Looking For Headsets For VOIP?

Many people use headsets when talking to their friends and family using VOIP. VOIP stands for voice over internet protocol and it is a very inexpensive and a popular way to make phone calls from your computer or land line phone over a broadband internet connection. If you are using your computer to make phone calls, then you should definitively check out headsets for VOIP.

Benefits Of Using A Headset For VOIP
Headsets for VOIP computer calling makes it easier when on the road or at home to make free or very affordable phone calls. Headsets main benefit is that they set your hands free, enabling you to be more productive. And using a headset for VOIP is very easy! Most headsets are extremely comfortable and either fit over the head, behind the neck or is ear buds that gently fit in your ears. The difference between a cell phone headset and headset for VOIP is that a VOIP headset has a microphone RCA connector and an earphone RCA connector which is made specifically for a computers sound card. A quality headset system can dramatically improve the quality of your VOIP calls and will as well considerably reduce shoulder, back and neck strain.

Costs Of VOIP Headsets
Headsets for VOIP are extremely affordable and usually start at about $10. There are several models that are wireless if you don't like to be connected by a cord, which makes it easier for you to walk around your room or office. Keep in mind that wireless headsets are generally more expensive than headsets connected by a cord.

Where To Buy VOIP Headsets
You can buy headsets for VOIP at all computer stores, office supply shops and online at VOIP provider shops. Ebay is also a great way to grab inexpensive headsets. Just be sure that the shipping costs are not going to cost you more than the headset! GN Netcom, Headsets.com, Jabra, Plantronics, Sennheiser and Sony are the main manufacturers of headsets and they all provide quality equipment.

What If You Do Not Want A Headset?
Headsets for VOIP are just one way to talk over VOIP. Other ways are to use a land line phone plugged into an adapter or a USB phone that plugs directly into your computer's USB port. However, headsets for VOIP are usually the cheapest option and are the easiest to install. So if you are looking to talk over VOIP, check out headsets for VOIP, you will not regret it!

Oliver Peters invites you to visit http://voip.info-and-tips.com/ VOIP Info and Tips is the #1 resource for Voice Over Internet Protocol facts, tips and advice.

VoIP Services: Stay in Touch from Anywhere

Most people find it difficult to make a call to their relatives and friends from other countries. One of the main reasons is the high cost of the calls and several communications hurdles.

But through the innovation of VoIP, the world has become a smaller place and those hurdles aren't nearly as high.

When it comes to VoIP telecommunication services, there are lots of benefits that can be used as an asset by the user.

VoIP has many services like unlimited local and long distance calling. Not only that, there are also features that makes VoIP even more useful, like caller ID, Find Me, Call Waiting and many more.

There is some talk, and rumors circulating that the quality of VoIP service is not clear compared to traditional phone service. There are also some claims that the quality of calls is not much better than cellular services. But apparently the companies that are making these claims about VoIP admitted that there is no communication delay when speaking on a VoIP phone.

How does VoIP services work?

To make things simple, a VoIP service enables the caller to use high speed internet connection. This connection is also known as broadband. The broadband connects the caller to the designated recipient by using the Internet.

VoIP services can call anyone provided that the designated location has a phone. The person that the users wants to talk with does need to have a VoIP phone of their own. As long as they have a phone and a phone number of course, they can be contacted by the VoIP services.

The VoIP provider will reduce voice and convert it digitally in order to pass through several channels. The digitized voice, as it passes through the channel, will be sent over the Internet.

The digitized voice will then be put back together to get through the receiving end. It would be the time that the receiver will hear and understand the digitized voice and finally start their conversation.

By this way, the VoIP user can minimize the long distance call rate because of the use of Internet. Taxes and other extra rates are deductable. As a matter of fact, it cuts out the rate carriers totally.

The quality of voice transmission is actually outstanding, clear and deliberate. It surpasses traditional phone services in quality and most importantly in affordability.

What are the tools to make use of VoIP Services?

รขโ�ฌยข One of the most vital equipment is the internet connection. The internet connection should be fast and accurate.

รขโ�ฌยข Another tool is a broadband cable router that will permit the user to transmit the voice to the internet. It is also responsible for splitting the internet connection.

รขโ�ฌยข A VoIP applicable telephone set.

รขโ�ฌยข A phone transmitter device. Normally the VoIP supplier provides it.

The tools will be constructed this way: The Internet connection from the computer will gather the voice from the user. After that, the voice will hook up to the router which connects to the provided phone converter. The routers will connect the voice to the regular phone.

As you can see, the mechanical aspect of the VoIP can be somewhat complex, but because of further innovations, the VoIP system providers have made it simple and effortless.

Nowadays, VoIP service can be set up in 5 minutes. VoIP is certainly the key for fast, accurate and cheap long distance calls.

Bob Hett has extensively covered the VoIP Service Provider industry as an analyst and has researched the various companies for factors based on price, reliability, support and overall quality. Learn more at VOIP Services

Call Your Bank You're Saving Money

How much do you pay for your phone bill each month? Do you have family spread out throughout the country and you are incurring significant long distance charges? Or, would you like to talk to them more and just cannot afford it? The answer to your question is broadband phone service.

Broadband phone service allows you to do the same thing you do now with your current home phone but it costs you less money. This link shows you some different options based on your needs: www.tmiwireless.com/voip/. For $24.99 a month you can get unlimited local and long distance calling. You also get free caller ID, call waiting, three-way calling, and voice mail. Your current phone company most likely charges extra for all those services.

Most people would think that there is some kind of catch, such as contracts or expensive equipment. Neither is the case however. There are no contracts, no early termination fees, and no expensive equipment. All the plans are month to month and the equipment is free or nearly free depending on your needs.

There are also business plans available. If you have cable internet at your place of business and you are looking to cut costs, or if you do any business from your home, one of these plans may be ideal for you.

Many people will be hesitant to make the change because they are used to paying big dollars for their current home phone service. They are used to the bill and they feel safe with the service the way it is. People are afraid to make changes. But, once upon a time there were no phones at all. This just goes to show that change can be good. The figures donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt lie. It makes more sense to save money and pad your own bank account rather than give it to a billion dollar company.

Scott Bianchi operates http://www.best-internet-bargains.com . He writes on a variety of topics. If you would like to be added to his distribution list for his new articles when they are published just send an email to articles@bestinternetbargains.com .

What Can VOIP Do For You?

There is no simple answer to that question, but this article will work to de-mystify this magical service called VOIP.

VOIP stands for Voice-Over Internet Protocol. It is a new technology that allows telephone signals to be converted into digital signals that can be transmitted through a specialized internet connection.

Typically most people are paying exorbitant long distance rates to talk to people outside of their area code. With VOIP you instead send your voice through a high-speed internet connection and never pay a dime in long distance fees.

There are multiple VOIP providers available and the best way to choose is research which providers cover the area you are going to be calling most of the time. Some providers charge a flat monthly rate for a specific geographic area, while others allow free calling between members. As long as the VOIP provider has a service available in your area you can sign up.

One of the many benefits of VOIP is its simplicity and it was successfully carried over to the hardware side of the business as well. VOIP hardware can be as simple as a headset connected to your computer. This method transmits the data directly over the high-speed connection to the recipientรขโ�ฌโ�ขs local phone service where it rings to their phone.

The alternative is a converter box attached to your telephone which converts the signal to digital, sends it over the telephone providerรขโ�ฌโ�ขs network to a VOIP network in the recipient callerรขโ�ฌโ�ขs area. It is then re-converted back to a telephone signal and sent over the phone to the designated number.

Regardless of which provider you choose to go with, VOIP will save you money. VOIP can be essential in reducing monthly business costs and is becoming more and more flexible with its options. VOIP can be used for 3-way calling, dialing cell phones and can even dial computers directly. This can eliminate three to five service charges per month in addition to virtually eliminating long distance billing.

On a consumer level, the average long distance bill per month can range from twenty dollars to in excess of two hundred dollars. If you could switch to one monthly payment of $24.95 and call all the same people you did before, for even longer than before, wouldnรขโ�ฌโ�ขt you switch?

More and more it is becoming apparent that the internet is the future of all communications and information. It has a global impact and provides both businesses and consumers with more options than ever before. Voice over internet protocol is only the first wave of technological advancement in the ever-expanding sea of known as the telecommunications market.

Lydia Quinn writes for Your Telecom Source, provider of wireless headsets for use in office and home office environments. http://www.yourtelecomsource.com

Dial-up Internet Access: Inexpensive But Slow

Dial up Internet access is an inexpensive but slow form of Internet access in which the client uses a modem connected to the computer and a telephone line to dial the Internet service provider.

By configuring the computer to dial a specific phone number, the computer is granted Internet access. It is usually the only choice available for most rural or remote areas where getting a broadband connection is impossible due to low population and demand. It may also be an alternative to people who have limited budgets.

To use dial-up access, the user must have a telephone modem, a device that connects a computer to the telephone system and is capable of converting data into sounds and sounds back into data. The userรขโ�ฌโ�ขs ISP provides software that controls the modem. Upon joining a dial-up service, the subscriber chooses a username and password.

Due to the limited bandwidth, the ability for the modem to send and receive data, dial-up service can take up to five minutes to download just one megabyte of data. In some cases, caching frequently visited pages, and other software tricks can speed up the experience of dial-up access in some cases. If your work online is multimedia-centric, (music, movies, and graphic-laden websites), dial-up service may be too slow to meet your satisfying levels.

