatively simple to use, and often cost very little, if anything at all, to implement. They are all commonly in use, and each provides a slightly different take on this exciting technology. The most common device used in VOIP service currently is the ATA, or Analog Telephone Adapter. This VOIP device allows you to hook your typical telephone up to your home computer Internet connection. This device converts the analog audio signal from the phone and makes it possible to use over the Internet by converting it to transmittable digital data. The ATA is simple for anyone to use. Just plug the cord from your home phone that would usually go into the wall jack into the ATA, and it is set up for you to call anyone anywhere in the world.
Another type of VOIP device is the IP, or Internet Protocol, phone. An IP phone looks like a regular home telephone, complete with a handset and buttons for dialing. But, rather than having standard phone connectors (RJ-11), an IP phone is equipped with an Ethernet connection (RJ-45). This VOIP device connects to your computer's router, and allows you to make phone calls directly from your home computer, dialing it just like a typical home telephone.
Yet another type of VOIP device is known as computer-to-computer. With this method, long-distance phone calls are made free of charge. All you pay is the monthly ISP fee you are already paying. Many companies offer free or low-price software that you install on your computer. If your computer is equipped with a microphone, PC speakers, and a sound card in addition to your Internet connection, then you will quickly be set up to talk to anyone in the world using VOIP. This is an extremely easy and affordable type of VOIP device that allows you to keep in touch with those far away from you.
As you can see, not only will VOIP change the way you make phone calls forever, but it will save you money as well. Utilizing equipment that the vast majority of us already have in our homes today, VOIP technology provides consumers with easy and affordable options in long distance phone service. With the exception of your current ISP's monthly charges, there is little to no expense at all. And since there are several options of VOIP devices from which you can choose, there is no reason not to consider VOIP as your primary means of making long distance phone calls to far away friends and family.
VoIP - Voice Over Internet Protocol
Voice over internet protocol or VoIP is beginning to come into it’s own. The promise of cost savings over traditional phone lines is driving this technology into the mainstream. Leveraging your existing broadband connection to save on your monthly phone expense at first glance makes sense. Let’s take a closer look.
First off, can your existing broadband throughput handle the additional strain of digital voice transfer? You can use your favorite search engine (google, msn, yahoo, etc.) and search for ‘VoIP broadband test’ to get a general idea of the speed of your connection. This is only the first consideration.
How is your existing broadband access coming into your home? If you’re using DSL then using VoIP for your ‘primary’ phone line may not be an option. DSL availability without existing phone service is not generally available. You should check with your local phone company before canceling service. You just might end up with no phone service, VoIP or traditional. Check first.
If you’re using cable internet access and your connection speed test looks good, find a VoIP provider that allows for a trial period. You may find a good provider that offers up to 30 days for you to cancel if you are not satisfied with voice quality or service.
A VoIP converter and a router will be required to setup your VoIP service. Your modem would plug into your router. Next your converter plugs into your router and your phone base plugs into your converter. Most normal phones should work fine. There isn’t any ‘special’ phone required to use this type of service. The entire process is pretty painless, but if you should run into any issue, your provider should be ready to help.
If you’re looking to leverage your existing broadband internet access to save money on your monthly phone expense, VoIP can be a great option. Just remember to check your connection, check with your local phone provider (for DSL users) and find a provider that offers a money back trial period. This can be a great way to save money, but don’t be pressured before you know the facts. Even if it doesn’t work out for you now, keep your eye on this technology.
The FCC is already involved in the apparent conflict between VoIP service providers and DSL access. E911 service (Enhanced 911 service) is already being mandated and additional steps will be made to bring this technology further into the mainstream. Make no mistake about this technology. It has arrived and is here to stay.
First off, can your existing broadband throughput handle the additional strain of digital voice transfer? You can use your favorite search engine (google, msn, yahoo, etc.) and search for ‘VoIP broadband test’ to get a general idea of the speed of your connection. This is only the first consideration.
How is your existing broadband access coming into your home? If you’re using DSL then using VoIP for your ‘primary’ phone line may not be an option. DSL availability without existing phone service is not generally available. You should check with your local phone company before canceling service. You just might end up with no phone service, VoIP or traditional. Check first.
If you’re using cable internet access and your connection speed test looks good, find a VoIP provider that allows for a trial period. You may find a good provider that offers up to 30 days for you to cancel if you are not satisfied with voice quality or service.
A VoIP converter and a router will be required to setup your VoIP service. Your modem would plug into your router. Next your converter plugs into your router and your phone base plugs into your converter. Most normal phones should work fine. There isn’t any ‘special’ phone required to use this type of service. The entire process is pretty painless, but if you should run into any issue, your provider should be ready to help.
If you’re looking to leverage your existing broadband internet access to save money on your monthly phone expense, VoIP can be a great option. Just remember to check your connection, check with your local phone provider (for DSL users) and find a provider that offers a money back trial period. This can be a great way to save money, but don’t be pressured before you know the facts. Even if it doesn’t work out for you now, keep your eye on this technology.
The FCC is already involved in the apparent conflict between VoIP service providers and DSL access. E911 service (Enhanced 911 service) is already being mandated and additional steps will be made to bring this technology further into the mainstream. Make no mistake about this technology. It has arrived and is here to stay.
VoIP And Local Telephone Companies
With VoIP technology entering the mainstream, it brings the possibilities or huge profits for the companies that provide the service. The current promise of cost savings is driving more and more residential and business users to investigate this technology. But the local telephone companies are not going to give up customers without a fight.
There is a current mandate by the US federal government that all VoIP providers offer E911 service. The initial blocking of this information was with the public switched telephone network maintained by the major telephone companies
The next stumbling block is ‘naked DSL’ or DSL access without local phone service. This service is rare, but without it a residence would not be able to use VoIP as their primary phone service mechanism. You see, DSL is running over your existing phone line provided by your local telephone company. Drop your local phone service and you’ll probably drop your broadband DSL access as well. (Cable broadband access is a viable solution here and the increased cost in cable access should be offset by the reduction on your monthly phone bill)
These are just two fronts in the battle over VoIP. Should companies be compensated for the infrastructures they build? Should E911 service be ‘free’ and offered as a public service? What about the existing phone service run into our homes? Who pays for those lines to be laid and hooked into the public switched telephone network?
There really are no easy answers to the questions above. The phone companies are not about to give up customers without a fight. They have years and billions of dollars spent in building one of the most reliable communications networks ‘currently’ known to us.
Is VoIP the next step in the evolving communications industry? How will this play out with phone companies offering internet and TV services and cable providers offering phone and internet service? The line is being blurred and yet the technology pushes forward.
I don’t have the answers, only questions. I know how I’d like to see it all play out, but alas, there is no Nirvana and no, it would seem we all cannot get along. Not when there’s literally billions of dollars at stake. There will be winners and losers as this war rages on, but it is my hope that we, the end users, will, in the end, be better for it. After all, we’ve been down this path many times before and it’s turned out ok.
