| Today, more and more people are consciously | | | | No matter where you are, one you're plugged in, |
| making an effort to learn about Voice over | | | | you can make as well as receive calls on your |
| Internet Protocol or VoIP. One thing that they all | | | | regular phone number. Charges are based on your |
| look for is whether or not VoIP can act as an | | | | home location. You could be in New Zealand and if |
| alternative to the good ol' telephone service, | | | | anybody were to call your office or home |
| which has made such an impact in the lives. Can | | | | number in Atlanta, they would never know that |
| VoIP replace the humble telephone for good? One | | | | you're not really there. And if you make calls, |
| way to find out is to weigh the advantages and | | | | your regular caller ID still shows. |
| disadvantages of VoIP. | | | | As with everything else, with advantages there |
| VoIP offers many advantages for you. Among | | | | are certain disadvantages, even for VoIP services: |
| them are: | | | | 1. If you utilise a cable connection for your |
| 1. VoIP is a whole lot cheaper compared to your | | | | Internet, your upline is 2 to 10 times slower than |
| normal landline telephone. With a residential VoIP | | | | your downline. This means that, although you can |
| plan you only need to pay about $9.95 for the | | | | hear crystal clear what the other person is saying, |
| most basic service up to about $39.95. For a | | | | they may not necessarily hear you. This could |
| business VoIP plan, the cost would be somewhere | | | | lead them to hang up (as they don't know you're |
| about $49.95 to $99.95 and comes inclusive with | | | | on the line), or to them telling you to call from a |
| a separate fax number. | | | | regular phone and to get off the speaker phone. |
| 2. The VoIP "modem" (which is free) is delivered | | | | Even though VoIP companies insist that 256K |
| to you in only 5 to 10 days. Or you could buy it | | | | should be sufficient for a clear signal, it does not |
| at your local store for same day service and get | | | | seem to be the case. Thankfully there are ways |
| the VoIP provider to credit it against your bill. | | | | to overcome this obstacle if you have a very |
| 3. The services which are considered as 'extras' in | | | | knowledgeable VoIP support tech. Consult your |
| your regular landline telephone service, such as | | | | VoIP service providers about this. |
| Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, Voice Mail, | | | | 2. The quality of high-speed connections may |
| 3-Way Conferencing, Repeat Dialling, and Call Block | | | | vary, as it is dependant on many factors, including |
| are now standard services with your VoIP. In | | | | the number of other users on your cable line, or |
| short, you don't have to pay extra for these | | | | your distance from the nearest DSL booster |
| 'extra' services. They come free with the | | | | node. This means that the VoIP quality may vary |
| package, including the most sought after service: | | | | daily or during each call. |
| unlimited calling, either local or long distance. | | | | 3. During your calls, when there is no one |
| 4. With VoIP service, there is no charge for any | | | | speaking, there is a silence that could lead the |
| incoming calls, which cannot be said for US cellular | | | | other person to think that the line has gone dead. |
| service providers. The same also holds true for | | | | This is especially true for those who have |
| outgoing 'local' calls, which depends on your talk | | | | become so used to hearing a slight buzz when |
| plan. | | | | using a regular telephone. Instead of being |
| 5. With VoIP service in North America, 'local' is | | | | bombarded with many people asking "are you still |
| always inclusive of US, Canada, some countries in | | | | on the line?" you should first explain this silence |
| Western Europe, parts of Asia, and parts of Latin | | | | that you will encounter at the very beginning of |
| America. For countries which are not already | | | | your conversation. |
| included, there are international plans available | | | | 4. When using VoIP service, you may not be able |
| which cost a lot less than that offered by the | | | | to 'activate' a new credit card, as the computer |
| standard long distance services providers. Another | | | | at the other end will claim that you are not calling |
| way is for you to make occasional calls without a | | | | from a home phone. The reason for this is yet |
