| With the advent of widespread broadband | | | | travel well over the internet. In IP telephony, |
| Internet connections, consumers are discovering | | | | much progress has been made on a standard |
| what businesses have known for a while. Voice | | | | called T.38, whose mission is to convert the fax |
| over IP telephony, or VoIP as it is known, can be | | | | sound into sendable data. Another option is iFax, |
| a viable and cost effective alternative to the Plain | | | | the T.37 standard that sends faxes as an email |
| Old Telephone System (POTS). | | | | attachment or a remote printout using the |
| As VoIP upstarts are popping up everywhere, | | | | Internet Printing Protocol. Today, separate Fax |
| most notably Vonage, Packet8 and Skype, even | | | | lines can be added by most VoIP providers for an |
| the big Internet Service Providers are offering | | | | extra charge. |
| voice over IP packages to their residential | | | | Emergency services such as 911 are also an issue |
| subscribers | | | | with IP telephony. It is the nature of the Internet |
| Such features as caller ID, call forwarding, | | | | that tying a particular node to a geographic |
| automatic redial, and even 3-way calling are | | | | location is quite difficult, and street addresses are |
| standard on most VoIP packages, whereas many | | | | not easily routed to a nearby call center. In the |
| phone companies consider them add on's and will | | | | U.S., the FCC has mandated that VoIP providers |
| charge you extra. But the real kicker is, if it is | | | | implement Enhanced 911 (E911). Providers are |
| right for you and you pick the right Voice over IP | | | | making progress by encouraging their customers |
| solution, you should be able to reduce your phone | | | | to register a street address to their phone |
| bill by half or more. | | | | number, enabling them to route emergency calls |
| How Does Voice over IP Work? | | | | to a nearby call center. |
| IP Telephony is a packet switching technology, as | | | | Voice over IP and Broadband Connections |
| opposed to circuit switching as used by the PSTN | | | | While a broadband connection is not absolutely |
| (Public Switched Telephone Network). The PSTN | | | | necessary, it is what makes VoIP shine. Many |
| method uses copper wires to physically connect | | | | households are turning to DSL or cable modems |
| one caller to another through a series of circuit | | | | for their internet connections, and wireless |
| switches, as illustrated by the switchboard | | | | broadband WiFi hotspots are popping up |
| operators of old. | | | | everywhere. |
| In voice over IP, the analog voice is converted | | | | The problem with DSL is that it is provided by |
| into digital packets that are routed through the | | | | telephone companies which for the most part |
| internet, and in the case of one of the parties | | | | require you to have a landline, pretty much |
| being on a PSTN connection, the packets are | | | | defeating the purpose. Some regional Telco's are |
| routed to the nearest local switching station and | | | | starting to unbundle their DSL services by offering |
| placed back on the PSTN. If both persons are | | | | "naked DSL", an Internet connection without the |
| using VoIP, then there is no reason to use the | | | | analog line on the local loop. When you think about |
| PSTN, and the entire conversation takes place | | | | it, there really doesn't seem to be much |
| over the Internet. | | | | motivation for the Telco's to promote VoIP, as it |
| Needless to say, this is much more cost effective | | | | would effectively be like cutting their revenues in |
| than using land lines for the entire distance. If a | | | | half. |
| caller in New York uses VoIP to call a PSTN | | | | If your household has cable television, you more |
| number in Seattle, the call doesn't leave the | | | | than likely can get broadband access through a |
| internet until it reaches the switching station in | | | | cable modem. Most cable providers charge around |
| Seattle, making it for all practical purposes, a local | | | | $50 a month for broadband internet access, and |
| call. | | | | for those who utilize the Internet often, a high |
| The Drawbacks of Voice over IP Telephony | | | | speed internet connection is well worth the price. |
| There are some points that one should seriously | | | | Some cable IPS's offer residential Voice over IP |
| consider when thinking about dumping the POTS. | | | | for $40-$50 a month. Through the pure play VoIP |
| VoIP generally requires a Broadband Internet | | | | companies like Vonage or Packet8, you can get |
| connection, which in turn requires power. If a | | | | VoIP for around $15-$25 a month, potentially |
| power outage should occur, you have no | | | | eliminating the need for a land line at all. |
| telephone service. Battery backups could solve | | | | Wireless networks also work great for VoIP, and |
| this problem, but not on a long term basis. | | | | are especially convenient if you travel a lot. |
| Internet Service Providers (ISP's) also have a | | | | Hotspots all over the world allow you to call |
| tendency to go down occasionally, though they | | | | anywhere using a WiFi VoIP phone. Internet |
| are getting better all the time. Calls can be | | | | phones come in all shapes and sizes with all kinds |
| forwarded to your cell phone if your power is | | | | of bells and whistles. From a full business desk |
| out, but in real disaster situation, even cell phones | | | | phone from Cisco, to phones indistinguishable from |
| are not a perfect backup, as seen by Hurricane | | | | cell phones, even regular cell phones that are VoIP |
| Katrina. Faxing over an IP network has proven to | | | | capable - new products and technologies are |
| be problematic. Fax machines scan a document | | | | coming out every day to get you better |
| and convert the data into sounds, which don't | | | | connected for less. |