Remember the advent of the PC and where we’ve gone since then? Remember the first bulky cellular phones vs. what’s available today? Yes, TV’s, radios, computers, phones the list goes on. Technology advances will continue to push us into new directions. I’m sure that in the end, VoIP will be as commonplace as the home computer.
We can leverage this technology today in a cost effective manner. Like any technology how you implement VoIP will make the difference. Whether you’re a residential or business user, there can be an immediate benefit. Check with your communications broker to find out if your existing phone needs can be met cost effectively with VoIP.
There is a current mandate by the US federal government that all VoIP providers offer E911 service. The initial blocking of this information was with the public switched telephone network maintained by the major telephone companies
The next stumbling block is ‘naked DSL’ or DSL access without local phone service. This service is rare, but without it a residence would not be able to use VoIP as their primary phone service mechanism. You see, DSL is running over your existing phone line provided by your local telephone company. Drop your local phone service and you’ll probably drop your broadband DSL access as well. (Cable broadband access is a viable solution here and the increased cost in cable access should be offset by the reduction on your monthly phone bill)
These are just two fronts in the battle over VoIP. Should companies be compensated for the infrastructures they build? Should E911 service be ‘free’ and offered as a public service? What about the existing phone service run into our homes? Who pays for those lines to be laid and hooked into the public switched telephone network?
There really are no easy answers to the questions above. The phone companies are not about to give up customers without a fight. They have years and billions of dollars spent in building one of the most reliable communications networks ‘currently’ known to us.
Is VoIP the next step in the evolving communications industry? How will this play out with phone companies offering internet and TV services and cable providers offering phone and internet service? The line is being blurred and yet the technology pushes forward.
I don’t have the answers, only questions. I know how I’d like to see it all play out, but alas, there is no Nirvana and no, it would seem we all cannot get along. Not when there’s literally billions of dollars at stake. There will be winners and losers as this war rages on, but it is my hope that we, the end users, will, in the end, be better for it. After all, we’ve been down this path many times before and it’s turned out ok.
Remember the advent of the PC and where we’ve gone since then? Remember the first bulky cellular phones vs. what’s available today? Yes, TV’s, radios, computers, phones the list goes on. Technology advances will continue to push us into new directions. I’m sure that in the end, VoIP will be as commonplace as the home computer.
We can leverage this technology today in a cost effective manner. Like any technology how you implement VoIP will make the difference. Whether you’re a residential or business user, there can be an immediate benefit. Check with your communications broker to find out if your existing phone needs can be met cost effectively with VoIP.
Using VoIP With Your Cell Phone
Before many of us came to rely on cell phones to make long distance phone calls, our only option was to commit to a long distance phone company. Long distance carriers charged what were at times exorbitant by-the-minute fees to make calls to friends and loved ones often living only a few hours away. When cell phones came into prominence, they brought with them service plans that gave us such luxuries as free night and weekend calling anywhere domestically. Alas, even cell phones had their drawbacks, in that their reception was often broken up, and calls could be dropped unceremoniously. When along came VOIP, a new choice in long distance phone calling was on the horizon. VOIP has many different options, and now it seems that we have the choice of combining VOIP technology with cell phones. The prospect of VOIP cell phone service brings with it the potential for even more freedom and convenience, along with lower prices. Or does it?
Normally, VOIP service is available in three modes: ATA, IP phone, and computer-to-computer. All of these services are common and available for use at your home computer. ATA, or analog telephone adapter, lets you connect your regular home telephone to your computer and use it for VOIP service by converting analog sound bits into digital data. IP, or Internet protocol, phones are telephones that are specially designed for use with VOPI service. These phones look just like a standard home phone, but are wired differently to be VOIP capable. You can have a cordless IP phone that allows you to move freely through your home or office as you talk. Computer-to-computer VOIP is achieved by installing software that you can get through a provider. You make long distance calls from your computer, and talk through a microphone that is hooked up to your machine. All of these services are convenient in their own ways, but do not have quite the portability that cell phones offer. That is why the idea of VOIP cell phones is so appealing. Potentially, it is the best of both worlds: portability and low cost phone service.
Cost savings is by far the most attractive aspect of VOIP. With typical VOIP, you can expect to pay anywhere from $19.95 to $34.99 per month for a service that consists of many features, including free domestic calls, dirt cheap International calling rates, Caller ID, Call Waiting, 3-way Calling, among others. This, of course, is in addition to your current monthly ISP charge, which for broadband is usually around $40 per month. The combined cost for your ISP and VOIP services is likely to still be less expensive than if you were to remain in service with a traditional telephone company. However, this is not necessarily the case if you were to switch your cell phone over to VOIP as well.
Providers that offer VOIP cell phone services usually charge a monthly fee in addition to a per-minute fee. If you don't use your cell phone often enough to meet or exceed your current allotted plan minutes, then it is simply not cost effective for you to subscribe to VOIP cell phone service. VOIP and cell phones go well together for those customers that regularly exceed their plan minutes or make International calls on their cell phone on a regular basis. And, if your Internet connection if prone to outages, you could experience the same dropped call occurrences that you might often get with a standard cell phone service.
There is no doubt that VOIP is a reasonably priced and convenient way to bundle all of you communications together. VOIP service is improving all the time as technologies moves forward, which will allow providers to offer more reliable and even more affordable service down the line. Currently, VOIP cell phone service is in its infancy, and the kinks are being worked out. If you do the math, and feel that your monthly cell phone bill would benefit from a reasonable VOIP service plan, then it is worth the switch. If you do not make International calls on your cell phone, and you rarely or never go over your plan's allotted monthly minutes, then you are probably better off sticking with your traditional cell phone service for now than putting out more money for VOIP cell phone service.
Normally, VOIP service is available in three modes: ATA, IP phone, and computer-to-computer. All of these services are common and available for use at your home computer. ATA, or analog telephone adapter, lets you connect your regular home telephone to your computer and use it for VOIP service by converting analog sound bits into digital data. IP, or Internet protocol, phones are telephones that are specially designed for use with VOPI service. These phones look just like a standard home phone, but are wired differently to be VOIP capable. You can have a cordless IP phone that allows you to move freely through your home or office as you talk. Computer-to-computer VOIP is achieved by installing software that you can get through a provider. You make long distance calls from your computer, and talk through a microphone that is hooked up to your machine. All of these services are convenient in their own ways, but do not have quite the portability that cell phones offer. That is why the idea of VOIP cell phones is so appealing. Potentially, it is the best of both worlds: portability and low cost phone service.
Cost savings is by far the most attractive aspect of VOIP. With typical VOIP, you can expect to pay anywhere from $19.95 to $34.99 per month for a service that consists of many features, including free domestic calls, dirt cheap International calling rates, Caller ID, Call Waiting, 3-way Calling, among others. This, of course, is in addition to your current monthly ISP charge, which for broadband is usually around $40 per month. The combined cost for your ISP and VOIP services is likely to still be less expensive than if you were to remain in service with a traditional telephone company. However, this is not necessarily the case if you were to switch your cell phone over to VOIP as well.
