VoIP Technology

“Voice over Internet Protocol” or “VoIP” is a telecommunications technology that allows phone calls to be made using the broadband internet connection instead of a traditional telephone service.

Features of VoIP Telephone service

Some popular features of VOIP service include

• Storing incoming calls to voice mail, if you don’t want to be disturbed
• Sending voice mail as an attachment, so that messages can be picked up via computer
• Free Caller ID and call waiting, without a regular telephone provider’s additional fee
• Free conference calling to multiple phone numbers
• Choosing your own area code, reducing long distance charges for yourself and others
• Having multiple phone numbers, changing your number on demand

Advantages of VoIP Telephone service

• A single monthly fee that covers all phone calls
• No hidden fees or taxes; this one of the main reasons why VoIP service is so inexpensive compared to traditional highly regulated phone services
• Long distance and international calls are significantly less expensive, when they are not free.

Disdvantages of VoIP Telephone service

• VoIP requires a broadband internet connection, and if the internet connection fails, the phone service goes down as well.  This can make it really difficult to contact the internet provider to get the connection fixed!  However, the average VoIP consumer also has a cell phone to make these important calls.
• A few VoIP service providers (although fewer all the time) are unable to provide emergency 911 connection.

VoIP Equipment

To make a call through VoIP service, you will need an analog phone and an adaptor (or ATA), which is generally supplied by the company when you sign up for new VoIP service.

The correct equipment allows you to make calls as you normally would using your own standard phone; the adaptor converts the analog sounds of your voice to a digital signal that can be sent over an internet connection, through a broadband modem, and on through the net to the person you are calling.

An alternative is to buy a special IP phone which connects to your router, or a USB VoIP phone which plugs into any USB port.  These phones include all the necessary hardware and software inside the package; in this case no adapter is required.

Individual needs must be taken into account, but for most telecommunications customers, the advantages of a VoIP solution significantly outweight the disadvantages, when you consider all the additional features, the crisp quality, and most importantly, the most inexpensive price available for phone service.