| plan, but for far lower charges per-minute | | | | unknown as VoIP providers have yet to answer |
| compared to the usual long distance plans. For | | | | this. |
| VoIP services in Europe, Asia and elsewhere | | | | 5. While conversing, you should never allow |
| around the globe, this also applies (more or less) in | | | | anyone to put you on silent hold, as the VoIP |
| reverse. | | | | service may disconnect you when it doesn't hear |
| 6. With VoIP service, you don't need to have a | | | | anything. It assumes that you are no longer on |
| computer. Just take your average phone cable | | | | the line, thus disconnecting you after a while. |
| from your VoIP modem and plug it into your | | | | 6. If you have an upline signal that is not capable |
| regular desktop or portable phone. | | | | of relaying your call, and when you cannot get |
| 7. With VoIP service, you can activate every | | | | through, all that you'll be hearing is a recording |
| phone jack in the house. First, disconnect your | | | | stating that "Your call cannot be completed at this |
| house internal phone wiring from the regular | | | | time", which can be very annoying if it happens |
| telephone service at the phone box outside (most | | | | often. |
| probably on your front wall). Then, simply take | | | | 7. Sometimes, your VoIP service will just cease |
| the VoIP modem and plug it into any existing wall | | | | to work. How to solve this depends on your |
| jack inside your house. However, this option is not | | | | provider. Mostly it will take some unplugging and |
| available for those who live in apartments. | | | | replugging of various connections: VoIP modem, |
| 8. With VoIP service, you can choose your own | | | | router, cable connection, DSL connection. It all |
| virtual phone number in almost any area code | | | | depends on your provider and the solution (and |
| that you wish for at a very low price (around $5). | | | | sequence) that they provide you with. |
| This way you can have friends and family dial a | | | | 8. And finally, in what is the worst disadvantage |
| local number that will then ring on your phone. The | | | | among all, if you lose your Internet connection for |
| drawback is that you can't make outgoing calls, as | | | | whatever reason imaginable, you lose your |
| it's not considered as a 'real' line phone line. | | | | telephone service. Should you decide to depend |
| 9. With VoIP service you can have low cost 800 | | | | almost entirely on VoIP service, then you are |
| numbers. This way it will be free for people to call | | | | strongly advised to have a cell phone with you at |
| you and yet will not be too hard on your pockets. | | | | all times. This also works in your favour as you |
| There are monthly rates fixed for you, but they | | | | can set your VoIP service to call your cell |
| vary according to the provider. Generally it could | | | | automatically should you not answer your VoIP |
| cost you about $5 for the first 100 minutes per | | | | line. |
| month, and somewhere about 4.5 cents per | | | | The verdict? Commercial VoIP service is an actual |
| minute beyond that. | | | | telephone service, compared to the likes of |
| 10. Some VoIP service providers offer a service | | | | messenger services (computer-based) or Skype |
| that could locate you called 'Find Me' at other | | | | (which insists that it is not a telephone service). Of |
| numbers that you provide, either in sequence or | | | | course it has its disadvantages, it has no video (at |
| simultaneously, should you fail to answer your call. | | | | the moment that is) and has some minor glitches. |
| If you still don't answer, your call will then go to | | | | Yet these glitches can be put up with when you |
| your Voice Mail which can be retrieved later. | | | | realize that you can save anywhere from $30 to |
| 11. And finally, the icing on the cake: You can take | | | | $100 a month. These glitches may be a big issue |
| your home or office 'phone' with you wherever | | | | if you plan to use VoIP for your office, but if you |
| you go. Just bring your VoIP modem with you, | | | | have a cell phone with you for back up, you'd |
| and when you get to your destination, plug it into | | | | have no problems at all. You may find yourself |
| any high-speed internet connection. You could be | | | | joining the huge number of users who have gone |
| in a hotel room in the Caribbean, at your friend's | | | | 100% VoIP, with the intention of never again |
| or relative's house in Paris or even at the airport. | | | | using the telephone. |