Providers that offer VOIP cell phone services usually charge a monthly fee in addition to a per-minute fee. If you don't use your cell phone often enough to meet or exceed your current allotted plan minutes, then it is simply not cost effective for you to subscribe to VOIP cell phone service. VOIP and cell phones go well together for those customers that regularly exceed their plan minutes or make International calls on their cell phone on a regular basis. And, if your Internet connection if prone to outages, you could experience the same dropped call occurrences that you might often get with a standard cell phone service.
There is no doubt that VOIP is a reasonably priced and convenient way to bundle all of you communications together. VOIP service is improving all the time as technologies moves forward, which will allow providers to offer more reliable and even more affordable service down the line. Currently, VOIP cell phone service is in its infancy, and the kinks are being worked out. If you do the math, and feel that your monthly cell phone bill would benefit from a reasonable VOIP service plan, then it is worth the switch. If you do not make International calls on your cell phone, and you rarely or never go over your plan's allotted monthly minutes, then you are probably better off sticking with your traditional cell phone service for now than putting out more money for VOIP cell phone service.
VoIP Phone Systems
VoIP phone systems are used with Voice over Internet Protocol technology. VoIP is the technology used to transmit audio as data or Packets over the Internet to either a computer user or to a landline telephone. VoIP is increasing in popularity, as it is highly valued for its great quality, low cost, sometimes completely free and has incredible features. VoIP phone systems are a viable solution for business needs as well. This will also allow long distance calls for either free or for just pennies compared to traditional phone services.
You can also use VoIP technology by using Instant Messaging services that have voice options enabled. These include, AOL, Yahoo Messenger with VoiceInstant Messenger, Ebay's Skype, MSN and even Google has started their own VoIP messenger.
When using VoIP services, you can simply use a microphone and speakers to communicate with your caller. You need a High Speed Internet connection to allow for your calls to be in real time, and you will also need a soundboard and computer that is up to date with VoIP technology. You may also need a phone adapter for converting standard telephones into VoIP phones, or a VoIP phone.
VoIP phone system adapters are another means of communicating with VoIP. A VoIP phone adapter will connect between your standard telephones, and your Internet modem. Your phone adapter will come with installation and user instructions. Generally, you will need to power off your computer, then connect the adapter to your Internet modem and then plug your telephone into the adapter’s phone jack. Power everything back up and you should be good to use your phone. You will need to make sure that you have VoIP service previously installed.
You can also purchase a VoIP phone, specifically designed for use with your VoIP service. VoIP phones come in both corded and cordless forms. VoIP corded phones come with many features. You can purchase a desktop phone that includes speaker phone, Call Waiting, Hold, Speed Dial, Transfer, and programmable keys such as Menu, Dial, Volume, Transfer, Cancel, and Headset or Speaker mode.
New 2 line VoIP corded telephone are also available. Some of the features that come with a phone include 3 Way Conferencing, phone to phone/PC or phone to gateway direct dial. These VoIP phone systems are perfect for small businesses or for use in the home office.
VoWiFi is another option which is becoming popular. VoWiFi stands for Voice over Wireless Fidelity. This is the use of VoIP over a wireless connection. A VoWiFi phone operates by using a wireless network’s access point. The advantages of using VoWiFi, is that you can easily pick up network signals or “hotspots†for free. However, VoWiFi will not work if it is out of a wireless range, and immediately you will be terminated from your call. If you have a wireless network that you are local to, you will find VoWiFi to be a great advantage and extremely cost effective.
Another popular choice in VoIP phones is the cordless VoIP phone. These cordless VoIP phones are not the same as VoIP wireless or VoWi FI phones systems. These phones are similar to cordless standard phones. They will work in your house, but not outside, apart from your basic VoIP service.
Issues with network connectivity has driven the need for Hybrid VoIP phone systems. A hybrid is a cross between a cellular phone and VoWiFi. A Hybrid will place your call when you are in your cellular network range, and then, to prevent roaming charges, can pick up free VoWiFi by entering a hotspot. This is a great combination of two technologies and time will tell where the hybrid phone will evolve in the future.
In conclusion, VoIP is an advancement in telecommunications that is here to stay. Whether you use your computer, and Internet Messaging program, a VoIP phone adapter, VoIP cordless or corded phones, VoWiFi or Hybrids the future points to VoIP as the telecommunication method of choice. Today you can choose from VoIP phones, headsets, and even VoIP videophones that work as a web camera incorporating video with your audio. Talk has become very cheap or even free with VoIP phone systems!
You can also use VoIP technology by using Instant Messaging services that have voice options enabled. These include, AOL, Yahoo Messenger with VoiceInstant Messenger, Ebay's Skype, MSN and even Google has started their own VoIP messenger.
When using VoIP services, you can simply use a microphone and speakers to communicate with your caller. You need a High Speed Internet connection to allow for your calls to be in real time, and you will also need a soundboard and computer that is up to date with VoIP technology. You may also need a phone adapter for converting standard telephones into VoIP phones, or a VoIP phone.
VoIP phone system adapters are another means of communicating with VoIP. A VoIP phone adapter will connect between your standard telephones, and your Internet modem. Your phone adapter will come with installation and user instructions. Generally, you will need to power off your computer, then connect the adapter to your Internet modem and then plug your telephone into the adapter’s phone jack. Power everything back up and you should be good to use your phone. You will need to make sure that you have VoIP service previously installed.
You can also purchase a VoIP phone, specifically designed for use with your VoIP service. VoIP phones come in both corded and cordless forms. VoIP corded phones come with many features. You can purchase a desktop phone that includes speaker phone, Call Waiting, Hold, Speed Dial, Transfer, and programmable keys such as Menu, Dial, Volume, Transfer, Cancel, and Headset or Speaker mode.
New 2 line VoIP corded telephone are also available. Some of the features that come with a phone include 3 Way Conferencing, phone to phone/PC or phone to gateway direct dial. These VoIP phone systems are perfect for small businesses or for use in the home office.
VoWiFi is another option which is becoming popular. VoWiFi stands for Voice over Wireless Fidelity. This is the use of VoIP over a wireless connection. A VoWiFi phone operates by using a wireless network’s access point. The advantages of using VoWiFi, is that you can easily pick up network signals or “hotspots†for free. However, VoWiFi will not work if it is out of a wireless range, and immediately you will be terminated from your call. If you have a wireless network that you are local to, you will find VoWiFi to be a great advantage and extremely cost effective.
Another popular choice in VoIP phones is the cordless VoIP phone. These cordless VoIP phones are not the same as VoIP wireless or VoWi FI phones systems. These phones are similar to cordless standard phones. They will work in your house, but not outside, apart from your basic VoIP service.
Issues with network connectivity has driven the need for Hybrid VoIP phone systems. A hybrid is a cross between a cellular phone and VoWiFi. A Hybrid will place your call when you are in your cellular network range, and then, to prevent roaming charges, can pick up free VoWiFi by entering a hotspot. This is a great combination of two technologies and time will tell where the hybrid phone will evolve in the future.
