What is VOIP Also Known As Voice Over Internet Protocol

Writen by Benjamin Hargis

I hear allot about VOIP what is it?

VOIP stands for voice over internet protocol. Basically it means making phones calls over your local area network (LAN) or even across the Internet.

VOIP is normally cheaper than your PSTN that’s public switched telephone network i.e. your local carrier.

VOIP is a good choice for businesses as well to save money on long distance calls if they have many satellite offices. VOIP service providers usually have lower fees because they are not a government regulated currently as the phone systems which at one time were a monopoly. VOIP can even be free if you connect directly to another VOIP client.

VOIP routers can send your incoming phone calls to you anywhere thus cutting down on the number of lines and you can be reached anywhere you have a Internet connection.

This and the combination of technologies like WiFi are going to make for one huge network. That voice, data and video will be sent everywhere and from anywhere. With this VOIP technology you have allot more features as well such as Caller ID, Call Forwarding and answering services all from your computer or PDA.

There are some issues to still be worked on.

Here are some:

The amount of band with required.

Security issues- what type of encryption should be used and how much is going to slow down the call and network?

This is a exciting and new technology which I will be writing more about.

Benjamin Hargis Phuture Networks http://www.phuturenetworks.com
http://www.computersecurityadvice.com

Enterprise VoIP

Writen by Johnny Mayer

Enterprise VoIP is making inroads among enterprises that cling to their circuit switched voice networks. The lure of

Enterprise IP voice is having a single network to serve all modes of communication. Enterprise VoIP introduces efficiencies into the network, and allows for tighter integration

Enterprise VoIP is making inroads among enterprises that cling to their circuit switched voice networks. The lure of Enterprise IP voice is having a single network to serve all modes of communication. Enterprise VoIP introduces efficiencies into the network, and allows for tighter integration. Certainly from the supply side, we can see that Enterprise IP voice is taking off. Enterprise IP voice is still in the early stages of adoption, but is starting to move into the mainstream.

Awareness of Enterprise VoIP is winning over companies for its ease of use/manageability, flexibility and operational cost. Ease of use and manageability get high ratings because Enterprise IP voice equipment overcomes the hassle of performing mundane telecom tasks. For example, to change a user’s location within the building in a TDM world while maintaining the user’s current extension, physical changes would have to be made to the network. For companies that don’t have qualified staff, they need to pay for a service call. In an Enterprise IP world, user identity is coupled to the phone’s MAC address, and not to a particular port, so a user can simply pack their desk phone, plug it into the LAN port at the new desk, and be up and running. The convenience of Enterprise VoIP is a huge selling point.

Other drivers propelling Enterprise VoIP include scalability and the desire to consolidate voice and data networks. Implementing multiple wide area networks is expensive, and complexity increases as the number of networks and sites grows. Large organizations seek network convergence, and Enterprise VoIP is the way to get there.

Consumer adoption of VoIP services may also spill over into the enterprise VoIP world, as was the case with wireless LANs. Once people get used to advanced features available at home–for example, visual voicemail–they may end up pushing for the same capabilities of Enterprise VoIP at work. For companies that are deploying Enterprise IP voice, the advantages outweigh the barriers. The initial cost of deploying Enterprise VoIP technology are capital expenses. There are also some technical hurdles to adopting Enterprise VoIP although in the long run, the future of Enterprise VoIP is assured.

For more information on Enterprise VoIP and emerging VoIP over IP technology, visit AudioCodes

Beginners Guide on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

Writen by Claudia Walters

Nowadays, VoIP became one of the hottest technologies following up on the explosion of high speed Internet access. PC-to-PC calls, ATA phones, IP phones the existence of VoIP had changed how people think about long distance calling plan. As predicted by some of those experts, VoIP might be the technology that kills off the traditional telephones.

What is VoIP?

If you never heard of VoIP, be equipped for a radical change on current telephony systems and long distance calling plans.

