Voice Over IP

VOIP is based on the idea that the audio samples are sent over the IP network to another computer and played there. Instead of connecting your phone to a wall, it connects to a box either the company provides you or you buy your own. The modem needs a high speed internet connection like DSL and then it can talk between your phone and the internet. The smooth functioning of internet phone service depends no your broadband internet connection and the quantity of data that can be transferred which is bandwidth. There are two types of bandwidths upload and download.

You can replace your analog phone with it or you can use it as a second phone. The most important benefit of VOIP phone is to make long distance international calls at a very cheap rate. This feature attracted not only the people worldwide but also businesses at international level. Another interesting feature is its virtual numbers. You can get extra numbers that ring the same phone but they will be local numbers to any area code you want. For example, if I live I Dallas and have family in New York I can get a local number of New York so that my family can call me for free.

VOIP providers are also offering some value added services like caller ID, call diverting, 3 way call and call waiting etc. And the best part about these value added services are that these are free of cost.

There are some precautions to be kept in mind while using VOIP services. Always go for the high speed broadband connection because a poor connection will affect the quality of VOIP services. Always have a backup in case of power break down and disconnection of internet service as this will stop the functioning of broadband phones. Be aware to update the VOIP service provider with your address to that they can help you in case of emergency.

Although the use of internet phone service have risen significantly in recent years but majority of its users are individuals and not businesses. There are mainly 3 reasons for it; security, quality and connectivity. Security issue arises when company phones are flooded with too many calls and the system collapse under weight. Spam is also a concern with increasing number of fake calls there is a possibility of hijacking your VOIP system and viping out your business via VOIP connection. Issues of quality like lagging delay and lost connection are also a hindrance and lastly with large organization structure, the decision to adopt VOIP over their traditional phone system is also a hectic job.

Take up of business VOIP will steadily increase as the security, quality and connections improve. Those companies’s in developed economies have an advantage as the networks are already in place. The result is that the switch to a cheaper VOIP system a much simpler choice.