In conclusion, VoIP is an advancement in telecommunications that is here to stay. Whether you use your computer, and Internet Messaging program, a VoIP phone adapter, VoIP cordless or corded phones, VoWiFi or Hybrids the future points to VoIP as the telecommunication method of choice. Today you can choose from VoIP phones, headsets, and even VoIP videophones that work as a web camera incorporating video with your audio. Talk has become very cheap or even free with VoIP phone systems!
Business VoIP
Communication is deeply essential in any business, running a business requires for every department to be in constant communication with each other to avoid confusion. Each division has an important role in keeping the business running. Without communication, each one could be operating solely on their own devices and could conflict with the operation of another. That is why successful businesses maintain a high quality telephone system for their communication strategy.
These days, many businesses are choosing to unplug and go with VoIP technology. There are many advantages for using business VoIP including cost effectiveness, greater productivity, and the incorporation of data, audio, and video all intertwined in one program. Here are 4 reasons that your business should make the switch to business VoIP.
* Business VoIP is cost effective
* VoIP is better for Mobile Employees
* Business VoIP allows Real Time Global Conferencing
* VoIP offers Flexibility that Ultimately Increases Productivity
Service providers and carriers that at present manage or are planning to manage both retail and wholesale customers do not have the time and resources to manage multiple network solutions. A lot of them should be familiar with the benefits of an all-in-one solution so they can concentrate their time and resources on increasing their customer base.
Having a good quality business VoIP in the business world is not a problem as long as it suits and satisfies the customer needs. Advertisements and lots of fliers would be a big help for the expansion of the products. Your customer deserves the best.
Voice over internet protocol technologies are scalable to fit any office environment, and can take advantage of a wide range of network infrastructures. With Voice over internet protocol, free your business from the expenses of per-minute long distance charges, paying only for initial equipment and any applicable managed service charges.
If you have had interest in Voice over internet protocol for your business, you have in excess of likely felt a little overwhelmed by the number of VOIP service providers available. You can find small companies, medium size companies and large companies. There is no wrong or right to the conclusion but looking at the options to agree on which VOIP service provider is best for your business is a good way to start.
Voice over internet protocol review provides a number of easy ways to find the best VOIP service for you. To search for residential or small business VoIP in your area:
* You can use the Basic VoIP Search - This is the easiest and quickest line of attack to find service.
* You can use the Advanced VoIP Search Wizard - If there is something specific you are looking for or you want to find the cheapest provider based on your calling minutes, features and number of phone lines.
* You can use the VoIP Comparison Tool - This lets you do a side by side comparison of VOIP Providers all at once.
Here are some ways you should consider on how to maximize business VoIP services which can boost your company’s performance:
* Learn about security solutions for soft switch deployments.
* Be able to evaluate the confusing selection of opposing technologies that enable VoIP services.
* Marketing strategies supporting both enterprise and consumer VoIP service offerings should also be learned.
* You should learn the different methods of organizing Voice over internet protocol.
* Learning the regulatory issues and likely responses to the burgeoning VoIP service trend should also be observed.
* Learn how the Multimedia IP calling services and applications works, their uses and importance.
Many business VoIP services are fully integrated with PC applications such as fax and email. There is greater productivity when employees can integrate their email and phone services with one application. Conduct business with VoIP on your laptop, any time.
With the option to get business VoIP phone numbers with area codes throughout the country, and some world wide, businesses can expand by choosing local area codes for the city, state, or country they are targeting. Voice over internet protocol is the fastest growing business in the industry and offers big opportunity. VoIP is a flexible program that will fit any business. Business Voip is everything you need for a successful business strategy and system.
Mike Rohan makes it easy to understand and take full advantage busines VoIP. Make your business calls cheaper or even free. To learn more visit: Business VoIP
These days, many businesses are choosing to unplug and go with VoIP technology. There are many advantages for using business VoIP including cost effectiveness, greater productivity, and the incorporation of data, audio, and video all intertwined in one program. Here are 4 reasons that your business should make the switch to business VoIP.
* Business VoIP is cost effective
* VoIP is better for Mobile Employees
* Business VoIP allows Real Time Global Conferencing
* VoIP offers Flexibility that Ultimately Increases Productivity
Service providers and carriers that at present manage or are planning to manage both retail and wholesale customers do not have the time and resources to manage multiple network solutions. A lot of them should be familiar with the benefits of an all-in-one solution so they can concentrate their time and resources on increasing their customer base.
Having a good quality business VoIP in the business world is not a problem as long as it suits and satisfies the customer needs. Advertisements and lots of fliers would be a big help for the expansion of the products. Your customer deserves the best.
Voice over internet protocol technologies are scalable to fit any office environment, and can take advantage of a wide range of network infrastructures. With Voice over internet protocol, free your business from the expenses of per-minute long distance charges, paying only for initial equipment and any applicable managed service charges.
If you have had interest in Voice over internet protocol for your business, you have in excess of likely felt a little overwhelmed by the number of VOIP service providers available. You can find small companies, medium size companies and large companies. There is no wrong or right to the conclusion but looking at the options to agree on which VOIP service provider is best for your business is a good way to start.
Voice over internet protocol review provides a number of easy ways to find the best VOIP service for you. To search for residential or small business VoIP in your area:
* You can use the Basic VoIP Search - This is the easiest and quickest line of attack to find service.
* You can use the Advanced VoIP Search Wizard - If there is something specific you are looking for or you want to find the cheapest provider based on your calling minutes, features and number of phone lines.
* You can use the VoIP Comparison Tool - This lets you do a side by side comparison of VOIP Providers all at once.
Here are some ways you should consider on how to maximize business VoIP services which can boost your company’s performance:
* Learn about security solutions for soft switch deployments.
* Be able to evaluate the confusing selection of opposing technologies that enable VoIP services.
* Marketing strategies supporting both enterprise and consumer VoIP service offerings should also be learned.
* You should learn the different methods of organizing Voice over internet protocol.
* Learning the regulatory issues and likely responses to the burgeoning VoIP service trend should also be observed.
* Learn how the Multimedia IP calling services and applications works, their uses and importance.
Many business VoIP services are fully integrated with PC applications such as fax and email. There is greater productivity when employees can integrate their email and phone services with one application. Conduct business with VoIP on your laptop, any time.
With the option to get business VoIP phone numbers with area codes throughout the country, and some world wide, businesses can expand by choosing local area codes for the city, state, or country they are targeting. Voice over internet protocol is the fastest growing business in the industry and offers big opportunity. VoIP is a flexible program that will fit any business. Business Voip is everything you need for a successful business strategy and system.
Mike Rohan makes it easy to understand and take full advantage busines VoIP. Make your business calls cheaper or even free. To learn more visit: Business VoIP
Skyping with yourself – the new VoIP phenomenon
With the vocal complaints of a large number of Skype users now reaching fever pitch, Danny Wirken summarises the latest offering from problem-ridden Skype – talking to yourself.
Not so long ago I could rely on Skype giving me a great connection. I used her for all my internet calling needs even when I discovered you could get far cheaper calls from other VoIP providers. Alright I’ll admit it – I just plain liked Skype.