Voice over Internet Protocol, or in short, VoIP, is a simple method that takes ordinary analog audio signals and transform it into digital form and traverse in distance through the Internet. Several ways are used for VoIP calls: Analog Telephone Adaptors (ATA), IP phones, and PC-to-PC calls are some of the common ones. While ATA and IP phones will cost you a certain amount on the initial setup and monthly costs; PC-to-PC calls are absolutely free for any distance calls.

The impact of VoIP technology is huge. With VoIP, you can simply enjoy much cheaper phone calls by utilizing your existing PC set up and data networks. For those of you who are already paying a monthly fee for an Internet connection, this means that you can use that same connection to place free long distance phone calls. This process works by using already available VoIP software to make phone calls over the Internet, essentially circumventing phone companies and their service charges.

Besides, VoIP gives a greater flexibility to business travelers. Make VoIP calls from anywhere with Internet connections thru your laptop. With VoIP, you can also enjoy enhanced calling features such as calls forwarding, caller ids, call blockings and voicemail calls function.

How VoIP works?

We already knew when making VoIP calls, caller’s voice in analog form are collected; transformed into digital form; transmitted through Internet; and transformed again into analog voice for the listeners to listen.

However, how does the digital voice signal travel? Unlike conventional phone system that relies on circuit switching; voice signals in VoIP calls are transfer through packet-switching.

Packet-switching is the same method that you use when you view a website. For example, as you read this website, your PC does not maintain constant connection to the website. Instead, connections are only made to send and receive information on an as needed basis. It works the same for VoIP calls as this system allows the transfer of information over the Internet to work so quickly. While circuit switching (conventional telephone calls) maintains a constant and open connection; packet-switching builds a connections that is just enough for sending/receiving bits of data in the VoIP conversations.

By utilizing this special way of data sending, VoIP calls can be done with very little data transmission. This in turn allows voice signals to be sent on the least congested lines and thus a cheaper calling plans.

Drawbacks on VoIP calls

While most analysts consider it will be at least a decade before companies and telephone providers make the full switch to VoIP, the hidden power for the technology’s applications nowadays are very impressive.

Not to mention the emergency call issue on VoIP calls; there are quite a few VoIP’s drawbacks that need to be solved in order to have VoIP calls replace our conventional telephones. The power problem of VoIP phones, the security of the VoIP calls, as well as the compatible-ability of VoIP phones with other electronics appliances are some of the major problems that need to be solved.

Bottom line

Undeniable, VoIP is now a very powerful communication way that you can’t close the eyes to. To replace the traditional telephone system or not, VoIP service is here to hang about. Millions in United States are using VoIP calls nowadays and the numbers seem growing rapidly. With the savings and flexibility that the technology already offers, and new advances just ahead on the horizon, we can expect those numbers will only increase in the future.

The author, Claudia Walters, is an expert writer in office tools and VOIP technologies. View her latest writing assignments on Internet answering machine at http://www.MyCallWave.com Learn how you can avoid missing calls while online with CallWave call alerts and save up the cost for an extra phone line.

Supercharge Employees with VOIP Hosted PBX Advanced Features

Writen by Bill Casey

It’s no secret that Hosted PBX technology has a robust set of advanced features that literally makes a tradional PBX as obsolete as a rotary dial telephone. Putting these advanced features to work will streamline your business processes, increase customer satisfaction and increase your revenues. Just as importantly, these features can provide you with a major strategic advantage over your competition.

As an added bonus, activation and changes to these features can easily be administed by your employees by using an easy-to-use, intuitive web browser. With a traditional PBX, you would have to pay the provider or your own technician to perform these changes for you and probably have to wait several days for the changes to be completed.

Here are just a few of the features available, how you can use them, and why they are important to your business:

Simultaneous Ringing – Simultaneous Ringing acts like a personal locator and makes it easy for people to find you. You can set up to 10 phone numbers to all ring at the same time when someone calls your main phone number. You can answer the call on any of the ringing phones. This makes contacting you easier than ever since callers only have to dial one number to reach you. Bottom line, there is less chance of missing important calls, and allows your inside and outside sales force to generate more revenue and more profit!

