GENERAL Voice Over IP Knowledge!!!
Since about 1995, when it was first
offered to consumers, VoIP has become
one of the world's most widely used
telephony products. Current estimates
put the number of VoIP users at about
5 million, although industry observers
say that number will increase fivefold
in the next two years.
VoIP--which enables phone calls to
be carried over the Internet--also
is one of the most economical phone
technologies available.
The key to making the most of VoIP,
is understanding its basic forms
and what you might expect to pay
for them.
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What is
VoIP?
VoIP refers to voice calls that are
routed over online networks using the
Internet Protocol--the IP that serves
as the backbone of the Internet and
is used to ferry e-mails, instant messages
and Web pages to millions of PCs or
cell phones. |
VoIP tends to be relatively
inexpensive. Why?
VoIP calls are just another application
riding over the Internet. And these
calls are unregulated. So at their
core, they are no different from e-mails,
instant messages or Web pages, which
all can be distributed for free between
Internet-connected machines. Those
include computers and wireless devices,
such as cell phones and handhelds,
that are set up to receive online information. |
Why do some
VoIP services cost money, and why
are some free?
A VoIP service can connect users not
only with other VoIP customers but
also with phone services that are offline,
such as those that use traditional
landline networks and wireless cell
phone networks. For those calls, VoIP
service providers must pay access fees
to the landline and wireless operators.
Those charges are passed along to VoIP
customers. VoIP services that stay
on the Internet--calls that are between
personal computers with VoIP service--are
free. |
What do you need to use VoIP?
The first thing you need is an Internet
connection. It can be as basic as
dial-up service, but the faster your
Net connection, the better the call
quality is. With a high-speed broadband
connection, for example, you can
make calls and surf the Internet
at the same time.
You'll also need VoIP software or a
Softphone. IPsmarx provides your own
customized softphone which is configured
individually for your customers. This
allows the customers computer to make
calls through its Internet connection.
The customer uses the computer's built-in
microphone and speakers, so there is
no actual phone or extra adapter needed
for this version of VoIP service.
But in cases where customers want to
convert their home phone to a VoIP
dialer, an adapter is necessary. In
this scenario, the VoIP software is
available preinstalled in a separate
piece of hardware known as an analog
telephone adapter, which is installed
between your home phone and the broadband
modem.
The cost of these adapters is dropping
rapidly. Most are priced well below
$100, and in many cases they are simply
given to customers who buy VoIP service.
What does it cost to call traditional
phones from my PC or VoIP/SIP device?
IPsmarx carrier offers very competitive
rates with the best quality in the
business. Please check our rates
on the following website.
http://ipsmarx.com/english/carrier/new/2006_IPsmarx_rates.xls |
What happens
when the power goes out?
While traditional telephones continue
to operate when the power goes out,
your VoIP service goes down. That is
because the modem you use to deliver
your broadband service requires electricity.
While traditional phone systems actually
deliver power to your phone, broadband
networks can't do that. |
What does VoIP cost?
In the United States, it's about $25
a month for unlimited dialing between
PCs and to any phone number in North
America. Some operators sell VoIP
for as little as $15 a month, but
that's an exception rather than the
rule. VoIP providers also typically
give away analog phone adapters and
their software. Calls overseas typically
cost between 1 and 15 cents a minute,
depending on which nation you're
calling. |
Given growing
concern about VoIP customer service,
are VoIP users given the same legal
guarantees of service as traditional
phone customers?
Most VoIP operators don't guarantee
any particular level of service, although
the trade-off there is that they also
don't require customers to sign multiyear
service contracts.
The overall quality of Internet phone
service still lags behind that of traditional
landlines. |
How secure are my calls?
IPsmarx provides the most recent and
advanced security, authentication,
and intrusion protection procedures
available. |
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