Dial-up connections usually have high latency which can make online gaming or videoconferencing difficult. Gamers with dial-up connections are often disconnected from game servers due to high latency of the connection. The factors to consider while choosing a dial-up Internet Access Provider are coverage, price and customer support.

The advantage of dial-up access is that its much cheaper than cable and broadband Internet. Obviously, speed is a disadvantage of dial-up access. The speed of dial-up Internet is slow because of text, graphics, connection speed, traffic, and the particular site one is visiting. Another thing is the loading speed, which may vary depending on the type of modem one is using. A higher speed modem may increase surfing speed, however, the quality of the phone line one is connected to can also make a difference in the speed.

Despite the above disadvantages, at places where the facility of broadband is not yet explored, dial-up is the only inexpensive means of using the Internet.

Internet

Review of Cisco IP Phones

The term "soft phone" is a relatively new one being tossed about these days by VoIP-users and refers to client-side software that turns a desktop PC into an IP-based phone. Generally they are easy to install and use and offer effective integration with popular applications, such as Microsoft Outlook and give users the flexibility in how and when they receive and answer their calls. Let's take a look at some of the most popular soft phones being offered by one of the IP phone systems leaders - CISCO.

Cisco provides a complete range of communications devices designed to take full advantage of the power of an individual's converged voice and data network, while offering the convenience and user-friendliness usually expected from a business phone. Cisco Unified IP phones help improve productivity by meeting the needs of different user-organizations; from the main lobby to the busiest manager's desk, from the manufacturing floor to the executive suite, as well as users at home, on the road, or in the branch office.

Cisco IP phones provide LCD displays, including dynamic softkeys for call features and functions, support for information services (including Extensible Markup Language capabilities), the ability to customize XML-based services to provide users with access to a variety of information such as stock quotes, employee directories, or any other Web-based content.

The Cisco IP Phone 7940 addresses the communication needs of a transaction type worker. It provides two programmable line and feature keys, plus a high quality speakerphone. The Cisco IP Phone 7940 also has four dynamic soft keys that guide users through call features and functions. Built-in headset port and integrated Ethernet Switch are standard with the Cisco IP Phone 7940. Also includes audio controls for full duplex speakerphone, handset and headset. The IP Phone 7940 also features a large, pixel-based LCD display. The display provides features such as date and time, calling party name, calling party number, and digits dialed.

The Cisco IP Phone 7960G is designed to meet the communication needs of professional workers in enclosed office environments-employees who experience a high amount of phone traffic in the course of a business day. This IP phone supports access to multiple telephone lines (or a combination of lines and direct access to telephony features) and includes high-quality, hands-free speakerphone capability and built-in headset connectivity. A large pixel-based display provides supplemental information, access to applications, and makes it easy to use telephone features.

The 4612 IP phone operates on your Internet Protocol (IP) voice network, This stylish phone incorporates a number of convenient features, such as a built-in headset jack, message waiting indicator, easily readable displays, hearing aid compatibility, NetMeeting compatibility, multiple programmable feature keys and display navigation keys.

Kevin Whales is VoIP industry expert, author of articles about Internet telephony for newbies. Brand new VoIP website is VoIP service

VoIP Telephony Grows with Telecommunications Boom

The Voip telephony and the international telecommunications market is not only healthy, it is robust! The market is expected to continue its double-digit growth and reach over $2 trillion by 2008.

Spending on telecommunications equipment and services in Canada, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia/Pacific will grow at a rate of 10.6% say the experts. What's behind this growth in telecommunications? Prosperity! With improving economic conditions throughout the world there is increasing demand for Voip, mobile devices and wireless telecommunication services.

The number of subscribers to wireless telephone services is growing faster than the number of landlines in all regions. 1.9 billion wireless subscribers are expected by 2008 and they will outnumber landline subscribers by 69.1%.

The accessibility of high-speed broadband will drive equipment revenue over the next few years. This will give a boost to Internet telephony service and that growth will continue as broadband access revenue triples in future years.

As the move to wireless, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and cable telephony continues, the landline market will increase from $391 billion in 2004 to $422 billion in 2008.

Internationally Europe is expected to be the largest region in support services spending, reaching $354 billion by 2008 as the demand for equipment increases there will be increased demand for services to support that equipment.

In the United States the broadband market is expected to reach an estimated 56.9 million subscribers by 2008. That up from 32.5 million subscribers in 2004. The broadband market has had a huge move since 2001, when there were only 5.1 million subscribers.

Broadband's faster speeds are behind the increasing demand for cable modem and DSL providers. Telephone companies are offering more bundled DSL services and cable operators are losing subscribers to direct broadcast satellite. The gap between the number cable and DSL subscribers is narrowing and will continue to decrease.

In addition, there is plenty going on with wireless communications. The U.S. wireless market includes transport services, handsets, capital expenditures and infrastructure equipment including Wi-Fi equipment plus the emerging market for wireless broadband access. The future of VoIP technology and wireless VoIP promises to be one of the most exciting developments in telecommunications.

Not counting PC-to-PC services, the number of residential VoIP customers more than tripled to 4.2 million in 2005. That number is expected to grow by a compound annual rate of over 43% in the next few years. That will result in about 18 million VoIP users.

Growth in the residential VoIP market is being driven by a number of factors. First and foremost is that VoIP telephony provides consumers with inexpensive voice communications. VoIP escapes the burden of the many regulations and taxes governments have imposed on traditional telephone services. So far that has allowed the VoIP service providers to beat the prices charged for wired telephone services. The burst of growth in broadband subscribership is a good sign for VoIP, because it works best over a broadband connection,

In the United States and around the world, people are talking and they want to do that with speed and economy. VoIP phone services are prepared to meet that need.

If you have not yet made the switch to VoIP telephone service author Mark Walters offers a free introduction called Five Reasons for VoIP

Needless HIGH RISK Exposure For Business Using Computer Phones

The Facts

รขโ�ฌยข Computer phones (VoIP) offer the most optimal means of communicating when considering quality and cost, and can save businesses up to 80% on their phone bills when calling from PC to PC, to landlines, or to mobile phones, regardless of company size.

รขโ�ฌยข Over 90% of all VoIP solutions providers operate on unsecure lines or platforms, whether free or charging for services.

รขโ�ฌยข Greater than 95% of all VoIP solutions providers do not have their own patented technology

General Information

รขโ�ฌยข Calls placed on unsecure lines travel from one computer (IP address) over the internet to another computer (IP address) have little or no protection in between calls to guard against terminal viruses, Trojan horses, unscrupulous hackers, or uninvited guests listening in on private conversations.

These unsecure lines leave users dangerously vulnerable to the inevitable and expensive computer crash that forebodingly looms over the horizon.

รขโ�ฌยข Calls placed on secure lines go through a VoIP platform (server) that incorporates its own security (including patented technology) against the ills of unsecure lines, thereby offering maximum security, privacy, and peace of mind for its users.

รขโ�ฌยข Note: higher enrollment and monthly fees, or well known phone companies now offering VoIP services do not necessarily automatically guarantee security.

Recommendations

รขโ�ฌยข Contact your VoIP solutions provider (if applicable) and request written information regarding security of their service, along with patented technology they own. Ask if their service hosts embedded spyware on lines and/or allows public access to names and numbers of subscribers.

If the requested assurances cannot be produced, take immediate action to avoid playing Russian Roulette with your business.

รขโ�ฌยข Protect the security of your companyรขโ�ฌโ�ขs communications and privacy, while simultaneously experiencing exponential savings on phone bills, by locating and subscribing to a VoIP solutions provider who offers a secure platform that incorporates its own patented technology.

รขโ�ฌยข Analyze your computerรขโ�ฌโ�ขs security for free by going to http://www.Symantec.com/SecurityCheck/

Dee Scrip and her close friend Andy Murray operate the website http://www.whypay4calls.com. Where you can experience a 7 day free trial with a secure line on patented technology. NO contracts, obligations, or hassles!

The Latest Wireless G-Phones

The latest to join the many treats are WiFi cell phones by Linksys with which VoIP calls can be made over Wireless รขโ�ฌโ��G networks.

Expected to retail at US$ 220- US$ 370 the phones have a user interface that can be configured to function using available wireless-G networks.

Wow:

รขโ�ฌยข You can access your VoIP service, check mail, and view videos as the built in browser of WIP 330 will find and access the World Wide Web.The 330 is sleek just 1.84 x 5.32x0.74 and weighs 4.2oz. It comes with a pixel color screen, numeric key pad, soft keys and a 4-way navigation pad.

The WIP330 has:

• SIP v2 standards.
  
• Compliance with IEEE 802.11 b/g standards.
  
• QoS, support for quality of service.
  
• Enhanced power savings.
  
• Quick Hotspot authentication.
  
• The use of HTTP for configuration and upgrades.

รขโ�ฌยข If you choose to use WIP 300 then the connection to Wireless G is through a Linsky router.

Another giant in communications Toshiba has launched two VoIP phones the Hitachi IP50000, Spectra Link 6020, and a wireless PDA. The IP5000 will function on 802.11b Toshiba network and the Spectralink on private wireless networks. These are just two among many choices.

A wireless G phone presents many options: phone calls, web based e-mail and videos, three-way conference calls, call on hold, and a register for incoming calls. VoIP providers like Vonage give priority to the consumer need and facilities come at no extra charge making VoIP an affordable and attractive proposition.

To function G-phones require a broadband connection, a router, or a DHCP server, and an activated VoIP service. The WIP330 is a leader in its niche and it supports WEP encryption and WPS_PSK wireless security.