Remote Office – Through an easy-to-use Web-based portal, you can assign your office phone number to any phone in the world. So if you’re traveling in London, you can set you hotel phone to ring when someone calls your office phone number. And making calls from your hotel phone will look to your callers like you’re calling from your office. This feature can put your sales force, virtual office workers, and traveling executives within easy reach when a special call must be completed.

Auto Attendant – Present a more professional image to callers and reduce the need for a full-time receptionist with our Auto Attendant. Incoming calls to your main number are answered by our Auto Attendant, which is fully customizable according to your specifications. Dial by name directories and “0?-out to Operator options are standard. The Auto Attendant gives your company a professional, Big Business image.

Online Call Manager – Using a web-based portal allows you to dial, manipulate, and transfer calls on your computer, as well as configure and change your personal call handling settings. This feature allows you to adjust to changing business needs on the fly without having to send in a service request and then wait days before the change is made. In today’s business environment, worker and process flexibility enhances your compeitive edge.

Visual Voicemail – Listen, forward and archive your voicemails just like you handle email. In addition to receiving voicemails on your telephone, a copy of each voicemail message is forwarded to your Email inbox as an audio file. This feature allows you to visually scan your voicemail box for the most important message. With a traditional PBX you would have to call your voice mail and sequentially listen to the header of each and every message, a time-consuming process. With Hosted PBX voicemail, you can also forward messages people outside of your Hosted PBX system using email so that you can share valuable first hand information with your suppliers, affiliates, and other important business partners.

Other Basic Features- Each user also has a set of basic features that need no explanation. These are: unlimited local calling, unique phone number (DID), Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, Do Not Disturb, Last Number Redial, and Caller ID.

Depending on your business, here are a few optional features you might want to also consider.

Soft Attendant Console – This optional computer application replaces the need for a bulky receptionist module. This optional feature provides the receptionist with a visual representation of every employee so they can see instantly who’s on the phone and who’s not. Transferring calls is easy – just click and drag.

Plus, since the application is accessed over the Internet, your receptionist can handle calls from any location . This not only gives you hiring flexibility, it also is a major advantage in the event a natural or man-made disaster occurs at your main business location and preserves the continuity of revenue-producing communications to and from your business.

Call Center – The optional Call Center application is a powerful, but inexpensive tool that allows businesses to tie together employees across multiple locations under one unified call center. Incoming calls are held in queue and routed to the next available agent – no matter where they are! Nightly reporting is available on both the agent and overall group level showing average hold time, average time spent per call, number of minutes an agent was check-in/ check-out, plus other critical management features.

Call center is a money-saving option that provides you with the flexibility to easily assemble a full-featured call center utilizing remotely deployed workers or office based workers, or a combination of the two. How would you like to have the option of using a virtual staff for all your call center needs or what about the need to bring in part-timers on the spur of the moment to handle promotional call volume spikes or for business continuity in the event of a disaster. A Hosted PBX can give you that flexibility.

If you are serious about taking employee productivity to the next level, then you should definitely consider the advanced feature sets offered in a VOIP Hosted PBX environment.

The Pros and Cons of VoIP Protocol: Which VoIP System Makes Sense?

Writen by Hugh McMarlin

Well, the starting point in discussing the pros and cons of VoIP protocol is cost! Switching to VoIP and using it as your primary phone system can save you between 30 and 50 percent or more on your monthly phone bill over your conventional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) system! This is significant for all of us who are disenchanted with our local phone companies and all of their mysterious charges that simply drain our pocketbooks!

We as consumers now have choices of VoIP carriers that offer top services as well as very low costs for unlimited calling with all of the included bells and whistles that you can imagine, like caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, voice mail and more that we are used to.

