Chances are good you're already making VoIP calls any time you place a
long-distance call. Phone companies use VoIP to streamline their
networks. By routing thousands of phone calls through a circuit switch
and into an IP gateway, they can seriously reduce the bandwidth they're
using for the long haul. Once the call is received by a gateway on the
other side of the call, it's decompressed, reassembled and routed to a
local circuit switch.
Although it will take some time, you can be
sure that eventually all of the current circuit-switched networks will
be replaced with packet-switching technology
(more on packet switching and circuit switching later). IP telephony
just makes sense, in terms of both economics and infrastructure
requirements. More and more businesses are installing VoIP systems, and
the technology will continue to grow in popularity as it makes its way
into our homes. Perhaps the biggest draws to VoIP for the home users
that are making the switch are price and flexibility.
With
VoIP, you can make a call from anywhere you have broadband
connectivity. Since the IP phones or ATAs broadcast their info over the
Internet, they can be administered by the provider anywhere there's a
connection. So business travelers can take their phones or ATAs with
them on trips and always have access to their home phone. Another
alternative is the softphone. A softphone is client
software that loads the VoIP service onto your desktop or laptop. The
Vonage softphone has an interface on your screen that looks like a
traditional telephone. As long as you have a headset/microphone, you can
place calls from your laptop anywhere in the broadband-connected world.
Most VoIP companies are offering minute-rate plans structured like cell phone
bills for as little as $30 per month. On the higher end, some offer
unlimited plans for $79. With the elimination of unregulated charges and
the suite of free features that are included with these plans, it can
be quite a savings.
Most VoIP companies provide the features that
normal phone companies charge extra for when they are added to your
service plan. VoIP includes:
- Caller ID
- Call waiting
- Call transfer
- Repeat dial
- Return call
- Three-way calling
There
are also advanced call-filtering options available from some carriers.
These features use caller ID information to allow you make a choice
about how calls from a particular number are handled.
You can:
- Forward the call to a particular number
- Send the call directly to voice mail
- Give the caller a busy signal
- Play a "not-in-service" message
- Send the caller to a funny rejection hotline
With
many VoIP services, you can also check voice mail via the Web or attach
messages to an e-mail that is sent to your computer or handheld. Not
all VoIP services offer all of the features above. Prices and services
vary, so if you're interested, it's best to do a little shopping.
Now
that we've looked at VoIP in a general sense, let's look more closely
at the components that make the system work. To understand how VoIP
really works and why it's an improvement over the traditional phone
system, it helps to first understand how a traditional phone system works.
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