| Just when you thought using your PC couldn't | | | | SIP makes this service much more simply and |
| possibly get any more complicated, along | | | | friendly.Obviously, a lot of telephone |
| comes SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) with | | | | empires are sweating bullets over this. Some |
| VoIP (Voice-Over Internet Protocol) | | | | companies have even claimed that the entire |
| technology.VoIP is well on its way to | | | | SIP/IP/VoIP concept is akin to patent |
| becoming the "next big thing" as it allows | | | | infringement. That won't hold up in a court |
| you to make telephone calls using the | | | | of law. You can't patent broadband |
| Internet for a fraction of the cost of | | | | communication any more than you can patent |
| regular phone usage. Don't think that's | | | | gasoline. Telephony VoIP is here to stay and |
| making the major telephone companies nervous? | | | | evolving faster than PC users can assimilate |
| Read on... because you haven't seen anything | | | | the information.VoIP technology is making the |
| yet...Seemingly overnight, VoIP appeared. And | | | | term the Internet phone a household word. But |
| when it did, the whole concept of making a | | | | for the most part it's still an untapped |
| cheap PC to phone call (for pennies) became | | | | market. Computers have long since replaced |
| the big business. Quicker than you can say, | | | | typewriters, but there are still millions of |
| "Who needs an e-mail or chat?" the IP phone | | | | men and women who don't have a clue that |
| (IP - Internet Protocol) became a reality. | | | | their PC can be used for local phone service |
| The IP is data-oriented computer technology | | | | or even better - to slash the costs of long |
| used for communicating data across a | | | | distance phone service.Thanks to SIP VoIP |
| packet-switched inter-network. In other | | | | providers with BYOD (see below), a prepaid |
| words, think of it as the PC version of the | | | | phone card is becoming a thing of the past. |
| old operator at a switchboard patching phone | | | | PC to phone communication and the concept of |
| calls back and forth.IP technology evolved | | | | the Internet phone service is kicking major |
| into VoIP - Voice-Over-Internet Protocol - | | | | phone companies in the pants.BYOD - short for |
| which allows PC users to make telephone calls | | | | Bring Your Own Device - is fast becoming the |
| using a computer-data network like the | | | | term of choice among phone system VoIP users. |
| Internet. VoIP converts the voice signal from | | | | BYOD is used to describe a type of VoIP |
| your telephone into a digital signal that | | | | subscription. (Carrier VoIP subscribers who |
| travels over the Internet and later converts | | | | have their own VoIP device can take advantage |
| it back at the other end so you can speak to | | | | of a cheaper SIP/VoIP subscription plan). The |
| anyone with a regular phone number. And guess | | | | solution VoIP and carrier VoIP subscriber |
| what - VoIP technology costs not pennies, but | | | | plans generally cost less than $20.00 a month |
| fractions of pennies to use. The VoIP | | | | for unlimited broadband phone use.SIP |
| providers paved the way to this new frontier | | | | telephony is creating the new phone system of |
| of making cheap phone calls and many | | | | choice. It was bound to happen. Computer |
| independent telephone companies quickly | | | | technology has integrated with every part of |
| jumped on the bandwagon. Business VoIP and | | | | our lives and the PC as a way to make a cheap |
| residential VoIP plans are available to PC | | | | phone call is only the latest step in |
| users in a number of inexpensive packages but | | | | technology's progression. |