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