The radio is designed for use in cellular handsets and has enhanced filtering and a trans-receiver with a power amplifier.

The color interface has great graphics and the menu gives phone status, wireless signal strength, battery level, time and date as well as the handsets phone number. The "settings" screen can be accessed by a button on the navigation pad.

The phone has all a mobile user looks for: vibration mode, ring tones, phone book as well as log. It will allow instant communication at low costs and is declared to be the trend setter of the future.

For the latest information log on to: http://www.linksys.com/; http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/; and http://voipspeak.net/ among the many sites on the World Wide Web dedicated to technology advancements. An in depth analysis of the phones can be found at: http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2005/11/08/linksys_wip330_wireless/

Before rushing out to buy a phone take a minute to learn all you can about it and its uses. Benefit as much as you can from the advances of technology.

Andrew Bermam is a freelance writer for http://www.1866Voip.com, the premier website to find help on Voip including topics on online voip, voip phone, voip service providers, voip solutions, business voip, internet telephony voip and more. He also freelances for the premier Music site http://www.1888Music.com

VoIP Solutions

In a traditional PSTN, the quality of service of the calls and continuous connection are very dependable; so, in order for people to switch to IP telephony, the same quality considerations must be maintained or excelled. With IP telephony consisting of distributed elements, the entire architecture has to be strategically managed to provide good service while at the same time reducing the overload and maintenance costs.

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, solutions include components such as end-user devices, PBX, gateways and gatekeepers, IP network and several protocols that take care of the issues and operations of a transaction. When a call is initiated, there are distributed arrays of routers, which manage the call functions such as identification of the destination, maintenance of the connection between the IP and PSTN, billing management, and alerts about the incoming transaction.

In this competitive VoIP market, VoIP solutions must be able to meet needs such as high-speed interface, predictable performance, quality of service and security. These factors drive application development and infrastructure deployment. The routers should be able to handle thousands of calls through increased bandwidth, and they should also match the interface speeds in order to forward the IP packets. The quality of service is maintained in the router by addressing concerns such as exact sequencing of the packets so that the call is clear and meaningful. Security features are to be implemented to prevent hackers from accessing the infrastructure. This is managed by enumerating the routers, which function as gateways and controllers as private addresses, so they are not accessed through the public Internet.

A robust infrastructure deployment is complemented by application development that adheres to various protocols that are mostly governed by International Transmission Union (ITU) and Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Several protocols are available, and the necessity of the implementation depends upon the product groups. Signaling System Seven (SS7) is a protocol that manages the establishment and termination of calls. H.323 is a product-based communication protocol that signals the call to the IP network and the end user.

RTP protocols address the concerns of real-time receipt of calls so that the calls arrive in the same sequence. Media Gateway Control protocol coordinates the actions of gateways. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) handles the setup and tear down of multimedia sessions between speakers.

With a combination of infrastructure and protocol, VoIP solutions enable the customer to establish calls at a fraction of the rate of PSTN lines, while at the same time maintaining quality.

VOIP provides detailed information on VOIP, VOIP Providers, VOIP Phone System, VOIP Solutions and more. VOIP is affiliated with Wireless IP Phones.

Gateway and Integrator - The Essential Catalysts for the VoIP Evolution

Compelling businesses cases are hard to come by. Quality and security is the subject of FUD. Perhaps most importantly, those enterprises that are forward thinking enough to appreciate the operational benefits of IP, have quite recently implemented advanced TDM solutions that are bridged with their contact management systems. These investments still have a distance to travel before they can be written off.

Nevertheless, the perceived industry wisdom supported by analyst predictions and all the research data recently collected points toward the day when all enterprises will implement a VoIP solution. The argument for a single network infrastructure to carry all company data รขโ�ฌโ�� voice, data and video - is logical and compelling. The savings available from bypassing the line rental and call costs of PSTN can run into millions per annum in certain circumstances. The technology is proven to work out of the box and daily we read about (and implement) innovations that raise the bar of the quality and certainty of VoIP to the point where it is indiscernible from that provided by the PSTN.

The reality is that no transport technology ever replaced another over night รขโ�ฌโ�� be that technology to carry people, goods or electrically generated signals. (Stevensonรขโ�ฌโ�ขs Rocket first carried rail passengers in the UK 1829. The last operational stagecoach in the UK - Minehead to Lynton - plied its trade in 1926.) Transport technologies evolve and have always relied on a handover point, or a gateway, to provide the user with the benefits of both old and new at the most appropriate point. That point is determined by cost, as are most evolutions in human endeavour. By the same argument, the VoIP gateway is an essential element of the evolution from traditional TDM voice systems to VoIP solutions.

Hardware manufactures, the PBX companiesรขโ�ฌโ�ข notable among them, depend on new product lines to guarantee their futures. In line with industry wisdom and predictions, the next range of PBX product is a VoIP solution with the essential PSTN gateway that beg the customers to make the big leap to VoIP. Yet as we have seen, there are some significant barriers to this leap. Therefore, the reseller channel has to look at ways to enable the leap and to sustain revenue streams while their customers sum up the courage to make it.

This is the role of the independent VoIP gateway. It enables a blend of VoIP and traditional telephony on a single implementation and with VegaStreamรขโ�ฌโ�ขs advanced dial planner capability; the user experience will not change at all. The gateway enables enterprises to leverage their investment in inter-site private IP networks to carry voice without changing their current phone systems. The gateway enables remote workers to directly connect over the ubiquitous broadband IP network to the company PBX system. And with the co-deployment of Proxy servers, the gateway enables road warriors to be "in the office" wherever they can connect their SIP devices to the Internet.

Earlier in this piece it was mentioned that VoIP technology is proven to work "out of the box". This is the case in the show room; on the exhibition floor and in the controlled environment of the enterprise WAN. However real world implementations involve third party PBXs and desk top devices (and the myriad of TDM signalling protocols deployed), the specific technologies of wide area bearer circuits, SIP or H323 IP protocols, interface and access to PSTN for emergency service calls (as a minimum) and a real understanding of the needs and business drivers of the customer. This is the domain of the specialist communications systems integrator.

VegaStream has spent the last eight years perfecting VoIP gateway technology in the lab and with enterprise and carrier customers. While we continue to evolve new solutions to tackle issues such as security and audio quality and to build the stack of signalling protocol interfaces, the company is now focussing its energy on transferring skills to specialist communications systems integrators. These skills will enable identification, proposal and successful implementation of blended TDM and VoIP solutions รขโ�ฌโ�� the essential catalyst for the evolution to the next generation of converged communications.

For more information please visit www.vegastream.com

Formed in 1998, VegaStream is one of the most experienced players in the industrial VoIP market. The company supplies gateway CPE to both traditional telecommunications carriers and the new generation of Internet telephony service providers. VegaStream also serves the enterprise market through a global network of distributors and resellers supported by regional offices in the UK, USA and Australia. VegaStream is a non-listed UK company. Investors include the management team, Pace Micro Technology PLC and MTI Partners. http://www.vegastream.com

IP Phone Services

IP Phone service allows you to make phone calls through Internet. You can reach anybody with a telephone number whether itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs a local, international or mobile number. Some services work only on the computer or through a special IP Phone while some others work even on the traditional phone with the help of an IP adaptor.

Apart from the Internet service charges there are no extra charges involved for the calls. There are a number of services that provide this kind of almost free IP calling. The most popular of them are Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, Skype, The Globe and Google Talk. However these free services have certain limitations. They require computer network and Internet or a special IP Phone.

There are many companies which provide commercial IP Phone services. Names of the service providers, their service features and tariffs are available on-line. These services allow an IP call even through the traditional phone lines. They connect an IP router, which is connected to the main router or the broadband modem at the service providerรขโ�ฌโ�ขs place, with the existing regular phone box at the customerรขโ�ฌโ�ขs place. This facilitates IP calls from a traditional phone even without computer network and Internet connection. But the problem is that when the computer network goes down there is no phone facility either.

The service provider charges for giving the connection. These charges include initial installation charges and the regular monthly service charges and or per call charges. The basis of charges differs from provider to provider. Some charge depending on the distance whereas some charge a flat rate for a fixed number of minutes irrespective of the distance. Some offer unlimited calls and unlimited talk time for a fixed monthly payment.

There are so many companies with varying service options and tariffs. Before choosing a particular service one should check the price range, features available and whether any technical support is offered. Also, one should check whether any emergency services are also provided and whether the IP phone number is portable with the existing landline number.

Even the paid IP Phone services are much cheaper than the regular phone call charges and prove especially economical for long distance calls. Due to the price war among the IP Phone service providers the customers can expect even more competitive prices.

There are only federal taxes on IP Phone services. The Federal Communications Commission, which regulates IP Phone services in USA, ruled that individual states have no jurisdiction to impose taxes on IP Phone services. This single point taxation helps the IP services stay cheap. Also, there might be only minimum regulation of these services for some time to encourage investment in broadband services.

IP Phones provides detailed information on IP Phones, IP Phone Services, Wireless IP Phones, IP Phone Systems and more. IP Phones is affiliated with VOIP Phone System.

Voice over IP Offers Your Business an Inexpensive Alternative To Toll Free Numbers

New businesses can now let their customers contact them for free or inexpensively with the use of Voice over IP telephony, without having to lease the ever more expensive toll free numbers offered by many telecoms companies around the world. With Voice over IP telephony, local numbers can be setup in scores of towns and cities across a country at relatively low costs. These can then connect to a central Voice over IP service provider, which will allow free or low rate calls to you from your customers.