The list of pros is long for the use of a VoIP system, so let us keep going! With VoIP you can also port (keep your number and move it to your VoIP company) your present phone number. Your voice mail messages are also sent to your e-mail and you can listen to those messages no matter where you are in the world by logging into your e-mail account. There are also VoIP carriers who specialize in offering internet connections all over the world for the travelers among us who need to stay connected while at the airport or other locations away from home. Video mail is also a new feature that is now available through many VoIP carriers. So, now you can see your callers!

Clarity is another big plus! Clarity has improved very much over the past several years and a VoIP call is now several times clearer than a conventional phone! You will be very pleased that it sounds like your caller is standing right in front of you. Of course you can call any type of phone system in the world from your VoIP system or vice-versa. Now let us say that you live in California and some of your loved ones live in Pennsylvania….no problem for VoIP! You can sign up in California for a new number with the same area code as your loved ones have in Pennsylvania and they can now call you as often as they want as if it was a local call for them! I think that you are starting to see that VoIP is great and the possibilities to be creative and save money are great!

Now, let us look at some of the “cons” of VoIP. Don’t worry this list is short! There is a 911(Emergency Call) controversy going on, but 911 is available with all VoIP companies, but with some you might have to give your address for now.

With VoIP you need to have a High Speed internet connection and the reliability of your VoIP system will follow the reliability of your High Speed service provider. So, if your high speed goes down so does your phone system. You need to choose wisely here! Electrical outages will also knock out your phone system.

VoIP services are relatively speaking, based on new technology, so there will be glitches. Although, VoIP is here to stay and will only continue to improve over time! So,enjoy the many benefits(pros)of VoIP that far outnumber the disadvantages(cons).

Hugh McMarlin has many online endeavors and his informational VoIP site, http://www.voip-carrier-4u.com is his latest. Read his latest articles on FREE VoIP You can also learn more about how VoIP works by reading his article on how VoIP phone systems work

VoIP – Don’t Make A Crucial Mistake – Advantages vs Disadvantages

Writen by Tim ONeill

Before signing up to a VoIP provider you need to do your homework. Sure you learn what VoIP is about and you research which provider will be the best for you, but don’t make the vital error of not considering your current fixed line circumstance.

First and foremost is the matter of whether the fixed line is going to be retained. In most cases it probably will be as either an backup in for emergency circumstances or where the fixed line may be cheaper for certain calls, especially if utilizing either VoipStunt or Skype which clearly point out they do not nor intend to provide emergency calling access.

In certain countries you need to retain the fixed line for your broadband service so this must be factored into the overall cost comparison of a fixed line service versus a VoIP service or combination there of.

A further complication occurs where bundling occurs. That is discounts if local calls, national or long distance calls and broadband service are all combined with the one provider. In the case of one provider you will pay $29.95 line rental, $49 which allows a cap of $120 of local, long distance and mobile phone calls, and $39 for broadband internet access totaling about $118 a month. For someone on this providers bundle wishing to take up VoIP, you would remove the $49 for calls, retain the line rental to provide broadband access and because the bundle is removed (no local or long distance calls retained) the cost of the broadband service increases by $20 to $59.

It is clear from the above example that you would need to be making significant calls at very low VoIP rates to make the change or VoIP addition worthwhile as there would only be $29 to absorb monthly VoIP provider costs.

The other alternative however in this case is to get a cheaper broadband internet service which then provides more scope to cash in on accessing telephone calls over the internet and over all reducing communications costs.

Summary

It is crucial to examine current telecommunication costs prior to signing up with a paid VoIP provider service. This does not however impact upon accessing free VoIP providers as a second telephone service.

The Author has an Associate Diploma in Electronic Engineering. For further information, books or VoIP items, please visit All About Voice Over Internet Protocol.

Will VoIP Take Over From Traditional Calling?

Writen by Justin Brown

The question of whether VoIP will take over from the way most of us make calls is certainly debatable. However, with the benefits that VoIP already possesses it would be hard to argue that it will certainly dominate a large proportion of the communication market for both individuals and business in the near future.

