What is VoIP?
http://live.pirillo.com/ - Voice over Internet Protocol - VoIP - is a method of using the Internet to talk to people. VoIP technologies can be either software or hardware; for example, Skype offers both a software solution as well as a hardware solution. They offer quick, easy, and cheap access to anyone with a telephone (some services charge a low monthly rate for unlimited calling!)
VoIP does have its downside though: it doesn’t have its own infrastructure and has to rely on the Internets infrastructure to work, whereas a standard "land line" service does not rely on the Internet for its infrastructure.
Before you decide to go with a VoIP service there are a few things you should know:
- VoIP services generally do not come with a built-in 911 service. Some services offer E-911, which requires you to manually configure. If you don’t configure it you won’t have access to 911.
- VoIP runs on the Internet, so you need to have access to a high speed Internet connection.
- Since it runs on the Internet, VoIP also requires electricity to operate. If there is a power outage in your area you will not have telephone service until power is restored.
Do you use a VoIP service? If so, which one. If no, why not?
Check out the VoIP Services video on YouTube and subscribe to our channel!
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4 Comments
voip related pages
November 30th, 1999
at 12:00am
http://live.pirillo.com/ - Voice over Internet Protocol - - is a method of using the Internet to talk to people. technologies can be either software or hardware; for example, Skype offers both a software solution as well as a … Read more
Dan Gray
May 29th, 2007
at 6:44pm
A couple of VOIPy notes …
Check out my big list of VOIP providers, and you’ll see that 911 services are pretty much standard fare these days …
http://www.geekbooks.com/VOIP-comparison.htm
I’ve been using AT&T’s CallVantage service since the git-go and I’m quite happy with it, overall. I’ve never had the need to use the 911 service, thankfully … but it’s quite insistant about resetting itself every time the power goes out.
To avoid the power outage problem, consider plugging your router(s) and VOIP box into their own UPS.
Viva la VOIP! :)
Sarah
May 30th, 2007
at 5:33am
Just got Skype.
My best girlfriend from college (37 years and counting, Kiddies) lives about 135 miles away in the same state. We need a cheap way to talk because we spend 2-6 hours a week on the phone with each other, so both of us had been using AT&T calling cards for all our long-distance calling to each other and anyone else. That worked great, at about 4 cents/minute, until the Federal government either mandated or allowed the calling cards to up the price. Now, here in PA, we get charged 5 units per minute (20 cents) to call each other within the state and only one unit to call outside the state. If we lived in Ohio, I found out, it would only be 3 units per minute (12 cents) for intrastate calling. Apparently the states have some control over how much gouging can be done within their borders on this issue. Needless to say, this sucks.
So I started looking for an alternative, and VoIP came up. My hubby was against Vonage because of the lawsuit, so I kept looking and found Skype (from a Pirillo Pick, I believe). I downloaded, bought a cheap headset and called my buddy’s land line. She said sound on her end was great. It was a bit loud on my end, but I’m sure I can diddle with the audio controls or get a better headset for it. The upshot of all this is that, although we will be tied to the PC to make calls (unless I buy a wireless hand unit to tie into our household LAN), my buddy and I can talk till our larynxs seize up, and we can call all the other relatives and friends, all for about $30 a YEAR with Skype’s new calling plan in the US and Canada. Even if Skype goes under for some reason, I’ll have gotten my money’s worth if she and I talk for only a month or so.
Sarah
May 30th, 2007
at 5:33am
Just got Skype.
My best girlfriend from college (37 years and counting, Kiddies) lives about 135 miles away in the same state. We need a cheap way to talk because we spend 2-6 hours a week on the phone with each other, so both of us had been using AT&T calling cards for all our long-distance calling to each other and anyone else. That worked great, at about 4 cents/minute, until the Federal government either mandated or allowed the calling cards to up the price. Now, here in PA, we get charged 5 units per minute (20 cents) to call each other within the state and only one unit to call outside the state. If we lived in Ohio, I found out, it would only be 3 units per minute (12 cents) for intrastate calling. Apparently the states have some control over how much gouging can be done within their borders on this issue. Needless to say, this sucks.
So I started looking for an alternative, and VoIP came up. My hubby was against Vonage because of the lawsuit, so I kept looking and found Skype (from a Pirillo Pick, I believe). I downloaded, bought a cheap headset and called my buddy’s land line. She said sound on her end was great. It was a bit loud on my end, but I’m sure I can diddle with the audio controls or get a better headset for it. The upshot of all this is that, although we will be tied to the PC to make calls (unless I buy a wireless hand unit to tie into our household LAN), my buddy and I can talk till our larynxs seize up, and we can call all the other relatives and friends, all for about $30 a YEAR with Skype’s new calling plan in the US and Canada. Even if Skype goes under for some reason, I’ll have gotten my money’s worth if she and I talk for only a month or so.