Internet telephony or Voice over IP as it is more commonly known has been hailed as the next big thing in the telecommunications world for quite some time. In the past it has been plagued with poor sound and connection quality, as well as complex and frustrating installations.

With huge advances in Voice over IP technology in the last few years, you no longer have to sit at your computer in order to make a phone call over the Internet using Voice over IP. It is now possible to use an ordinary phone, connected to a Voice over IP adaptor (gateway). Some specialised Voice over IP phones (IP phones) have this technology built into their circuitry, effectively allowing you to plug and play.

Voice over IP splits your voice into Internet Protocol Data Packets. These packets are then routed over the Internet. This makes it a lot cheaper for Voice over IP service providers to carry your calls. Using this method Voice over IP service providers only have to pay a small termination fee at the point where they drop your call off. This in turn make Voice over IP extremely cost effective for those companies who cannot afford the high costs associated with those of toll free numbers. It would then become possible for example to rent phone numbers in major cities across a country at cheap rates, and people in these cities would then be able to talk to you for just the cost of a local call.

In the past few years Voice over IP has matured and is fast becoming the way to make cheap rate calls both nationally and internationally. In fact most major telecoms companies around the world, are now gearing up to charge us for the amount of data sent or received, as opposed to the length of call time. Many businesses are taking early advantage of the huge cost savings for them and their customers, through the implementation of Voice over IP telephony.

Thanks for reading my article. Please feel free to give it a rating at the bottom of this page.

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Jason Morris is co-author, search engine optimization and marketing consultant of Business Phone Systems Direct. An established communications company, offering advice and implementation of high quality business phone systems.
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How to Switch to Avaya VoIP

Avaya Phone Systems has taken several steps to ensure a smooth transition traditional, circuit- based phone systems to VoIP phone systems. The company views the evolution to converged network as a three- step process:

Install IP architecture, laying the foundation for a wireless network capable of supporting data, voice, and video on a single cable.

Incorporate applications, taking advantage of features that increase your productivity and efficiency.

Employ IP telephony, connecting all branches and locations of your business, making the conversion from an outdated, inefficient network, to an industry- standard one.

Step One: Install IP Architecture

The first step in switching to VoIP phone systems takes one of two routes, depending on whether your company has POTS or a PBX. The route from POTS to VoIP phone systems is longer and more expensive, and is generally not recommended unless the monthly toll charges and fees are so unwieldy as to outweigh the high cost of converting.

However, VoIP phone systems architecture can be installed alongside the existing POTS, preserving your earlier investment. Over time, you can phase out your POTS and replace circuit- based telephones with IP- enabled ones, as you embrace IP telephony.

The process is much simpler with a PBX: The computer data network is expanded to support IP telephony on the LAN and VoIP and the WAN, creating a common infrastructure connecting all locations.

Step Two: Incorporate Applications

After a foundation for IP telephony has been built, and a converged network is in place, your company is ready to take the next step to VoIP phone systems: incorporating applications, taking advantage of integrated voice, data, and video.

VoIP phone systems enhance business communications by allowing for critical applications that improve productivity and efficiency: many applications and features that allow you to stay connected and accessible. Cell phone connect and remote call forwarding let your receive business calls when youรขโ�ฌโ�ขre out of the office, and Unified messaging gives you greater control over your voice and email messages.

VoIP phone systems keep you informed: the network has proactive monitoring programs that alert you when it needs repairs before something breaks down.

Step Three: Deploy IP Telephony

The final step in the transition to VoIP phone systems is to deploy IP telephony, creating converged communications. Deploying IP telephony and realizing the full potential of VoIP phone systems allows your company to flourish in an adaptive environment, easily integrating with multiple configurations.

This is possible because of modularization; VoIP phone systems have modular applications and components, increasing flexibility while making it a cost- effective solution.

As a completely optimized and integrated infrastructure, VoIP phone systems can save your business thousands upon thousands of dollars. VoIP phone systems eliminate fees for leasing phone lines, and greatly reduce monthly regulatory fees.

Cameron Elliott is an Telephony specialist at avaya voip phone systems where he extols the benefits of Avaya Phone Systems

Most Underrated Use of VoIP Telephony

With the proliferation, affordability, and convenience of broadband Internet and cell phone service, customers are foregoing traditional telephone service all together. Having a cell phone instead of a land line seems like a terrific idea. Cell phone customers do not have to be tied down to a location, they can get phone calls from anywhere, and plus they get long-distance included. In theory it seems like a good idea but actually it does not tend to work out as planned. Cell phones were not designed to be used for regular everyday calls while in your home. They were designed as mobile phones and most service plans treat them as such, with outrageous fees for going over the allotted monthly minutes. Most cell phone only customers find they run out of minutes every month and have enormous cell phone bills as a result. So they would be better off having a land line or paying for enormous monthly minutes on their cell phone service. There is a better way.

VoIP phone service is a wonderful way to eliminate the need for expensive, regular telephone service. With a VoIP adapter and VoIP service, customers can use their broadband Internet service and regular telephone to make local and long-distance calls for a low monthly fee. The monthly fee usually includes such typical services as unlimited long-distance, call waiting, caller ID, voicemail, 3-way calling, call forwarding, and other lesser used features that regular telephone companies charge extra. So for a modest monthly fee VoIP customers can have broadband Internet and land line phone services and still afford to keep their cell phone. VoIP saves money by eliminating expensive traditional telephone service and allows cell phone minutes to be used when necessary.

Visit http://www.cleardigitalvoice.com for more information on how to save money with VoIP phone service.

Sol is the owner of ClearDigitalVoice.com, a new VoIP provider for residential and small business customers. http://www.cleardigitalvoice.com

Tips To Choosing A VOIP Provider

Once you have decided to adopt a VoIP phone system for your business or home, the next step is to decide on a provider. There are so many options to choose from with each offering attractive schemes.

The first step would be to sit down and list in detail your needs. Once you have a clear idea do an internet search to find out about different providers, the facilities they are offering, and whether or not they have a reliable operation in your area. Read blogs as well as reviews on VoIP phones and the different companies, check with the better business bureau and chamber of commerce as to whether there are any complaints registered against the companies you are considering.

Some important considerations when choosing a provider are:

รขโ�ฌยข The costs: undertake a comparison of the VoIP fees. These can range form US $ 8- US$ 30 per month. And, depending on the charges, the facilities offered will vary. What you need to do is list what features are beneficial to you and then determine for these services what the monthly fees will be.

รขโ�ฌยข Read the offers carefully. Surf the web to find out what each provider offers for the fees charged. Think about call forwarding, voice mail, call waiting and so on. Read about what kind of network the provider has, the technology he is using and what his future plans are.

รขโ�ฌยข An important consideration is the ability to contact emergency services. Choose a provider who has E911 access. This is dependant on whether the VoIP system is to be the only phone connection in your home.

รขโ�ฌยข Find out whether the provider offers free technical support. Some do charge for technical services. Also determine whether your existing computer system and internet cable will support VoIP services. Determine whether you will need any new equipment or software.

รขโ�ฌยข Ask about number portability and whether you will be able to retain your current landline number.

รขโ�ฌยข Find out what the different plans being offered are and whether there are any promotional schemes. There are databases of residential and business VoIP providers listing special deals, features, and plans.

รขโ�ฌยข Make a list of doubts/questions you have and seek answers from VoIP experts.

รขโ�ฌยข Make a list of hardware and software required such as phones, internet speeds, IP phones, routers and so on. Determine portability as well as efficacy of the services.

รขโ�ฌยข Read the contract carefully. Find out whether there is a lock in period within which you cannot change schemes or providers.

รขโ�ฌยข Ask about service charges applicable. Find out about sound quality and reliability of services.

รขโ�ฌยข Find out whether there will be additional costs for making international or long distance calls.

Weigh the pros and cons carefully before making a final decision. Most broadband phones work with a DSL or cable modem internet. If you have a dial-up, satellite or wireless broadband then VoIP phones will not work in your home or office.

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1866Voip.com, the premier website to find help on Voip including topics on online voip, voip phone, voip service providers, voip solutions, business voip, internet telephony voip and more. He also freelances for the premier Voip Services Article Submission Directory site http://www.1888Articles.com/voip-articles-127_12.html

VoIP Communication: Technology Helps Your Business

Communication has come a long way from the time of smoke signals. What was new yesterday is considered required today. Technology advances are fast and furious and to keep ahead in the business world you must advance along with it, or risk missing out on the new moon.

The speed and effectiveness of your communication infrastructure is vital in today's marketplace, where clients expect instant results. In addition, your ability to virtualize your office is key in a decentralized and mobile environment. Assisting your customers and making them feel serviced is vital in a world where price comparisons can be retrieved in an instant. Service will set you apart. This is where advanced communication technology can help.

The following is an example of how Life Communications LLC assisted a business improve their communications effectiveness, work product and bottom line. Saran Importers Inc. (name has been changed) is an importer of many products, including clothing, undergarments and electronics. They have small offices in California, Michigan and Texas with their headquarters in Brooklyn, NY. The Michigan and Texas offices have two salesmen per location, while the California office has three operations people and one salesman. The Brooklyn headquarters has 10 operations people and three salesmen. For the sake of simplicity, the definition of "operations people" is people who don't travel extensively, while salesmen do.

They had a Lucent Partner system in Brooklyn and small SOHO (Small Office Home Office) Panasonic multi-phones in the remote locations. They communicated with the remote locations by calling them over a regular phone line and with the salesman by office number or cell phones, which they also gave to the clients. Some problems arose from this arrangement. The following are a sample:

- High cost of inter-office communications.

