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VoIP stands for "Voice Over Internet Protocol", which is a technology that
allows you to make phone calls using your Broadband Internet
connection instead of your regular phone service. It is also referred to as Voice over IP, Broadband phone, Internet phone service and Digital Voice. Yes it is a marketing game by the different service providers but they all uses the same core technology.
You still simply pick up your regular phone, dial a number and talk. VoIP is simple and is for everyone. It doesn't matter if the
person you are calling has VoIP or not, this is all taken care of by your VoIP service provider.
The only requirement for this technology is a high speed internet connection, such as DSL or cable, as the service is based on broadband Internet
communication. VoIP requires a speed of up to 90Kbps depending on the voice compression
algorithm chosen by the service provider. This is a higher speed than dial-up Internet so
a Broadband Internet connection is a basic requirement.
What are the benefits of VoIP?
There are many benefits to having a VoIP solution, for example:
One low monthly fee covers all of your phone calls. This
is where we can help you. Click on our easy-to-use VoIP Service Provider Plan Search page to
get started.
There are no unexplained taxes or regulatory fees. You know the ones on your current bill that nobody understands and your local
phone provider can't explain. No taxes are charged for Internet based phone calls which is one reason why the service is so cheap. Long distance and international calling are
much cheaper. The Internet does not care whether you're calling someone who
lives a block away or your cousin in Australia. This is why the VoIP service providers can give you such great rates for long
distance and international calls.
What features can VoIP give me?
The features available with a broadband phone service are incredible.
Your voice, which is an analog signal, is converted into small packets of
digital data and sent over your Broadband Internet connection to your VoIP service provider. This digital data
is perfect for the Internet and it means your service provider can do many things with it such as:
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Store incoming calls to voice mail if you do not want to be disturbed by the telephone.
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Send a voice mail to you as an e-mail attachment
so you can listen to it on any computer.
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3-way calling. Many plans allow up to three people in one conference call, allowing you to talk to
your entire family at once.
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Offer caller ID and call waiting. These features are
often thrown in for free. You would normally need to pay for
the privilege with a local phone provider.
There are many other cool features that VoIP offers
and it should be remembered that this technology is growing fast so the
possibilities are endless.
Check out our VoIP Service Provider Plan Search page to
see the plan features of all the different service providers on our
website and get the information you need to choose a VoIP solution today.
Also check out our guide to many of the
VoIP Features available
from the service providers covered on our site.
Are there any disadvantages with a VoIP solution?
Although most VoIP service providers have Emergency 911 there are still a few that do not. To be sure, check out our
VoIP Service Provider Plan Search page to
see which service providers have this capability.
The biggest disadvantage that skeptics will throw at you is what happens when your
power goes out at home or you lose your Broadband Internet connection. You see VoIP
relies on having a broadband connection so if that goes down so does
your Internet phone service. However, in the days when most of us have a cell
phone of some sort, even if it is just "pay as you go", is this really a
big issue?
Another option that many people go for is to
have a cheap regular local phone service to use just on those rare occasions
when you lose your power or broadband connection.
What equipment do I need for VoIP service?
To make a VoIP call the only additional piece of equipment that a typical setup will need
is an Analog Telephone Adaptor (or ATA), which is usually supplied by the VoIP
service provider when you
sign up for service.
This allows you to make phone calls as normal, using your own standard
phone. The ATA does the clever conversion of your analog voice to a digital signal that the
Internet can understand. It then sends that signal on to your Broadband Modem, which passes it over the Internet.
A typical residential VoIP solution looks like this:
Why is the computer in the picture - you still want your high speed Internet.
You can surf the web while your daughter talks to her friends on the phone.
If you have more than one phone in your home the recommended connection is to use cordless telephones. The base
station of the cordless telephone plugs directly into the VoIP ATA. The additional handsets can then be placed anywhere in your home, distributing
the VoIP phone service to your required locations. For other options check out "How do I add multiple phones to my VoIP service?" in our FAQ.
For homes with more than one computer simply connect a router to the ATA instead of the PC in the diagram above. Your computers then connect to the router. Note that
many other connectivity options exist for this type of setup.
Now that whichvoip.com has given you an insight into this technology you should now realize that
VoIP is the most economical and sensible method of making phone calls.
Join the millions of other VoIP users.
Start saving now.
For the techies: Check out our
Advanced VoIP Guide for an in-depth explanation.
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