Yet despite my affection for this upstart company who blasted onto the internet scene late 2003 with their beta offering, I find myself slowly agreeing with those who are packing up their Skype lives and moving to a different internet telephony service. But what is forcing them to change?
“When I use Skype to call my friend I can’t hear anything they say – even though they can hear me! It’s just like talking to yourself..â€
Aside from having to wait several days to get your account credited – even when they already took the money off your card – the major gripe echoing forth from the internet communities once so devoted and loyal to the Skype and SkypeOut life is one of fundamental importance. The Skype connections just don’t work well.
Some analysts say that Skype has moved too quickly and is simply the victim of its own success. Others still claim that desires to keep costs down have forced them into a tight corner with regards to customer service and technology.
Customers are now complaining that Skype calls frequently experience a two second time delay between people speaking and listening. This can result in confused and frustrating conversations in which one must wait seconds before speaking to ensure the other person has finished what they are saying. Not being able to hear in ‘real time’ somewhat obviates the entire service.
Others still complain that the Skype calls just aren’t going through at all:
“My Skype calls don’t go through often, and if they do then you just don’t hear the other person even though they can hear me just fine. I don’t get it and I’ve had enough.â€
Fears over the recent downturn in service from Skype were confirmed recently by yet another week of disruptions to calls to USA based numbers. For many customers this was a final straw, as being able to get cheaper calls to US phones was their main reason for investing in the service to begin with.
Skype replied with an attempt to reassure their growing customer base. They claim to make regular checks on all call performance related technologies across their global network and continually seek to enhance the performance of their connections. A spokeswoman for Skype commented that: “As our growth does indicate, we have a larger number of satisfied customers.†Yet this is perhaps optimistic, for it is not the gaining of new customers that Skype needs to concern itself with – there is no doubt that the grassroots marketing they have employed is doing a fantastic job. Customer retention, however, may yet be a bigger battle.
Not so long ago I could rely on Skype giving me a great connection. I used her for all my internet calling needs even when I discovered you could get far cheaper calls from other VoIP providers. Alright I’ll admit it – I just plain liked Skype.
Yet despite my affection for this upstart company who blasted onto the internet scene late 2003 with their beta offering, I find myself slowly agreeing with those who are packing up their Skype lives and moving to a different internet telephony service. But what is forcing them to change?
“When I use Skype to call my friend I can’t hear anything they say – even though they can hear me! It’s just like talking to yourself..â€
Aside from having to wait several days to get your account credited – even when they already took the money off your card – the major gripe echoing forth from the internet communities once so devoted and loyal to the Skype and SkypeOut life is one of fundamental importance. The Skype connections just don’t work well.
Some analysts say that Skype has moved too quickly and is simply the victim of its own success. Others still claim that desires to keep costs down have forced them into a tight corner with regards to customer service and technology.
Customers are now complaining that Skype calls frequently experience a two second time delay between people speaking and listening. This can result in confused and frustrating conversations in which one must wait seconds before speaking to ensure the other person has finished what they are saying. Not being able to hear in ‘real time’ somewhat obviates the entire service.
Others still complain that the Skype calls just aren’t going through at all:
“My Skype calls don’t go through often, and if they do then you just don’t hear the other person even though they can hear me just fine. I don’t get it and I’ve had enough.â€
Fears over the recent downturn in service from Skype were confirmed recently by yet another week of disruptions to calls to USA based numbers. For many customers this was a final straw, as being able to get cheaper calls to US phones was their main reason for investing in the service to begin with.
Skype replied with an attempt to reassure their growing customer base. They claim to make regular checks on all call performance related technologies across their global network and continually seek to enhance the performance of their connections. A spokeswoman for Skype commented that: “As our growth does indicate, we have a larger number of satisfied customers.†Yet this is perhaps optimistic, for it is not the gaining of new customers that Skype needs to concern itself with – there is no doubt that the grassroots marketing they have employed is doing a fantastic job. Customer retention, however, may yet be a bigger battle.
VoIP Training - An Inside Look
Whenever there's a new technology, there's an almost immediate demand for technical support and this is true of VoIP systems. But where can you expect to get that support? It may be more available that you expect.
VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol and this emerging technology certainly appears to be catching on, especially in certain circles. Some major companies and industries are finding the advantage of implementing VoIP to create better communication systems, often at a lower cost than traditional telephone service. Very basically, VoIP allows users to make unlimited voice communications to anywhere without incurring long distance charges. The process is very similar to emailing, but with voice capabilities rather than relying on the written word.
Because this technology has some ties to existing technology, there are many people who are just a few steps away from being prepared to install, maintain, repair and trouble shoot the VoIP systems. Large companies especially may find that there are those within the organization who need a minimal amount of training in order to be ready for this task.
So what are your options when it comes to VoIP training? Actually, they're not nearly as limited as you might think. For those who live in larger cities, you may very well find that there are seminars, hands-on training and workshops nearby. In those cases, you'll be able to choose the intensity of the sessions based on how much (or how little) you already know.
If you have large universities or technical schools in your area, you may also find that these have some excellent training opportunities. Though there seem to be a limited number of colleges and technical training facilities that offer VoIP training as a regular curriculum item, there's little doubt that it will come in the near future.
Distance learning is also an option in many areas. If you don't find some VoIP training that you're interested in available in your area, consult area universities, libraries or community programs about the possibility of establishing a VoIP distance learning class. There are several advantages to distance learning over correspondence or online courses. You have the opportunity to interact with the teacher and other students via an Internet connection (voice and video, as a rule). You also have hands on classroom experience and lessons, just as you would in a traditional classroom. There's also the fact that you meet at a prearranged time on a regular basis for the duration of the course - a fact that many people find necessary in order to maintain their focus and to complete assigned coursework.
If none of these are available, or if you simply can't commit to regular meeting times, you may find that online courses in VoIP is a great way to get the training you need. There are several options, so take time to consider those companies offering VoIP training to be sure you'll have worthwhile information at the end of the course. If hands-on work is vital to your learning style, look for training that offers real-life situational exercises.
This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.
VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol and this emerging technology certainly appears to be catching on, especially in certain circles. Some major companies and industries are finding the advantage of implementing VoIP to create better communication systems, often at a lower cost than traditional telephone service. Very basically, VoIP allows users to make unlimited voice communications to anywhere without incurring long distance charges. The process is very similar to emailing, but with voice capabilities rather than relying on the written word.
Because this technology has some ties to existing technology, there are many people who are just a few steps away from being prepared to install, maintain, repair and trouble shoot the VoIP systems. Large companies especially may find that there are those within the organization who need a minimal amount of training in order to be ready for this task.
So what are your options when it comes to VoIP training? Actually, they're not nearly as limited as you might think. For those who live in larger cities, you may very well find that there are seminars, hands-on training and workshops nearby. In those cases, you'll be able to choose the intensity of the sessions based on how much (or how little) you already know.