- Multiple places for voice-mail. Hard to manage.

- If the cell phone was dead or otherwise not available the calls went to voicemail or were lost.

- If a salesman was unavailable for extended periods (more than one day) it affected communications with clients.

- No call accounting. No management of remote offices.

Life Communications replaced their Lucent system with a customized PC-based advanced phone system. In the remote locations they put Voice Over IP (VOIP) phones that communicated directly with the VoIP phone system over secure private network DSL lines. This enabled the remote offices to have all the advanced features of the main office.

They also setup a feature that enabled the salesman to manage where they can be reached. In doing so, they would be able to give out a single phone number that routed through the phone system. They would direct where the phone would ring or even the order of where they can be reached and the amount of times it would ring by each location. If the call would go to voicemail the voicemail would actually reside on the phone system and a voice file would be emailed to the salesman. Some salesmen chose to have a copy, of the voice file, also emailed to the operations person who handled their accounts.

This solved their problems by doing the following:

- Cut down, drastically, on the cost of inter-office communications. The costs of the DSL lines are marginalized due to their dual-use as data lines. All calls between offices are now as if they are in the same office, they communicate by calling the extension, not an outside number.

- One place for voice-mail, all located on the phone system. Cell phone calls are now called by the phone system and if the salesman is unavailable it puts it in the internal voice-mail. This allows for easier voice-mail management.

- Due to the advanced routing feature, calls can ring by multiple places to reach a person who can help the client.

- When salesmen are now unavailable the calls can be automatically rerouted to another salesman who can help.

- All calls, in all offices, can now be managed and kept track of. Client communications can be more effectively handled.

This is just a small sample of the improvements made to the business process. Another advantage to the VoIP system is; as new features, and advancements, come out they can be integrated into Saran's current platform. Expandability is also part and parcel of this VoIP experience; the system can grow as Saran grows.

Cy Yablonsky is a realtor associate at Othello Realty, http://www.OthelloRealty.com. Cy has an extensive background in technology and communications and applies that to the real estate market. Feel free to reprint this article as long as all links stay live and no changes are made.

The Skype Approach to VoIP - A Review of Skype

With internet usage reaching almost every country, and economic class, and with its permeation throughout the western world, applications designed to harness its potential in ever more practical ways are constantly arising. One such application is Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP), which continues to challenge its own limitations. There are a few leading players who are jostling for supremacy, including Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, Skype, and Vonage.

Recently, there have been many converts to Skype, including this reviewer. There are several factors that have influenced my own personal move, but my primary motivations were innovation, quality, and marketability. VoIP has always been an application that is easily marketable, and Skype has added innovative features that are quality-rich:

รขโ�ฌยข SkypeOut, where you can use your computer to call ordinary phone numbers all over the world. The global SkypeOut rate is currently 1.7 Euro Cent (about 2 US cents or 1.1 pence) per minute to more than 20 countries.

รขโ�ฌยข SkypeIn, which is a virtual phone number your friends can call. This is in beta testing at the time of writing this review, but the 12-month subscription is available for รขโ��ยฌ 30 and 3 months for รขโ��ยฌ 10.

รขโ�ฌยข Skype Voicemail, which lets you redirect calls to your voicemail, is available at รขโ��ยฌ 5 for 3 months or รขโ��ยฌ 15 for the year.

However, the most widespread application of Skype is PC-to-PC calls. Any user can make free calls over the Internet to anyone else who also has Skype. It is a simple wizard-based process to download and use the application, and works via your broadband connection with operating systems based on Microsoft Windows, Mac, Linux, and Pocket PCs. All you need is a PC microphone and speakers or a basic USB headset, and what you get is a real-time, telephone-quality voice conversation with any PC end-user in the world. I found the downloading to be extremely simple and straightforward and imagine that anyone, no matter your computer fluency will find it easy as well.

In addition to its ease of setup, the features of Skype are really impressive. There is a facility to search the Skype database, so that you are able to build a list of contacts. We have used Skype for Windows 1.4 for a PC-to-PC conversation between Los Angeles and Mumbai (India), and there was no recorded break in the half-hour call. The clarity was definitely on par with a normal telephone, perhaps even better, with no noticeable time lag. On subsequent calls between these destinations and other US cities including Chicago, the quality continues to amaze us, and the fact that Skype works in most environments, irrespective of firewalls or NAT, widens its reach.

So, whatรขโ�ฌโ�ขs the downside? A comparative analysis will help clarify the situation. For a start, Skype does not offer as many calling features as other service providers like Vonage. Then, there have been question marks about the technical/customer support offered by Skype. Another point where Skype loses out is the quality of the SkypeOut package, where the calls made to landlines are of inconsistent quality. One hopes that Skype can add video chat to its repertoire in the near future, which will place Skype on an equal standing with other free VoIP providers like Yahoo! Messenger and MSN Messenger, which already have video capabilities. Skype is undoubtedly ahead of both MSN and Yahoo in terms of voice quality and the real-time conversation experience. On the other side of the spectrum, Vonage offers feature-rich services and better customer service, although all this comes at a price.

My Overall Assessment: Vonage is a better option than Skype for traditional telephone users because Skype is totally computer-dependent and caters to consumers who are "living out of their computers."

The future has a lot to offer, and undoubtedly Skype will move forward in its evolutionary process, and hopefully improve SkypeOut and emerge successfully out of beta testing for SkypeIn. However, for the moment, Skype is arguably the best option for free PC-to-PC calls. Skype says that the "current focus is to make the best voice-application on the planet"รขโ�ฌโ��judging from user feedback around the world, Skype has already gone a long distance towards that objective.

Hamesh Brown enjoys writing about VoIP. See http://www.voipreviewsonline.com/2005/10/skype_review_1.html for another Skype review.

Making PC to Phone VoIP Calls over Dial-Up Internet Connections

Thereรขโ�ฌโ�ขs a lot of hype these days surrounding Internet-based voice communications (VoIP) replacing traditional telephone service. Most of this revolves around companies such as Vonage who coin themselves as the รขโ�ฌห�Broadband Phone Companyรขโ�ฌโ�ข. So what about those of us who donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt have a broadband connection? Just because you donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt have high speed Internet, doesnรขโ�ฌโ�ขt mean that you canรขโ�ฌโ�ขt save a fortune by using VoIP for your long-distance calls. Whilst a broadband connection will usually result in more consistent VoIP call quality, comparable results can be achieved using a dial-up connection provided some simple guidelines are followed.

Shop Around

Not all VoIP service providers support dial-up users. Companies such as Vonage bill themselves as alternatives to traditional telephone service and shy away from the dial-up community (who are tied to those รขโ�ฌห�traditionalรขโ�ฌโ�ข networks to access the Internet). Furthermore, some service providers only support dial-up above a certain speed (e.g., 56Kbp). Two companies whose VoIP softphone applications work well over low speed connections include Callserve and Go2Call.

รขโ�ฌห�Free-upรขโ�ฌโ�ข your System Resources

In order to ensure the highest call quality, close programs that are running in the รขโ�ฌห�backgroundรขโ�ฌโ�ข. For Windows users, these applications can be seen in the taskbar at the bottom right of your screen. รขโ�ฌห�Right-clickรขโ�ฌโ�ข the icons and close those programs that arenรขโ�ฌโ�ขt critical to system security (e.g., donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt close anti-virus software, firewall applications and the like).

If youรขโ�ฌโ�ขre using Windows XP with user switching enabled, log off all users except the one that will be used to make the call. This will prevent the other user identities from running software and/or using your bandwidth while youรขโ�ฌโ�ขre making calls.

รขโ�ฌห�Free Upรขโ�ฌโ�ข your Internet Connection

Given the limited data capacity of dial-up connections, itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs important that you devote as much of your bandwidth as possible to the VoIP softphone application. To achieve maximum call quality, donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt do anything that uses your bandwidth whilst making calls. This includes instant messaging, checking email, using a webcam, browsing the internet, downloading, etc. In Windows, you can look at the two little computers in the bottom right of your taskbar to see whether your connection is being used prior to calling (the little computers illuminate when data is being uploaded and/or downloaded).

Scan your System for Viruses, Spyware, Adware and Malware

Some of these malicious programs can hijack your browser, tie up your internet connection and slow down your system (not to mention seriously invade your privacy!). I recommend AdAware for free scanning and removal of Spyware/Adware. Once youรขโ�ฌโ�ขve checked and cleansed your system of these nasty programs, your virus definition files should be updated to minimize the chances of re-infection.

Use a Headset with an Integrated Boom Microphone

Last but not least, using a headset with a boom microphone should eliminate those annoying voice echoes often associated with PC to Phone calls. Echoes are caused by your microphone detecting the voice coming from your computer speakers and re-transmitting that voice signal back to the person youรขโ�ฌโ�ขre talking to. By using a headset, the voice signals are limited in volume (due to the headset being directly adjacent to your ears) and thus the chances of your microphone รขโ�ฌห�re-transmittingรขโ�ฌโ�ข those voice signals is greatly reduced.

So there you have it. A Lack of high speed Internet neednรขโ�ฌโ�ขt mean a lack of PC to Phone VoIP capability.

Nathan Smith

Nathan is the owner of netphonedirectory.com which deals specifically with PC to Phone and PC to PC VoIP. The site includes a comprehensive directory of PC to Phone service providers as well as information on VoIP and what you need to make inexpensive long-distance telephone calls using your computer

Is Internet Necessary To Deploy VoIP?

