| You have a telephone, right? You have a computer, | | | | caller ID and 3way-calling, are included with Internet |
| right? You want to save money, right? BAM, you are | | | | telephone at no extra charge. While you're talking on |
| a VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) candidate. | | | | the phone, you can send pictures and documents at |
| It is inevitable that VOIP will replace traditional telephone | | | | the same time. |
| service at some point. The only question is when | | | | Disadvantages |
| should you jump in? | | | | There are a few glitches that still interfere with the |
| VOIP is quickly becoming more reliable and receiving | | | | technology's broad acceptance by the public. Lack of |
| wider acceptance. In fact, phone companies are | | | | continuous service during power outages and |
| already taking advantage of the technology to provide | | | | emergency calling are the 2 biggest hurdles. |
| cheaper long distance rates. Like any emerging | | | | Conventional phone service continues by the current |
| technology, however, there are kinks in the system | | | | supplied through the phone lineduring a blackout. This |
| that are still being worked out. | | | | isn't possible with Internet phones. When the power |
| Advantages | | | | goes, there goes VOIP service. Battery backups and |
| VOIP has many advantages over regular phone | | | | power generators that provide electricity are the |
| service. One primary advantage is its low cost. If you | | | | current solutions to this problem. |
| have a fast Internet connection (DSL or cable), you | | | | A major concern involves emergency 911 calls. For the |
| can make PC-to-PC phone calls anywhere in the | | | | most part, VOIP services aren't useful in emergencies. |
| world FREE. PC-to-phone connections usually have a | | | | Traditional phone equipment can trace the locations of |
| charge, but probably still cheaper than regular phone | | | | calls. Emergency calls are diverted to the nearest call |
| service. | | | | center where the operator can identify your location, in |
| You can sign up with a VOIP service provider for a | | | | the event you can't talk. With VOIP, there is no way |
| monthly fee and get unlimited calls within a specified | | | | currently to determine where Internet calls are |
| geographic area. For example, some VOIP services in | | | | originating. There is an emerging standard called e911 |
| the United States allow connections anywhere in North | | | | however, which is attempting to solve this limitation. |
| America for no extra charge. International calls are | | | | VOIP also has sound quality and reliability problems. |
| charged at a modest rate. | | | | Data sent across the Internet usually arrives at its |
| Another advantage is its portability. You can make and | | | | destination scrambled. E-mail and documents can be |
| receive phone calls wherever there is a broadband | | | | reassembled in the correct order when it arrives. |
| connection by simply signing in to your VOIP account. | | | | Voice data also arrives scrambled, but it's more |
| This makes VOIP as convenient as e-mail. When | | | | complicated because of the real-time nature of VOIP. |
| you're traveling, you simply pack a headset or Internet | | | | Some data packets may have to be dropped when |
| phone; then you can talk to family or colleagues for | | | | they don't arrive in time, in order to make voice |
| next to nothing. | | | | connections with the least delay. This can cause brief |
| Phone-to-phone VOIP is also portable. Internet phones | | | | silences in the audio stream. |
| are small and light enough to take anywhere. When | | | | Distance and speed of the connection determine the |
| you sign up with a VOIP service provider, the Internet | | | | amount of data lost. Some networks receive more |
| phone or adaptor used by that service is assigned a | | | | traffic and thus are more likely to cause audio |
| unique number. This 'phone number' remains valid, even | | | | dropouts. One way to provide high quality audio |
| if your VOIP service is in Los Angeles and you're | | | | connections is to create dedicated data paths. |
| connected to the Internet in London. When plugged into | | | | With the incredible amount of work dedicated to VOIP, |
| a broadband connection, anywhere in the world, you | | | | these disadvantages will no doubt be resolved withinin |
| can make and receive calls as though you were at | | | | the next 2 years. It is expected that by then VOIP will |
| home . | | | | have widespread consumer acceptance. |
| Features like call forwarding, call waiting, voicemail, | | | | |