If you have large universities or technical schools in your area, you may also find that these have some excellent training opportunities. Though there seem to be a limited number of colleges and technical training facilities that offer VoIP training as a regular curriculum item, there's little doubt that it will come in the near future.
Distance learning is also an option in many areas. If you don't find some VoIP training that you're interested in available in your area, consult area universities, libraries or community programs about the possibility of establishing a VoIP distance learning class. There are several advantages to distance learning over correspondence or online courses. You have the opportunity to interact with the teacher and other students via an Internet connection (voice and video, as a rule). You also have hands on classroom experience and lessons, just as you would in a traditional classroom. There's also the fact that you meet at a prearranged time on a regular basis for the duration of the course - a fact that many people find necessary in order to maintain their focus and to complete assigned coursework.
If none of these are available, or if you simply can't commit to regular meeting times, you may find that online courses in VoIP is a great way to get the training you need. There are several options, so take time to consider those companies offering VoIP training to be sure you'll have worthwhile information at the end of the course. If hands-on work is vital to your learning style, look for training that offers real-life situational exercises.
This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.
All You Want To Know About Web Conferencing
All You Want To Know About Web Conferencing
You should be able to find several indispensable facts about Web Conferencing in the following paragraphs. If there's at least one fact you didn't know before, imagine the difference it might make.
It is Sunday evening and you are preparing again to go on a business trip.When you finally get home Monday night, you have spent more time traveling than meeting and you have dozens of emails and several important phone calls to return.
According to leading web conferencing service providers, the typical sales cycle can be cut two to three weeks with web conferencing. Providing a virtual conference room environment, web conferencing eliminates the need to travel, linking geographically disperse workgroups and telecommuters. The return on investment for web conferencing can be measured not only in dollars and cents, but also in personnel efficiency, knowledge distribution and increased sales opportunities.
The ability to virtually link workgroups and project teams enables real-time collaboration, a task that once required lengthy email threads or face-to-face meetings.
Web conferencing enables businesses to:
Reduce operating costs
Minimize unnecessary travel
Close sales and negotiate contracts faster
Enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of communication
Deliver clear, concise and consistent training
Encourage real-time collaboration between distant and local co-workers
Engage in greater levels of communication with clients and business partners
Since its inception, web conferencing usage has expanded to a number of business applications such as daily sales and marketing efforts, interaction with co-workers and customers, corporate presentations and training initiatives. Financial corporations use web conferencing for internal meetings, customer briefings, employee training, client consultations and investment workshops. Healthcare and pharmaceutical companies use Web conferencing for product promotion and marketing, sales presentations and demonstrations, and product training and development. Educational institutions use web conferencing for project teams and student workshops. And, government agencies rely on web conferencing for training and inter-agency communication.
Most organizations use outsourced web conferencing. Why? Because of the quickly changing technology, businesses opt not to invest in what could soon be obsolete. In addition, on a day-to-day basis, it is more cost effective to have web conferencing outsourced. Additional reasons include:
Leading edge functionality provides greater levels of security, moderator control, and participant options.
Your people can now focus on your core business, not support systems.
The external company makes the investment in new features so that your fixed costs are reduced and your overall expenditures are lowered.
With no capital expense, new technology can be implemented with minimal impact to the bottom line.
See how much you can learn about Web Conferencing when you take a little time to read a well-researched article? Don't miss out on the rest of this great information.
When beginning the search for a web conferencing solution, start with setting your objectives and determining the features you require. Here are a few basic questions that should be answered:
How many participants do you anticipate attending your online meetings or events?
Will the number of participants remain consistent from meeting to meeting or will the number change?
How many meetings will be conducted each week, month, quarter? Will usage fluctuate depending on the time of the year?
What type of content will be presented (Power Point slides, software applications, web-based applications, documents, or spreadsheets)?
What degree of interactivity do you require (Q&A, polling/voting, application sharing, text chatting, live video, file sharing, etc.)?
Do you want your own software or a hosted solution?
How much technical support or event management support do you require?
What is your monthly budget?
Are there any special security requirements?
Once you have determined your requirements, screen a number of vendors. Visit their web site, review live demos, and seek client testimonials. Here are few suggestions for choosing a vendor:
Select a pricing model. Determine whether you want to pay-per-use (you pay only for the time you and your attendees spend in web conferences) or pay-per-seat (you pay a flat monthly fee for a certain number of "seats"). Pay-per-use pricing is the better conservative choice for most companies learning to how to use web conferencing for their business. You avoid set up charges and you don't have to monitor the number of concurrent users in order to avoid overage charges. You can always start with a pay-per-use plan and switch to a pay-per-seat plan once there is a clear, long-term financial advantage.
Get the features you need. Some web conferencing solutions only support online presentations while others offer full-featured packages that include polling, chatting, application-sharing, white boarding and group web surfing. Make sure that the product meets your needs.
Check into customer support levels. Is training and ongoing support available? What hours? Is there an extra fee? Is there a telephone number available so that you can contact a support person or is only email support offered? What are their support hours? Call each vendor's customer service number and see if you get a live person vs. a menu or voice mail. You don't want to be in a situation where an attendee has technical problems joining a critical meeting and not be able to contact a live person immediately.
Consider security requirements. Depending on the audience and the information being sharing, security may be a concern. Most solutions are secure enough and do not store meeting data any place except on the presenter's PC. Participants only see a graphical representation of the data through a standard web browser. Some services provide pass code authorization, basic encryption, and the ability to lock and unlock the meeting.
So, the next time Sunday night comes around and you are faced with another week of travel, email trails, difficulty in scheduling training and long lead times in closing sales and negotiating contracts, do yourself a favor and look into web conferencing for your business.
Take time to consider the points presented above. What you learn may help you overcome your hesitation to take action.
All You Want To Know About Web Conferencing
You should be able to find several indispensable facts about Web Conferencing in the following paragraphs. If there's at least one fact you didn't know before, imagine the difference it might make.
It is Sunday evening and you are preparing again to go on a business trip.When you finally get home Monday night, you have spent more time traveling than meeting and you have dozens of emails and several important phone calls to return.
According to leading web conferencing service providers, the typical sales cycle can be cut two to three weeks with web conferencing. Providing a virtual conference room environment, web conferencing eliminates the need to travel, linking geographically disperse workgroups and telecommuters. The return on investment for web conferencing can be measured not only in dollars and cents, but also in personnel efficiency, knowledge distribution and increased sales opportunities.
The ability to virtually link workgroups and project teams enables real-time collaboration, a task that once required lengthy email threads or face-to-face meetings.
Web conferencing enables businesses to:
Reduce operating costs
Minimize unnecessary travel
Close sales and negotiate contracts faster
Enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of communication
Deliver clear, concise and consistent training
Encourage real-time collaboration between distant and local co-workers
Engage in greater levels of communication with clients and business partners
Since its inception, web conferencing usage has expanded to a number of business applications such as daily sales and marketing efforts, interaction with co-workers and customers, corporate presentations and training initiatives. Financial corporations use web conferencing for internal meetings, customer briefings, employee training, client consultations and investment workshops. Healthcare and pharmaceutical companies use Web conferencing for product promotion and marketing, sales presentations and demonstrations, and product training and development. Educational institutions use web conferencing for project teams and student workshops. And, government agencies rely on web conferencing for training and inter-agency communication.