Voice over internet protocol is also called IP telephony, Internet telephony or also broad band phone. VoIP internet telephony works in the same manner as data transfer on a network. Protocols that determine the aspects of connection and transfer of data are used to transfer data over the network. The protocol that is used to transfer voice over the IP network is called the Voice over IP or VoIP protocols. The network voice protocol was invented for the ARPANET in 1973. It was an experimental protocol that has now realized into the commercial protocol. VoIP Wireless Phone is the present realization of this experiment.

Intranets and VoIP
The Private branch exchanges were designed to automate the telephone communication systems. With the advent of microprocessors these were used in the PBX and hence it was easier to integrate VoIP as well. Integration of VoIP helped save money as the transmission in the form of IP packets was cheaper than a dedicated connection between two ends.

If you have an intranet and a PBX as well you could enable VoIP by connecting an IP gateway between your PBX and intranet. Thus routing calls through the data line and saving cash. Directing long distance calls and international calls via data lines is an effective way of cutting your bill on communication.

VoIP can be used internally as well over the intranet. The advantage with this is that you need not buy a separate PBX for voice communication. VoIP over the intranet data lines is more predictable as the network traffic and bandwidth is determined in advance. More sophisticated VoIP programs could be used for less data loss, full duplex, real time voice communication

Working of VoIP
Traditional telephony used analog signals. Digital technology made the process more efficient by converting analog signals to digital signals and then compressing them. This increases the speed of transmission and lowers the bandwidth requirement as well. VoIP Equipment uses the Sessions Initiation Protocol or H.323 for defining the communication between devices. H.323 is designed for video conferencing has a wider range of applications when compared to SIP. But SIP is more robust when it comes to voice transmission only.

VoIP Basics the handshaking signals that are shared between the two ends to establish a connection. In the traditional telephone system these were achieved using circuit switching methods. For connection to be established and provide you good voice quality you need a cable modem for your internet connection or a different type of telephone system. High speeds are essential to a voice connection. The connection between the two points is maintained as long as the conversation goes on. The IP packets are transferred between the two points using a real time protocol. Similar to the telephone system, VoIP providers charge you a flat rate according to minute.

Benefits
There are a few Advantages of VoIP that make people adopt this technology.

รขโ�ฌยข Most operating system software now comes with VoIP ability. Application software that provide net based messaging and voice conferencing offer you the ability of a voice chat and even video conferencing. Therefore there is no need of purchasing additional equipment.

รขโ�ฌยข VoIP is beneficial to those who have to make frequent overseas contact or have high call volumes as the cost per call is low when it is over the internet rather than over dedicated telephone lines.

รขโ�ฌยข Large corporations that require collaboration with multiple people can utilize VoIP since the rate is the same for a single connection as well as a multiple connection.

Disadvantages
There are a few issues that prevent general acceptance of VoIP.

รขโ�ฌยข There is a lack of transmission quality during periods of high network congestion. When the bandwidth is limited and network congestion occur IP packets are dropped. This results in poor voice quality and even loss of connection.

รขโ�ฌยข If the network goes down then all means of communication both voice and data is cut off. This results in the reluctance to change over to VoIP

รขโ�ฌยข Calls to emergency services are not yet provided by VoIP. The situation may change as this has been made mandatory by the government.

รขโ�ฌยข There are no directory listings or yellow page listings for VoIP numbers.

What ever the bold promises VoIP offers if it does not deliver on the internet scene it still is an advantage on the intranet scene.

http://www.voiplobby.com is a site for the new and upcoming technology of voice over internet protocol. The various topics dealt with include VoIP basics, Advantages of VoIP, etc. Find out more about this new technology.

http://www.voiplobby.com is a site for the new and upcoming technology of voice over internet protocol. The various topics dealt with include VoIP basics, Advantages of VoIP, etc. Find out more about this new technology.

What Do You Know About VoIP?

What is VoIP

VoIP is an acronym for voice over internet protocol, aka voice over ip phone. A VoIP, in essence, is a computer phone that allows you to make phone calls from your computer to anyone in the world, e.g., PC to PC, PC to phones รขโ�ฌโ�� landlines or cells.

The voice signal converts to data packets and travels across the internet through a VoIP platform, and then converts back to voice at the receiving end of the communication exchange. Leading telecom experts are projecting that 75% of the worldรขโ�ฌโ�ขs communications will be done on VoIP within the next several years.

What Kind of Equipment Do I Need?

You will need a computer with internet access and an inexpensive microphone if your computer does not have one built in. Although most VoIP voice over ip phone providers require high speed internet connections, there are a few that can be used on dial-up connections.

How Can I Place a Call or Receive a Call?

Basically, the same way you would a regular phone, except on your PC. When you download a VoIP voice over ip phone line on your computer, a phone usually appears on your screen. The computer phone acts like any other phone in that you can dial numbers on it from a pad, or click on a contactรขโ�ฌโ�ขs pre-programmed name, and press the call button. You will then hear the phone ringing to the party you have called and can talk to them when they accept the call.

When receiving a call, the phone will ring on your computer and you can click to accept the call and talk, or let it ring (based on the number of rings you have set up) and forward the caller to your voicemail.

What Kind of Features Does a VoIP Phone Have?

Typically a VoIP voice over ip phone not only has audio capabilities, but also three-way calling, text messaging, and contacts list. Some VoIPs even have webcam capabilities. In addition, there is usually a button to click that can indicate to others when you are available, unavailable, away, or off line.

Who Can I Call Using a VoIP Phone?

Most reputable VoIP computer phone providers limit PC to PC calls among their own subscribers for privacy purposes so that the quality of sound is not compromised.

Most reputable VoIP voice over ip phone providers have their own patented technology.

Some VoIP solutions providers require limiting PC to phone landlines or cells to their own subscribers, while others do not.

Advantages of VoIP

รขโ�ฌยข With VoIP computer phones, you have unlimited talk time to anyone in the world from PC to PC for a flat monthly rate

รขโ�ฌยข Most VoIP voice over ip phone providers offer drastically reduced costs for calling PC to landlines

รขโ�ฌยข Most VoIPรขโ�ฌโ�ขs offer reduced costs for calling PC to cell phones, however, prices often vary depending on the cell phone carrier.

รขโ�ฌยข Savings of up to 80% off current phone bills.

What are the Costs for VoIPs?

Typically there is an activation fee which varies between $20.00 to hundreds of dollars, although some are hidden. Monthly fees, after enrollment, varies between $5.00 per month to $99.95 per month. If you do not have a microphone on your computer, you would have to purchase one. Cost is between $5.00 to $40.00.

Things to Watch Out For with VoIP Services

รขโ�ฌยข Hidden costs

รขโ�ฌยข Unsecure lines - meaning anyone can listen to your conversation because of shared servers or open platforms, thus making you vulnerable to viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and unscrupulous hackers, which ultimately can corrupt your computer and create a costly computer crash.

รขโ�ฌยข Inability to be used with dial-up connections

รขโ�ฌยข Public listing of your name and/or phone number

รขโ�ฌยข Many VoIP services have spyware.

Dee Scrip and her close friend Andy Murray operate the website http://www.whypay4calls.com. Where you can experience a 7 day free trial with a secure line on patented technology. NO contracts, obligations, or hassles!

Enhance Your Business Continuity Planning with VoIP Hosted PBX Service

As little as five years ago, the only disasters businesses had to worry about were natural disasters, local environmental problems, and a few single points of telecommunications failures. Today you can add bioterrorism, suitcase nukes, unprecedented numbers of hurricane strikes, and a multitude of other problems to a growing list of risks that have the potential to bring a business to an economic standstill or even cause permanent business failure.

There is only one telecommunications solution that has the flexibility and capability to ensure business continuity and to keep business communications running in a major catastrophe -- VoIP hosted PBX service.

When choosing a VOIP Hosted PBX vendor, a business needs to ensure the vendor's service provides employees a variety of ways to have their incoming calls handled during a crisis, including setting advanced call handling options to follow them wherever they go and access to features that allow them to set up shop at any working telephone number, or - at the very least - to have calls answered by a user's voicemail or the main number's Automated Attendant.

Business continuity planners need to develop plans to protect telecommunications services in the same way they protect their websites and email. The most cost efficient way to accomplish this objective is to outsource the delivery and management of these services to a secure, redundant VoIP Hosted PBX provider. This will enable the business to capitalize on the ubiquity of the Internet to deliver a disaster-proof phone system which is accessible from anywhere an Internet connection is available.

Businesses used to purchase and install PBX phone systems at their physical location and then connect them into phone lines. With this configuration, anything that made the physical space unusable also affected the communications service. In contrast, VOIP Hosted PBX service provides phone service over the Internet from a centralized, secure operations center. Since the service is virtual and not physically located on the business premises, conditions at the customer's physical location do not adversely affect telecommunications service operation and provisioning.

In summary, when it comes to business continuity, Voip Hosted Phone Service provides key advantages over all other systems on the market today:

- No Busy Signal: "Always On" phone service capable of receiving, answering and routing calls during any type of disruption at the physical location.

- Accessible from Anywhere: Users have access to real-time, web-based control of call handling options from any Internet connection around the world.

- Easy Remote Operation: Users can easily turn any working telephone into their office phone, letting them place and receive calls from remote phones while showing the business line ID and billing calls back to the office.