VoIP is a technology that has been around for several years, but has only recently begun to develop and advance into a real alternative to regular analogue phone systems. VoIP offers a more flexible and cheaper alternative for almost anyone that uses it, along with some major benefits.

Businesses stand to cut cost significantly by switching to VoIP, especially those that regularly make long-distance calls. With calls being carried over a broadband internet connection means that many taxes and charges from telephone companies, are not incurred.

Business employees can also benefit from a great feature of VoIP in that it provides the possibility to access an office phone network away from the office premises. So for example, an employee could work from home but still keep track of all office calls and have access to the office phone system features.

Another great feature is that your number is assigned to a converter that you use. This makes it possible to plug this converter into any high-speed internet connection and immediately utilize your usual number for making and receiving calls. So if you move from one side of the country to the other, you are still able to keep the same number.

High-speed internet access is a necessity for using VoIP, and it was not so long ago that this would have made it difficult for many homeowners to use this technology. However, the spread of high speed internet connection and the potential of VoIP go hand-in-hand. It now means that many can benefit from switching to VoIP should they choose to, rather than not even having this option before.

The cost-saving opportunity that is already available by using VoIP over analogue phone systems is already evident, but with more advancements expected with VoIP technology over time, and with more VoIP service providers likely to enter the market and compete in a price battle, this can only be good news for us as consumers.

If VoIP is something that interests you then it’s certainly worth shopping around to see the sort of deals that service providers are currently offering. Many VoIP providers may offer caller ID, call waiting, 3-way calling, speed dialing, call forwarding, and free voicemail so take a look a round first.

VoIP Service Providers provides a great opportunity to find a wealth of information on the technology, and also offers many resources for those interested in VoIP. We recommend you visit the site at http://www.voip-serviceproviders.info

What Is VoIP Security?

Writen by Rupert Laura

Security is an obvious concern when it comes to any sort of technology, but even more so with any technology that is run through the Internet. Because VoIP runs through the Internet any information can be intercepted by anyone at any time. Because many things go through phone line, private information can wind up in the hands of the wrong person. Obviously, nothing is a one hundred percent guarantee because as fast as technology is made to keep information from getting in the wrong hands, the wrong hands are working to figure out how to break through those systems. Luckily, VoIP security is becoming more and more well rounded all the time and soon it’ll be so well done that even the best of the best won’t be back to get their hands on personal information.

One of the ways that most VoIP providers secure their customers personal information is through the tunneling and encryption process. These techniques keep hackers and those will ill intent from capturing information packets as they pass through the internet. Most VoIP providers use Layer 2 tunneling and an encryption method called Secure Sockets Layer or SSL to keep anyone from getting into the information they shouldn’t have. The security of VoIP will undoubtedly change and become more sophisticated as technology allows and consumers demand more security and more privacy. For some time to come VoIP security will remain a huge concern, just because it’s widely known that all information that passes over the internet could potentially fall into the hands of someone with ill intent.

Don’t let VoIP security issues keep you from getting VoIP services. The benefits of VoIP far outweigh the security risks. The bottom line is that you are more at risk every time you get online sending emails and paying bills than you will be every time you use your VoIP services. So, the features and convenience are well worth the small security risk associated with the internet access associated with it!

Laura Rupert is a freelance writer who contributes to The Tech FAQ

What Is A VoIP Router?

Writen by Rupert Laura

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP – http://www.tech-faq.com/voip.shtml) is a new way to talk on your phone through your broadband internet connection. A VoIP router is needed to help you use the same phone you have been using before your VoIP connection. If you have voice over internet protocol available to you, you’ll need a router to sort of make it all happen. It’s a small device that will take a little time to get used to, but once you’ve used it just a couple times you’ll be able to use the whole system without a second thought.

