| Most people don't know that they already have | | | | voicemail, caller ID and 3way-calling, are included |
| everything they need to start saving money using | | | | with Internet telephone at no extra charge. While |
| internet telephony, or VoIP. All you have to have | | | | you're talking on the phone, you can send pictures |
| is a regular telephone and high-speed internet | | | | and documents at the same |
| access. That's it! If you have both of those, you | | | | time.Disadvantages:Unfortunately, there are a |
| are ready to start saving loads of money on local | | | | couple of minor drawbacks you may experience. |
| and long distance phone calls.It is inevitable that | | | | The first is the fact that you would loose service |
| VOIP will replace traditional telephone service at | | | | during a power outage and the other is limited |
| some point. The only question is when should you | | | | emergency calling.Conventional phone service |
| jump in?VOIP is quickly becoming more reliable | | | | continues by the current supplied through the |
| and receiving wider acceptance. In fact, phone | | | | phone line during a blackout. This isn't possible with |
| companies are already taking advantage of the | | | | Internet phones. When the power goes, there |
| technology to provide cheaper long distance rates. | | | | goes VOIP service. Battery backups and power |
| Like any emerging technology, however, there | | | | generators that provide electricity are the current |
| are kinks in the system that are still being worked | | | | solutions to this problem.Emergency (911) calls are |
| out.Advantages:Internet Phone Service has | | | | another concern for many potential customers as |
| numerous advantages over traditional telephone | | | | well. In the event that you need to call 911 but |
| service. The most obvious is the cost benefits. If | | | | can't speak or have to leave, your call can be |
| you have a high-speed internet connection, you | | | | traced when dialed from a traditional phone. |
| can make phone calls from PC-to-PC anywhere in | | | | However, this is not the case with VoIP. |
| the world for FREE! More common PC-to-Phone | | | | Fortunately, there is currently technology being |
| calls usually come with a small charge but are still | | | | developed called 'e911' that will make this possible, |
| much cheaper than regular phone service.For a | | | | so this will not be a problem for much longer.VOIP |
| small monthly fee, you can sign up with a VoIP | | | | also has sound quality and reliability problems. Data |
| service provider and get unlimited calls within the | | | | sent across the Internet usually arrives at its |
| country! International calls can also be made for a | | | | destination scrambled. E-mail and documents can |
| fraction of the cost of regular service.Another | | | | be reassembled in the correct order when it |
| advantage is its portability. You can make and | | | | arrives. Voice data also arrives scrambled, but it's |
| receive phone calls wherever there is a | | | | more complicated because of the real-time nature |
| broadband connection by simply signing in to your | | | | of VOIP. Some data packets may have to be |
| VOIP account. This makes VOIP as convenient as | | | | dropped when they don't arrive in time, in order |
| e-mail. When you're traveling, you simply pack a | | | | to make voice connections with the least delay. |
| headset or Internet phone; then you can talk to | | | | This can cause brief silences in the audio |
| family or colleagues for next to | | | | stream.Your internet connection speed and the |
| nothing.Phone-to-phone VOIP is also portable. | | | | distance of the call are the two biggest factors in |
| Internet phones are small and light enough to take | | | | the quality of the call. If you are in a high-traffic |
| anywhere. When you sign up with a VOIP service | | | | area this may also cause some loss in the quality |
| provider, the Internet phone or adaptor used by | | | | of the conversation. Once again, technology is |
| that service is assigned a unique number. This | | | | constantly being improved on and this is becoming |
| 'phone number' remains valid, even if your VOIP | | | | less and less of an inconvenience.While the |
| service is in Los Angeles and you're connected to | | | | disadvantages mentioned above currently present |
| the Internet in London. When plugged into a | | | | minor problems, it is expected that these will be |
| broadband connection, anywhere in the world, you | | | | corrected by the year 2008 and VoIP technology |
| can make and receive calls as though you were | | | | will have become the industry standard for |
| at home.Features like call forwarding, call waiting, | | | | telephone communication. |