- Centralized Operations: Since VOIP Hosted PBX service integrates all business locations and remote employees together under one cohesive system, if a business has an office in an area affected by a disaster, they can easily direct one of the other office locations to handle all calls being made to the affected location. One receptionist can answer and transfer calls for all company locations.

Bill Casey is the Vice President of Marketing for Reignmaker Communications, Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Reignmaker offers REIGN-FREE Hosted PBX service in 218 markets, covering more than 45 million U.S. households in 35 states. Bill may be contacted at 1-877-VOIP.4U2. http://www.reignmaker.net

VoIP Deals - How to Find Coupons and Discounts on Internet Phone Service or Anything Else!

As with all products and services, it pays to shop around for the best price on VoIP internet phone service before you buy. Many people believe that the best price is obtained by purchasing directly through the VoIP providerรขโ�ฌโ�ขs website. This seems logical, because the company providing the service should be in the best position to offer the lowest price right? Not necessarily. It has been my experience as a savvy internet shopper (about 80% of my purchases for home and business are made online) that most of the time you will get a discount code or rebate if you buy through a third party link. VoIP service is no exception. To get the best VoIP deals, purchasing through a reseller or affiliate link will usually net the biggest savings.

If you are thinking about signing up for VoIP service (or for that matter, purchasing anything on the internet), spend a few extra minutes and try my technique. Youรขโ�ฌโ�ขve got nothing to lose and could save quite a bit of money.

Hereรขโ�ฌโ�ขs how to find the best VoIP deals:
---------------------------------------

1 - Research and compare VoIP service providers. To get you started, here are some of the major players (and most reputable VoIP providers) in the small business and residential VoIP industry right now:

Vonage, Packet8, SunRocket, Voip.net, Lingo, AT&T CallVantage

Hint: A quick way to find easy to read, consolidated information is to Google for terms like "compare VoIP providers", "VoIP comparison" or "VoIP reviews". A quick shortcut would be to visit my website, where you can see side-by-side comparison of several major VoIP providers.

2 - Narrow down your choices from the information you gather. Try to pick 1-3 VoIP providers who offer packages that best meet your needs. If you stick to big name providers like those mentioned above, you can focus more on the features and price they offer and not have to worry too much about quality of service.

3 - Visit the vendorรขโ�ฌโ�ขs official website and note the cost details of the plan you are interested in. Things to consider are setup fee, monthly service fee, shipping charges and cost of any additional equipment you want. Most vendors will give you a basic VoIP adapter for free. You may want to upgrade however, to a multi-port adapter, an adapter/phone combination device, or even a video phone. These items cost extra, but itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs usually cheaper to buy them from the VoIP provider than anywhere else (easier to maintain too, because if the provider sells it he will provide support for it).

4 - With the vendorรขโ�ฌโ�ขs pricing information in hand, go back to Google and start searching for discounts or special offers. Some examples of terms to search for might be "Packet8 coupon", "Vonage rebate" or "VoIP deal". More often than not, you will find links to sites offering special discounts that will save you money. By clicking through the third party link and making a purchase, you get the exact same service with the exact same provider but you get it for less money!

This process might sound crazy to you, but I guarantee you will find a VoIP deal nearly every time! Hereรขโ�ฌโ�ขs a little secret that explains how this works:

Most large companies that have an internet presence promote their products through resellers or affiliate links. Independent website owners partner with the vendor and receive permission to promote the vendors product (this is called affiliate marketing) in exchange for a commission on each sale. It is then up to the affiliate to do all the advertising and promotion. This gives vendors a much cheaper and wider scope of marketing because hundreds (or even thousands) of people are advertising and promoting their products for the price of a small commission.
Because itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs in the vendorรขโ�ฌโ�ขs best interest to help the affiliate make a sale, they offer him/her an incentive (like a discount or coupon to promote), that is not available to the general public. Itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs a cheap and effective way for VoIP providers (and all merchants) to advertise, and everybody wins. The vendor makes a sale, the affiliate gets a paycheck and the consumer gets a discount!

I use this technique for nearly every purchase I make on the internet, and have saved thousands of dollars over the years. Sometimes the savings are small (like free shipping), but many times I save a lot of money through instant coupon discounts and huge rebates.

I used this method when I subscribed to Packet8 VoIP service (a provider I highly recommend) and received just under $100 in rebates by signing up through an affiliate link and purchasing a whole-house Uniden 1868P phone system (an add-on that I am really glad I bought รขโ�ฌโ�� itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs wonderful). Buying through an affiliate link not only saves you money, it also helps support the folks who spend a lot of time and effort creating and sharing tons of great information on the internet. Before signing up for VoIP service, be sure to find a third party link to click through - you will get the best VoIP deal this way and save yourself some money!

ร�ยฉ Copyright 2005, Debbie Jacobsen. All rights reserved.
This article may be used without special permission as long as it remains in original form, including live links.

To learn more about Packet8 VoIP service, visit http://www.savewith8.com. For more information on VoIP internet phone service, visit my blog: http://www.djvoip.blogspot.com Internet Phone Service - The Future is Here.

Make Free International Phone Calls - Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for Beginners

VoIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol is an emerging technology that with the right equipment and a provider, enables voice communications or the audio content of a phone conversation to be transmitted in digital form over the internet. The advantage of this is that a standard telephone line is not required for VoIP.

As VoIP is an ever evolving technology, it is important to familiarize oneself in latest developments prior to making a commitment to a particular phone, provider or setup.

But letรขโ�ฌโ�ขs look at some of the basics and how practically anyone can give this technology a รขโ�ฌห�runรขโ�ฌโ�ข without dipping deep into the pockets.

The Basics
VoIP has a range of options and abilities depending on the service and equipment utilized. These include:
รขโ�ฌยข Only calling other people using the same service;
รขโ�ฌยข Ability to call any phone number including long distance, international, mobiles and of course local;
รขโ�ฌยข Calling directly from a computer using a microphone or VoIP telephone; and
รขโ�ฌยข Calling from an ordinary phone which is plugged into an Analog Telephone Adaptor or ATA.

Equipment Required
Given that this is Voice over Internet, it stands to reason that an internet connection is necessary รขโ�ฌโ�� albeit one of high speed (broadband).

Depending on the service being utilized it may be as simple as a microphone, or a VoIP telephone, or an adaptor that a normal phone can plug into with the adaptor plugging into an Ethernet connection.

So How Can I Make Calls for Free?
There is a range of free VOIP software on the internet. A well know one is Skype at www.skype.com where users can make calls to landlines and mobiles for a fee but call each other for free.

Ok so you see the limitation here. To get free calls the person you wish to contact also needs to be a user of the same service. Whilst this is true, there are ways of obtaining very low cost calls through a number of providers. This said, the free services like Skype are well worthwhile for someone who wishes to experiment at no cost.

Service Providers
Vonage is a major VoIP provider and AT&T are also offering services. There are many others some of which I have listed below with no particular bias:
รขโ�ฌยข 1TouchTone
รขโ�ฌยข AOL Internet Phone Service
รขโ�ฌยข Axvoice
รขโ�ฌยข BroadVoice
รขโ�ฌยข Dialpad
รขโ�ฌยข GalaxyVoice
รขโ�ฌยข Net2Phone

For Australia several websites of VoIP providers are listed below:
รขโ�ฌยข www.engin.com.au
รขโ�ฌยข www.broadip.com.au
รขโ�ฌยข www.faktortel.com.au

VoiPStunt รขโ�ฌโ�� Free International Calls to a Range of Countries At the time of writing, VoiPStunt were providing free software which allows free calls between peers. However they are also providing free international calls to a list of international countries listed below:

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela.

Now thatรขโ�ฌโ�ขs not a bad list. The catch, a minor one, is that international calls for trial users are limited to one minute. To obtain up to 20 hours of free international calls you will need to top up your account however VoiPStunt state on their website they will not touch these credits so long as you are calling the free destinations. (source รขโ�ฌโ�� www.voipstunt.com).

Current terms and conditions should be examined prior to engaging any service.

Summary
VoIP is an emerging technology with much more to come in the future. Why not enjoy free international and peer phone calls in the meantime.

Author Tim ONeill has an Associate Diploma in Electronic Engineering. For further information, books and VoIP items, visit http://www.voipworking4you.info.

VoIP - Should I or Shouldn't I?

Have you been considering VoIP for your phone service? Are you still on the fence as to whether or not to try this technology?

Are you the type of person who enjoys technology and the benefits you can derive from it? Do you currently have a broadband internet connection? Do you want to continue to use your existing phone? Do you like to save money?

If you answered 'yes' to any of the questions above, you're probably a VoIP candidate.

The service itself is quite good, but not yet as reliable as the plain old telephone service. (POTS) Having said that, with the push towards this technology, the vendors are driven to providing a better service all the time. New advances in the technology itself are being incorporated into the networks on a regular basis. I for one have gone through a couple service upgrades with my own personal VoIP provider. It just keeps getting better and better. With competition heating up, you can rest assured that technology issues will be overcome sooner rather than later.

Ok, you're on the fence and deciding whether or not you should make the change. Let's go over a couple things that you should know before making your purchasing decision.

First up, what type of broadband access do you currently use? If you're using DSL and you're looking to use VoIP as your 'primary' phone service, check with your existing phone provider. Make sure you can still use your DSL without primary phone service being provided by your local phone company. I happen to live in an area where the RBOC does NOT allow for this. Basically, if I use DSL I could use VoIP has a secondary phone line, but I would not be able to cancel my phone service and keep my DSL. DSL without phone service is called 'naked DSL' and is not yet generally available. You can check our site for naked DSL providers. I for one use cable broadband access so the local phone company doesn't even enter the picture.

