| You've seen the advertisements. You probably | | | | phone call. For others, these concerns could |
| know at least one person who has tried it, | | | | be insignificant or a deciding factor. |
| but is Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), | | | | |
| a.k.a. Internet phone or digital phone, for | | | | With Internet phone service, voice quality |
| you? Let's face it. Your traditional phone | | | | depends heavily upon the quality of your high |
| service works pretty well, so why switch? The | | | | speed Internet connection. So if your |
| answer is savings. | | | | connection is not fast enough, voice quality |
| | | | may be inconsistent. It's always best to test |
| Let's start with the basic monthly plan. The | | | | your broadband connection with a VoIP speed |
| average monthly residential Internet phone | | | | test before subscribing. |
| plan is approximately $25/month. Business | | | | |
| plans are roughly double the residential | | | | Presently, unless an alternate back-up power |
| rate. Usually included within this price are | | | | source is readily available, Internet phone |
| loads of free features like voice mail, call | | | | service will not work during a power outage |
| waiting, three way calling, caller id, and | | | | because vital pieces of equipment such as |
| call forwarding. Traditional phone service | | | | routers, analog telephone adapters, and |
| ranges from approximately $15/month to $60 | | | | modems require power. Aware of the problem, |
| month depending upon add-ons, long distance, | | | | some companies supply equipment with built-in |
| taxes, and surcharges. Internet phone service | | | | battery back-ups. Other companies will route |
| may be for you if you are on the higher end | | | | calls to an alternate phone number during an |
| of this scale. Moreover, many cable companies | | | | outage. Or, you could purchase an |
| offer Internet phone service as part of a | | | | Uninterruptable Power Source (UPS) to provide |
| bundled package- Internet, television, and | | | | power during an outage. The amount of power |
| home phone service on one bill. This | | | | supplied by UPS's will vary by model and |
| combination may prove to be very cost | | | | price. Barring the aforementioned, be ready |
| effective. | | | | to use a cell phone during a power outage, or |
| | | | consider keeping a bare minimum landline as a |
| International calls are extremely cheap with | | | | back-up. |
| Internet phone. Rates can start from around | | | | |
| $.02/min., depending upon the destination | | | | In 2005 VoIP companies that interconnected |
| country. Also, some calls may even be free. | | | | with the public telephone network were |
| For example, if you subscribe to XYZ Internet | | | | required by the Federal Communications |
| phone service, and you call a friend overseas | | | | Commission (FCC) to provide 911 service and |
| who also subscribes to XYZ, the call should | | | | disclose service limitations. When you dial |
| be free. You can even take your Internet | | | | 911, calls are routed through a Public Safety |
| phone service with you when you travel. If | | | | Answering Point (PSAP). E911 (Enhanced 911), |
| you have a wi-fi Internet phone, you should | | | | which is utilized in many areas, allows the |
| have service wherever there is a wi-fi | | | | PSAP to automatically discern your location. |
| hotspot worldwide. Or if you take your | | | | Due to the dynamic nature of VoIP, your |
| hardware with you (i.e. telephone adapter, | | | | location is more difficult to determine. Many |
| router, IP phone), you should be able to use | | | | companies have bypassed this obstacle by |
| your service wherever there is a broadband | | | | sending the PSAP the address of the |
| Internet connection available. Thus, frequent | | | | subscriber. However, all PSAP's are not |
| travelers or people with overseas relatives | | | | set-up to receive VoIP data. In which case, |
| and friends would greatly benefit from | | | | you would have to provide your location to |
| Internet phone service. | | | | the call center. As more and more people use |
| | | | Internet phone service, upgrades are being |
| Business owners stand to benefit the most | | | | made to provide E911. |
| from switching to Internet phone service. | | | | |
| High long distance volume, systems | | | | Presently, most alarm systems use a landline |
| integration, phone number mobility, and local | | | | for monitoring purposes. Your alarm system |
| market presence are the main reasons why. | | | | may work with VoIP, although some equipment |
| First, businesses have inherently high call | | | | adjustments and testing may be required. |
| volumes, especially domestic and | | | | Since VoIP data travels at higher speeds, |
| international long distance. VoIP should | | | | these adjustments involve the lowering of |
| lower these expenses, lowering monthly | | | | these speeds. Similarly, faxes may be sent |
| overhead. Second, VoIP is highly flexible and | | | | over a standard VoIP line, with equipment |
| meshes well with other business applications. | | | | adjustments needed in many cases. To mitigate |
| Third, businesses spend thousands of dollars | | | | this problem, many companies offer designated |
| annually on advertising, and those dollars | | | | fax lines as an add-on or as part of a |
| are wasted if a phone number has to be | | | | business service plan. Additionally, many |
| changed. VoIP allows a business to keep the | | | | digital video recorder (DVR) devices require |
| same number regardless of location. Closely | | | | landlines to receive updates. However, some |
| related is the issue of local market | | | | subscribers have reported successful DVR |
| presence. With VoIP, businesses can have a | | | | operation with VoIP. For a seamless |
| local phone number but be located in a | | | | transition, if you already have a DVR, you |
| different city, state, or country. The cost | | | | may want to check to see if it has a |
| to you is just a local phone call. Despite | | | | broadband port before subscribing to VoIP |
| the many benefits of VoIP for businesses, | | | | service. |
| there is one major concern - security. Since | | | | |
| voice conversations travel via the Internet, | | | | When subscribing to Internet phone service, |
| VoIP systems are susceptible to the same | | | | many people prefer to keep the same phone |
| perils as your computer (i.e. hackers, | | | | number, and in most cases this is possible |
| viruses, etc.). Small to medium sized | | | | through local number portability. LNP is the |
| business are less of a target than larger | | | | process by which consumers can transfer their |
| businesses. However, all businesses utilizing | | | | phone numbers when changing |
| VoIP should have up-to-date security software | | | | telecommunications carriers. This process can |
| and contingency plans in place to minimize | | | | take from approximately 10 to 20 business |
| the threat. | | | | days until completion. |
| | | | |
| Despite the many benefits of VoIP, there are | | | | Finally, VoIP requires a high speed broadband |
| a few issues that require consideration. | | | | Internet connection. For those of you who |
| These issues include: voice quality, power | | | | already use broadband Internet, this is not |
| outages, emergency services, alarm systems, | | | | an issue. However, millions of people still |
| fax capabilities, digital video recorder | | | | use dial-up or have no Internet access at |
| (DVR) devices, local number portability | | | | all. Therefore, this segment of the |
| (LNP), and broadband Internet requirement. | | | | population must evaluate the cost of |
| For you, these issues may be just a | | | | upgrading to broadband Internet versus the |
| intermittent irritation, like a dropped phone | | | | benefits of Internet phone service. |
| call or poor signal reception during a cell | | | | |