Most organizations use outsourced web conferencing. Why? Because of the quickly changing technology, businesses opt not to invest in what could soon be obsolete. In addition, on a day-to-day basis, it is more cost effective to have web conferencing outsourced. Additional reasons include:
Leading edge functionality provides greater levels of security, moderator control, and participant options.
Your people can now focus on your core business, not support systems.
The external company makes the investment in new features so that your fixed costs are reduced and your overall expenditures are lowered.
With no capital expense, new technology can be implemented with minimal impact to the bottom line.
See how much you can learn about Web Conferencing when you take a little time to read a well-researched article? Don't miss out on the rest of this great information.
When beginning the search for a web conferencing solution, start with setting your objectives and determining the features you require. Here are a few basic questions that should be answered:
How many participants do you anticipate attending your online meetings or events?
Will the number of participants remain consistent from meeting to meeting or will the number change?
How many meetings will be conducted each week, month, quarter? Will usage fluctuate depending on the time of the year?
What type of content will be presented (Power Point slides, software applications, web-based applications, documents, or spreadsheets)?
What degree of interactivity do you require (Q&A, polling/voting, application sharing, text chatting, live video, file sharing, etc.)?
Do you want your own software or a hosted solution?
How much technical support or event management support do you require?
What is your monthly budget?
Are there any special security requirements?
Once you have determined your requirements, screen a number of vendors. Visit their web site, review live demos, and seek client testimonials. Here are few suggestions for choosing a vendor:
Select a pricing model. Determine whether you want to pay-per-use (you pay only for the time you and your attendees spend in web conferences) or pay-per-seat (you pay a flat monthly fee for a certain number of "seats"). Pay-per-use pricing is the better conservative choice for most companies learning to how to use web conferencing for their business. You avoid set up charges and you don't have to monitor the number of concurrent users in order to avoid overage charges. You can always start with a pay-per-use plan and switch to a pay-per-seat plan once there is a clear, long-term financial advantage.
Get the features you need. Some web conferencing solutions only support online presentations while others offer full-featured packages that include polling, chatting, application-sharing, white boarding and group web surfing. Make sure that the product meets your needs.
Check into customer support levels. Is training and ongoing support available? What hours? Is there an extra fee? Is there a telephone number available so that you can contact a support person or is only email support offered? What are their support hours? Call each vendor's customer service number and see if you get a live person vs. a menu or voice mail. You don't want to be in a situation where an attendee has technical problems joining a critical meeting and not be able to contact a live person immediately.
Consider security requirements. Depending on the audience and the information being sharing, security may be a concern. Most solutions are secure enough and do not store meeting data any place except on the presenter's PC. Participants only see a graphical representation of the data through a standard web browser. Some services provide pass code authorization, basic encryption, and the ability to lock and unlock the meeting.
So, the next time Sunday night comes around and you are faced with another week of travel, email trails, difficulty in scheduling training and long lead times in closing sales and negotiating contracts, do yourself a favor and look into web conferencing for your business.
Take time to consider the points presented above. What you learn may help you overcome your hesitation to take action.
All You Want To Know About Web Conferencing
VoIP - Should I Or Shouldn't I?
Have you been considering VoIP for your phone service? Are you still on the fence as to whether or not to try this technology?
Are you the type of person who enjoys technology and the benefits you can derive from it? Do you currently have a broadband internet connection? Do you want to continue to use your existing phone? Do you like to save money?
If you answered 'yes' to any of the questions above, you're probably a VoIP candidate.
The service itself is quite good, but not yet as reliable as the plain old telephone service. (POTS) Having said that, with the push towards this technology, the vendors are driven to providing a better service all the time. New advances in the technology itself are being incorporated into the networks on a regular basis. I for one have gone through a couple service upgrades with my own personal VoIP provider. It just keeps getting better and better. With competition heating up, you can rest assured that technology issues will be overcome sooner rather than later.
Ok, you're on the fence and deciding whether or not you should make the change. Let's go over a couple things that you should now before making your purchasing decision.
First up, what type of broadband access do you currently use? If you're using DSL and you're looking to use VoIP as your 'primary' phone service, check with your existing phone provider. Make sure you can still use your DSL without primary phone service being provided by your local phone company. I happen to live in an area where the RBOC does NOT allow for this. Basically, if I use DSL I could use VoIP has a secondary phone line, but I would not be able to cancel my phone service and keep my DSL. DSL without phone service is called 'naked DSL' and is not yet generally available. You can check our site for naked DSL providers. I for one use cable broadband access so the local phone company doesn't even enter the picture.
Next, let's make sure we all understand that VoIP runs over your broadband internet connection. VoIP means Voice over Internet Protocol. Simply put, it runs over the internet and NOT on the copper wires in your existing home telephone jacks. Basically this means that those phone jacks in your house would NOT work with VoIP. Your phone base plugs into an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter). If you want to have multiple handsets through out your home, you could use the cordless systems that come with a base and multiple handsets. I myself use a cordless phone so the phone base plugs into the ATA. This provides me the freedom to use my handset anywhere in the house.
Another point certainly worth mentioning is power and your existing ISP. If the power goes out in your home, your phone doesn't work. If you currently use a cordless phone where the base plugs into an electrical outlet, this same behavior occurs now. Loose power and you loose your phone. In addition, if your ISP (internet service provider) drops service or has an outage, you loose your phone as well. Some make a big deal out of this, but fail to understand that you can setup your service with alternate numbers. I for example, use my cellular phone number as my backup. If my internet connection goes down, anyone trying to call me will be automatically routed to my cellular phone. I never miss a call!
These are just a couple or many points to consider when making the switch. To be honest, it's very simple and painless to switch to VoIP. The best part is that many of the vendors offer trial periods. If you're still on the fence, you can sign up for service and feel comfortable in the fact that you can drop the service if not satisfied. No risk involved.
If you're still in the investigative stage, that's ok too. Visit our web site where we offer many informative articles on VoIP as well as utilities to gauge the speed of your existing broadband connection. Once you're armed with the information you need, we also offer access to a variety of vendors offer great service at a great price.
You don't need to sit on the fence much longer. Get the facts, get the details and choose a vendor that offers you a free trial period.
VoIP can be a great solution for your home or office.
Are you the type of person who enjoys technology and the benefits you can derive from it? Do you currently have a broadband internet connection? Do you want to continue to use your existing phone? Do you like to save money?
If you answered 'yes' to any of the questions above, you're probably a VoIP candidate.
The service itself is quite good, but not yet as reliable as the plain old telephone service. (POTS) Having said that, with the push towards this technology, the vendors are driven to providing a better service all the time. New advances in the technology itself are being incorporated into the networks on a regular basis. I for one have gone through a couple service upgrades with my own personal VoIP provider. It just keeps getting better and better. With competition heating up, you can rest assured that technology issues will be overcome sooner rather than later.