Next, let's make sure we all understand that VoIP runs over your broadband internet connection. VoIP means Voice over Internet Protocol. Simply put, it runs over the internet and NOT on the copper wires in your existing home telephone jacks. Basically this means that those phone jacks in your house would NOT work with VoIP. Your phone base plugs into an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter). If you want to have multiple handsets through out your home, you could use the cordless systems that come with a base and multiple handsets. I myself use a cordless phone so the phone base plugs into the ATA. This provides me the freedom to use my handset anywhere in the house.

Another point certainly worth mentioning is power and your existing ISP. If the power goes out in your home, your phone doesn't work. If you currently use a cordless phone where the base plugs into an electrical outlet, this same behavior occurs now. Loose power and you loose your phone. In addition, if your ISP (internet service provider) drops service or has an outage, you loose your phone as well. Some make a big deal out of this, but fail to understand that you can setup your service with alternate numbers. I for example, use my cellular phone number as my backup. If my internet connection goes down, anyone trying to call me will be automatically routed to my cellular phone. I never miss a call!

These are just a couple or many points to consider when making the switch. To be honest, it's very simple and painless to switch to VoIP. The best part is that many of the vendors offer trial periods. If you're still on the fence, you can sign up for service and feel comfortable in the fact that you can drop the service if not satisfied. No risk involved.

If you're still in the investigative stage, that's ok too. Visit our web site where we offer many informative articles on VoIP as well as utilities to gauge the speed of your existing broadband connection. Once you're armed with the information you need, we also offer access to a variety of vendors offer great service at a great price.

You don't need to sit on the fence much longer. Get the facts, get the details and choose a vendor that offers you a free trial period.

VoIP can be a great solution for your home or office.

FullService Broadband Provider. Unbiased, informative information on broadband technology made possible through Try Right Technology, Inc. Copyright 2006

VoIP - 3 Ways to Make The Call

Weรขโ�ฌโ�ขre hearing a lot about Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) these days. I for one am a big fan of this technology. Did you know that you could actually use VoIP in 3 different ways? Thatรขโ�ฌโ�ขs right! There are really 3 different ways that you can รขโ�ฌห�make the callรขโ�ฌโ�ข. Ok, you can actually receive the call 3 different ways as well.

First up is probably the most popular. I use this way myself and most of the residential providers out there today use this as well. What is it?

ATA รขโ�ฌโ�� Analog Telephone Adapter

Your normal phone plugs into an ATA that you received from your VoIP provider. This is the most common way to get hooked into VoIP. This device takes care of all the magic that occurs when you make and receive your calls over your broadband connection. Your analog phone signal must be converted to digital to be routed through your broadband connection and this ATA does the job.

IP Phone รขโ�ฌโ�� Internet Protocol Phones

As the name would imply, these are รขโ�ฌห�specialรขโ�ฌโ�ข phones. You wouldnรขโ�ฌโ�ขt know it by looking at them. They look like normal phones. What is different about these phones is the electronics inside them and the fact they donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt take a รขโ�ฌห�regularรขโ�ฌโ�ข phone cable (RJ-11). Instead these phones take an Ethernet cable connection (RJ-45) and also come equipped with the necessary electronics to plug directly into your router.

Computer-to-Computer

This is the oldest and possibly the easiest way to get plugged into VoIP. Here instead of using your normal phone or IP phone to make calls through your broadband connection, you use your computer itself! (You could do this over dial-up, but broadband is certainly better) There are a number of services available that offer no cost or low cost service. Youรขโ�ฌโ�ขll need the software and a microphone to speak into and speakers to hear from and of course your computer and a high-speed internet connection. Some providers offer this service for free when their software is being used on both ends of the call.

Watch out for Wi-Fi (using IP phones) and other advancements in VoIP technology. We truly are on the verge of a major breakthrough in telecommunications. So, what are you waiting for? Make the call!

Provided by the FullService Broadband Provider - http://www.fullservice-broadband-provider We provide unbiased and informative information on broadband and communication products and services. Our free service is possible through Try Right Technology, Inc. http://www.trighttech.com Copyright 2006

VegaStream - VoIP for Home and Business - Understanding the Difference

Instant messaging worked its way into the corporate space as employees used products such as AOLรขโ�ฌโ�ขs Instant Messaging service as a convenient way to get round email and voicemail over load and to find out whether the person you want to speak to is actually at their desk. In a similar vein, IT research firm Gartner predicts that by 2007 20% of all companies will have adopted plans that accommodate the fact that employees own the notebook PCs they use at work.

However, there is one exception to this trend, and that is Voice over IP (VoIP) or Internet Protocol Telephony (IPT) as it is also known. Companies such as Skype have done much to demonstrate the potential for VoIP to let people talk with each other across the globe for practically no charge. All the major ISPs and search engine sites (Google, Yahoo, and MSN) are rolling out consumer VoIP services. Yet with few exceptions, there is little sign that these consumer services are being used by people in the workplace.

There are a number of technical reasons for this, most notably the potential for consumer VoIP services to compromise the enterpriseรขโ�ฌโ�ข IP network security. However the primary reason is that the demands on the telephone in the office simply cannot be met by the somewhat cumbersome and restricted, point-to-point service offered by consumer VoIP services. Todayรขโ�ฌโ�ขs office voice communication systems feature call forwarding, voice mail, conferencing, hunt groups, hold and divert. These are not widely available in the basic consumer VoIP offerings. Furthermore, the PC-based VoIP offering does not provide the essential and convenient function of simply dialling a 10 to 12-digit number to make a call.

Enterprise VoIP products offer these features, and a whole lot more. With all messages data and real-time communications (such as voice, video and instant messaging) carried over the same IP network, there is opportunity for very rich communications sessions. For example, a colleague sends you an email within which there is an icon that lets you know that the colleague is available to take a call to discuss the content of the message. By clicking that icon, your colleagueรขโ�ฌโ�ขs phone rings and you talk; the colleague could be sitting at a desk anywhere in the organisation, or even at home on a broadband "extension" to the enterprise network, and the phone next to him or her would ring because the IP network knows where he or she is.

Cost is another major reason why VoIP cannot be lifted directly from the home to the workplace. To fully deploy VoIP in the office with all the new features of a converged IP platform, a company will be encouraged to spend money on new desk top devices; just as the consumer will have to buy a sufficiently fast PC and a headset to accommodate a consumer VoIP service. Most finance directors will struggle to sign off a business case to simply replace a serviceable piece of equipment (such as the company phone system) with something that for all intents and purposes does the same thing.

However, by implementing a gateway between their existing telephone equipment and the new VoIP services, businesses can realise the potential for external calls being carried over the Internet at vastly reduced costs compared to using the Public Switched Telephone Network. VoIP gateways convert the signals used by existing telephone equipment into those that can be carried and switched over the Internet. Many businesses are using VoIP gateways to connect to the new generation of IP-based phone companies or to carry calls between company sites for free using its existing wide area IP network.

It is only a matter of time before all communications, including telephony and mobile, are carried over IP and we will not be able to tell the difference between consumer and business VoIP รขโ�ฌโ�� just as we see little difference between a home phone and one in the office today. However, for the time being the two remain distinct propositions and the enterprise must be careful when considering deploying a consumer orientated VoIP service instead of one that is designed for the business need.

Formed in 1998, VegaStream is one of the most experienced players in the industrial VoIP market. The company supplies gateway CPE to both traditional telecommunications carriers and the new generation of Internet telephony service providers. VegaStream also serves the enterprise market through a global network of distributors and resellers supported by regional offices in the UK, USA and Australia. VegaStream is a non-listed UK company. Investors include the management team, Pace Micro Technology PLC and MTI Partners. http://www.vegastream.com

Do You Have Your VoIP/BroadBand Phone Yet?

Broadband VoIP allows you to add a phone line to your home or office with a local phone number in just about any major U.S. city.... and with some vendors also in several countries such as the UK and Israel.

Here are some ways Businesses and families with geographical distances between them can take advantage of BroadBand Phone/VoIP:

1. Parents can add an additional line with a local number so their college son or daughter can always call home without the expense of long distance rates.

2. A family in Florida can bring up a local number in Minnesota where the rest of the family resides. Family members in Minnesota now dial a local number and reach the relatives in Florida with no long distance charges because the call is local for those in Minnesota, and only the party in Florida needs to have broadband service to receive the calls.

3. This technology can also help military families stay connected. VoIP is not restricted by global boundaries. A U.S. soldier in another country with a broadband connection can set up service with unlimited in bound calls that are local to his family in the U.S. His family then can make unlimited calls to him at no cost and his family in the U.S. doesn't need to have broadband access. Plus any calls they make home are either "local" or are made with an unlimited flat rate plan. That saves a ton of money.

4. Traveling executives can also take advantage of VoIP as a portable phone that can be taken along on any business trip. Many hotels will provide broad band access today. Simply plug the IP phone into the broadband connection in the hotel room. Your family and customers can now call on a local number. In addition you can still take advantage of out bound service and make calls from the room as well.

5. Businesses can drastically reduce costs from traditional calling services.... with flat rate plans which cover all of the US & Canada and often including Europe &/or Asia also.

For an easy way to compare available VoIP phone options in your area (US only) browse through the vendor review info available at Broadband Reports. This info is updated frequently with new input from their Forum members. Be advised that not all providers may be included as only those having received a member review will be listed.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including DS3-Bandwidth.com and Business-VoIP-Solution.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.