VoIP: The Future of Telecommunications

VoIP: The Future of Telecommunications

by Peter Garant

Of the numerous technologies that have been developed for Internet use, none is as practical or innovative as Voice Over Internet Protocol, or VoIP. Even at this early stage, it is already well on its way to modifying the entire industry.

What is VoIP?

In simple terms, VoIP means that instead of using your telephone to make a call, a VoIP service provider will install some equipment in your computer that will allow you to call using your existing Internet connection.

Benefits of VoIP

There are several reasons why people are turning to this technology, and foremost is that it is much cheaper compared with traditional phones, both landline and cellular. The rates, for both local and international calls, are also significantly reduced.

The other advantage is that it allows you to use your phone number regardless of where you are in the world. As an example; an executive in New York who is on a business trip in Vienna only has to bring his VoIP adapter with him and plug it in a PC in the hotel room; now he can call using his own phone. This not just lowers the cost, but also saves him from incurring any additional bills from the hotel.

The VoIP Process

This is how VoIP works; you contact a service provider, and they will give you an adapter. You, or a technician can place the adapter on your telephone. If you prefer, you can link all the phones in your residence so that they are all VoIP enabled. The best thing is that there is no need to upgrade your phones. Just put in the adapter, and you can start using it.

Almost all VoIP service providers also provide the functions that traditional phones do, such as caller ID, voice mail, three way calling, repeat dialing, forwarding etc. The only difference is that with VoIP the costs are reduced.

Some even provide toll free numbers, fax service and options for linking up your laptop so it can be used with VoIP. Reduced Cost for Businesses

For businessmen, the gains from using this technology are enormous. By using the Internet to make all phone calls, there will no longer be any need for subscribing to a costly telephone service. For ordinary telephone users, the savings can go up to hundreds of dollars; for companies it will result in savings of thousands of dollars. If you are running a multinational company, integrating the entire phone system so that every office uses VoIP, then the savings would be even more.

The money saved here could be used for other projects, leading to greater productivity and increased profits.

International Calls

Almost all phone companies charge overseas calls on a per minute basis, and it is often prohibitive, cost wise. There is no need to put up with that anymore, because VoIP offers the same service without the high cost. Other features of VoIP are the capability to save voice messages in WAV format, making it easier than ever to deliver them as one would an ordinary email.