Ok, you're on the fence and deciding whether or not you should make the change. Let's go over a couple things that you should now before making your purchasing decision.
First up, what type of broadband access do you currently use? If you're using DSL and you're looking to use VoIP as your 'primary' phone service, check with your existing phone provider. Make sure you can still use your DSL without primary phone service being provided by your local phone company. I happen to live in an area where the RBOC does NOT allow for this. Basically, if I use DSL I could use VoIP has a secondary phone line, but I would not be able to cancel my phone service and keep my DSL. DSL without phone service is called 'naked DSL' and is not yet generally available. You can check our site for naked DSL providers. I for one use cable broadband access so the local phone company doesn't even enter the picture.
Next, let's make sure we all understand that VoIP runs over your broadband internet connection. VoIP means Voice over Internet Protocol. Simply put, it runs over the internet and NOT on the copper wires in your existing home telephone jacks. Basically this means that those phone jacks in your house would NOT work with VoIP. Your phone base plugs into an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter). If you want to have multiple handsets through out your home, you could use the cordless systems that come with a base and multiple handsets. I myself use a cordless phone so the phone base plugs into the ATA. This provides me the freedom to use my handset anywhere in the house.
Another point certainly worth mentioning is power and your existing ISP. If the power goes out in your home, your phone doesn't work. If you currently use a cordless phone where the base plugs into an electrical outlet, this same behavior occurs now. Loose power and you loose your phone. In addition, if your ISP (internet service provider) drops service or has an outage, you loose your phone as well. Some make a big deal out of this, but fail to understand that you can setup your service with alternate numbers. I for example, use my cellular phone number as my backup. If my internet connection goes down, anyone trying to call me will be automatically routed to my cellular phone. I never miss a call!
These are just a couple or many points to consider when making the switch. To be honest, it's very simple and painless to switch to VoIP. The best part is that many of the vendors offer trial periods. If you're still on the fence, you can sign up for service and feel comfortable in the fact that you can drop the service if not satisfied. No risk involved.
If you're still in the investigative stage, that's ok too. Visit our web site where we offer many informative articles on VoIP as well as utilities to gauge the speed of your existing broadband connection. Once you're armed with the information you need, we also offer access to a variety of vendors offer great service at a great price.
You don't need to sit on the fence much longer. Get the facts, get the details and choose a vendor that offers you a free trial period.
VoIP can be a great solution for your home or office.
VoIP - Does It Live Up To All Of The Hype?
Commercials. Web banners. Radio spots.
There’s no doubt that you’ve seen them all. As Voip providers ramp up their advertising campaigns, prospective Voip subscribers can’t help but wonder if Voip all that great or a bunch of hype? With all of the vonage commercials with the catchy tunes, the big traditional phone service carriers pushing their own Voip services, and the larger than life posters and cutouts in the electronics stores more and more people are becoming aware of Voip.
Behind all of the cutouts, corny music and web banners is an extremely useful service which, if you need it, can save you a bundle of money. For many people, Voip truly is one of the “killer apps†of the new millenium. Whether Voip really lives up to all the hype depends on who’s using it. Voip is not for everyone. If you spend little time on the phone, there is no reason to use Voip. Voip may not be for those who fear new things either.
If you fall into any of the categories below than you should at least consider trying out a voip service provider to save money:
You run a business with several branch offices in different cities
You telecommute and have to use long distance calls to stay in touch with your employer/contractor
You have relatives scattered about in different parts of the country or world
You find yourself making several long distance calls per day or even per week
You want lots of calling features such as call waiting, call forwarding, caller ID, call blocking and more without paying extra for each feature.
If you fall into any of the below categories, then Voip service may not be the right way to go:
You don’t use your phone for business reasons
All of your relatives live close by, or you’re out of touch with them
You rarely make long distance calls
You don’t need or care for extra features like call blocking, caller ID, etc.
You have a dial-up connection to the internet.
While Voip is a really great technology that can save you a massive amont of money each month, it’s still relatively new and has it’s fair share of problems. Network congestion can be a problem while you’re in the middle of an important phone call. It’s a fact of life that sometimes routers and servers on the internet get busy and the pipes get clogged. There is only so much bandwidth that can go through and when this happens the call will break up or get dropped.
What happens when your internet connection goes down in the middle of an emergency? Yes, you guessed it, no 911 service on your Voip line. At this time, it’s best to have either a standard phone or cell phone as a backup for emergencies. The FCC has released a set of standards for Enhanced 911 services that Voip providers must adhere to so the 911 service through the Voip provider will not be as much of a problem as network outages.
So, should you jump right on the Voip bandwagon? Don’t believe the hype, only you can make that decision for yourself. Armed with the information in this article you’ll be able to decide if Voip truly is the killer app of the new millenium or if it’s just a toy.
There’s no doubt that you’ve seen them all. As Voip providers ramp up their advertising campaigns, prospective Voip subscribers can’t help but wonder if Voip all that great or a bunch of hype? With all of the vonage commercials with the catchy tunes, the big traditional phone service carriers pushing their own Voip services, and the larger than life posters and cutouts in the electronics stores more and more people are becoming aware of Voip.
Behind all of the cutouts, corny music and web banners is an extremely useful service which, if you need it, can save you a bundle of money. For many people, Voip truly is one of the “killer apps†of the new millenium. Whether Voip really lives up to all the hype depends on who’s using it. Voip is not for everyone. If you spend little time on the phone, there is no reason to use Voip. Voip may not be for those who fear new things either.
If you fall into any of the categories below than you should at least consider trying out a voip service provider to save money:
You run a business with several branch offices in different cities
You telecommute and have to use long distance calls to stay in touch with your employer/contractor
You have relatives scattered about in different parts of the country or world
You find yourself making several long distance calls per day or even per week
You want lots of calling features such as call waiting, call forwarding, caller ID, call blocking and more without paying extra for each feature.
If you fall into any of the below categories, then Voip service may not be the right way to go:
You don’t use your phone for business reasons
All of your relatives live close by, or you’re out of touch with them
You rarely make long distance calls
You don’t need or care for extra features like call blocking, caller ID, etc.
You have a dial-up connection to the internet.
While Voip is a really great technology that can save you a massive amont of money each month, it’s still relatively new and has it’s fair share of problems. Network congestion can be a problem while you’re in the middle of an important phone call. It’s a fact of life that sometimes routers and servers on the internet get busy and the pipes get clogged. There is only so much bandwidth that can go through and when this happens the call will break up or get dropped.
What happens when your internet connection goes down in the middle of an emergency? Yes, you guessed it, no 911 service on your Voip line. At this time, it’s best to have either a standard phone or cell phone as a backup for emergencies. The FCC has released a set of standards for Enhanced 911 services that Voip providers must adhere to so the 911 service through the Voip provider will not be as much of a problem as network outages.
So, should you jump right on the Voip bandwagon? Don’t believe the hype, only you can make that decision for yourself. Armed with the information in this article you’ll be able to decide if Voip truly is the killer app of the new millenium or if it’s just a toy.
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