Introduction
to VoIP by: Mike Bromley
What is VoIP?
First things first, VoIP stands for Voice over Internet
Protocol. At a base level that means phone calls over your
broadband connection. You really do need a high-speed connection
to take advantage of VoIP to get phone calls comparable to
a normal landline phone. Traditional "dial-up" connections
are not really sufficient.
VoIP works in a different way to your home phone. Your home
phone is based on an analogue network, whereas VoIP is based
on a digital one. Essentially when you speak into a VoIP
enabled phone or headset your voice is converted into digital
packets; it is then compressed to help your Internet connection
run more efficiently and then it is transferred down the
connection much like an email. Once it reaches its destination
the process is reversed.
Why might I want to switch to VoIP?
It's a good question. We all have a working phone in our
homes or business, why should we change? Lets look at the
advantages and disadvantages of VoIP
Advantages
Well to put it simply - cost. VoIP makes calls significantly
cheaper. And (Depending on your package) for a low cost monthly
subscription local and national calls can be made for free,
and international calls made at a significantly lower rate.
When you subscribe to a VoIP service it is possible to get
a phone number for life. You will be able to take your number
with you whenever you move (or even travel) with obvious
benefits.
The contract packages that companies who are offering the
service contain for the most part all the features and more
that your current phone service supplier offers. You are
likely to find most VoIP companies offering free voicemail,
call forwarding, caller ID, call waiting, call waiting ID,
3 way calling, speed dialling and much more.
VoIP is very much in it's infancy; the technology is progressing
all the time. Future benefits that we may not be able to
envisage yet are certain to appear, you current analogue
phone system will not be able to compete.
Disadvantages
Your VoIP phones system will be exclusively based on your
broadband connection, if you ISP has a period of service
downtime then you will not be able to make calls. Additionally
if your electricity supply has a power out then you will
not be able to make any calls, this includes calls to the
emergency services. Some providers have already got a work
around with the emergency calls, so make sure when you decide
on a supplier they provide this.
A further disadvantage currently is the set up of the VoIP
is not the simplest procedure to undertake, though many suppliers
will assist with installation.
The quality of the call via VoIP can be slightly less than
your current analogue phone, but the technology is steadily
improving, and before long you will not be able to tell the
difference in call quality between the two mediums.
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