Without a VoIP router your phone will not be able to figure out where datagrams should go from source to destination, so information will be lost. Routers will help control phone traffic, controls and maintains bandwidth, and ensures a good voice quality for each and every phone call. Basically, router is responsible for routing all the information in and out of your home so that you can get the services you are supposed to get.

It’s said that because of ever expanding technology that VoIP routers won’t be needed for much longer. With the invention of digital telephones the need for a separate router won’t be necessary. But, until this newer technology becomes more widespread and cost efficient, the majority of VoIP users will need a router to use the voice over internet protocol features. Because of this newer technology, having VoIP service will become easier and more accessible to everyone in the very near future. But, don’t let the idea of a routing device scare you off, as VoIP is very easy to use!

Laura Rupert is a freelance writer who contributes to The Tech FAQ.

Is VoIP Good For The Home?

Writen by Aaron Siegel

There is no doubt that you have heard about VoIP by now. It’s made headlines and is plastered everywhere both in online and TV advertisements. Just in case you haven’t caught on to the hype yet, VoIP is the abbreviated term for Voice over Internet Protocol. Voice over Internet Protocol is basically the ability to communicate on a phone over your Internet connection.

With VoIP, the promise is the ability to make local and global long distance calls at a significantly lower rate than over a plain old telephone line through your local carrier. The VoIP trend has caught on and large enterprises all over the globe are adopting this new technology to reduce their cost of business communications which may include fax, conference calling, along with streaming video applications. VoIP has been around for some time, but it has only been until recently that it has finally matured to the stage worthy of replacing everyday phone use.

At the household level, it is certain by now that you are compelled to embrace this technology somewhat, but are not sure how to go about it or even if this technology has any real benefit for your family. You are probably wondering, “How much? How difficult? Is it necessary?” This article hopefully will clear up a few unanswered questions you may have regarding this technology and maybe even excite you enough to go on out and get VoIP hooked up in your own home.

First off, you must have an Internet connection. No, not your 56k dial up connection, but an actual high speed Internet connection. This can be cable, satellite, or DSL Internet, but you will need high speed Internet for VoIP to function properly and become your new calling station. Dialup just doesn’t have the capacity or speed to transfer voice digitally without significant quality loss. A company named SpeakEasy has recently come out with a new DSL product that requires no current phone line for high speed Internet if DSL is your current favorite of broadband services and if you are planning on replacing your current phone service with VoIP.

Secondly you will need what is called a gateway. The gateway is connected between your computer and Ethernet modem. The VoIP gateway is where your phone line will be plugged into. Gateways enable freedom from possible computer problems that can shut down calling capabilities or deteriorate voice quality. Computer crashes, slow memory, and many other computer problems that plague us in everyday life, you do not want to plague your ability to make phone calls.

Gateways are specifically designed for VoIP phones but adapters are available for current phones should you not want to buy a brand new phone. VoIP providers usually have the adapters available for sale so you don’t have to shop around for one yourself. Before you write off buying a new phone however, video phones are the newest product line and it won’t be long before this trend explodes. You may want to get your video phone so you aren’t left out of exciting face to face conversations with friends and relatives when they get theirs. Packet8 VoIP has a good video phone sold separately with their services.

The services included with VoIP usually include all the convenient bells and whistles your current phone service provides including your own local VoIP telephone number, call waiting, voice messaging, 3 way calling, and more.

There are some important things to remember with VoIP before you go diving in to this feature rich voice technology. You should check with your VoIP provider for local 911 emergency coverage. Some VoIP providers charge extra on a monthly basis for both 911 and 411 access so make sure you know how much it is going to cost you before committing to a calling contract.

One last important thing to remember is that your gateway is reliant on electricity to function. This means power outages will put your phone line out of service, but then isn’t your phone already only functional with electricity these days?

This article was written by Aaron Siegel of TopSavings.Net which provides consultive services for communications at the residential level all the way up to government.

Services available at the website include VoIP (Including Packet8), Internet Access (Including SpeakEasy), Long Distance, Local Phone Services, Cellular services, and more. Broadband Phone