| What you are about to read... will reveal to you what | | | | get normal phone company features such as call |
| you should know about a new telephone | | | | waiting, etc., you need a VoIP service provider. There |
| communication technology called Internet Phone or | | | | are a number of them competing for your business so |
| Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). | | | | you need to do some research to find one that is best |
| VoIP came about in 1995 when some computer | | | | for you. |
| programmers made voice connections between | | | | If you sign up with an Internet Phone service provider |
| computers. Later that year, a software package was | | | | you can get unlimited calls within the country for a |
| developed, and using the modem, speakers, | | | | small monthly fee! International calls can also be made |
| microphone and sound card, one computer user was | | | | for a lot less than the cost of regular service. Features |
| able to speak to another. | | | | like call forwarding, call waiting, voicemail, caller ID and |
| The process used involves converting the analog | | | | 3way-calling, are included with Internet Phone at no |
| voice to digitized form. That involves breaking the | | | | extra charge. While you're talking on the phone, you |
| voice down into steps that are then assigned numeric | | | | can send pictures and documents at the same time. |
| values. Then the data is compressed. After | | | | Like all new technologies, VoIP had some problems at |
| compression, the data is divided into packets that are | | | | first, but is now becoming more reliable and receiving |
| transmitted over the Internet. Identifying information | | | | wider acceptance. One thing it has done for you |
| such as origin, destination, etc., are added that allows | | | | already is that phone companies are beginning to use |
| for reconstruction at the receiving end. At this point the | | | | the technology to provide cheaper long distance rates. |
| packets are converted back to analog and the person | | | | At this time there are several disadvantages to using |
| on the other end of the line can hear the caller's voice. | | | | Internet Phone. Unlike telephone company service, you |
| As Internet Phone technology improved, by 1998, | | | | will lose your connection during a power outage. The |
| gateways had been established allowing a PC to | | | | solution to this problem is to have battery backups |
| connect to a phone. Later that year, it was possible to | | | | installed. |
| make phone-to-phone connections using the Internet. | | | | There is also a problem calling 911. But, there is a |
| Phone-to-phone connections still required a computer | | | | system in development to overcome this problem. |
| to initiate the call, but once the connection was | | | | There are also call quality and reliability problems with |
| established, callers could use a standard phone set. | | | | VOIP. The two biggest issues that affect call quality |
| Today, the computer is no longer needed. All one | | | | are the distance of the call and the speed of the |
| needs is a telephone (your regular telephone will do), | | | | Internet connection. However, as the system matures, |
| an adapter, and an Internet connection either | | | | these are becoming less and less of a problem. |
| broadband or DSL, and a service provider. The | | | | In the future, VoIP will probably become the standard |
| telephone is connected to the adapter, which is | | | | for telephone service. So, go out and get hooked up |
| connected to the Internet connection without the need | | | | with Internet Phone and save yourself some money. |
| to connect to a computer. For the best quality and to | | | | |