Sushi Okalani

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Thousands of people each month are subscribing to VoIP service and having their regular telephone line disconnected. Internet phone service is a HUGE deal for us consumers, as it provides us with a super cheap alternative to traditional telephone service, and gives us something very important: CHOICES! Perhaps for the first time in our lives, we are no longer required to use our local phone company for telephone service – isn’t that great?

VoIP is not for everyone, though. There are some requirements and drawbacks to internet phone service that may or may not influence your decision to switch. Most people consider the potential issues associated with VoIP to be minor, and find that the low cost and free features of broadband phone service far outweigh any negatives.

VoIP is the most popular acronym used to describe internet phone service. It stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol, which is a technical term describing a standard set of rules that define how voice signals are transmitted over the internet. Some other common terms used to describe VoIP are “broadband phone service” and “IP phone service”. As the term VoIP implies, INTERNET SERVICE IS REQUIRED in order to use VoIP.

A small device called a “VoIP adapter” is used to perform all of the complex functions required to make it possible for voice signals to be transmitted over the internet. The adapter is connected by network cable to your broadband modem or router, and another cable is directly connected to your telephone. There are other hardware configurations, but this is the most basic one. No phone jacks are required.

During a telephone call, your conversation goes through the VoIP adapter and is routed over the internet to its final destination. This is why VoIP is so inexpensive – it doesn’t rely on the telephone companies expensive network and switches. With VoIP internet phone service, you can call any phone anywhere in the world. The person you are calling does not have to also be using an internet phone.

Although internet phone service looks and acts just like regular phone service, there are some technological differences that can cause issues with your service from time to time.

E911 Dialing is a “must have” for anyone using VoIP as their main phone line. This allows emergency calls to route to the closest 911 dispatch office and identifies your location to the emergency operator. Although in 2005 the FCC mandated that all VoIP companies provide E911 service to all subscribers, not all VoIP companies are offering this yet. It’s important to choose a VoIP provider that has E911 service available in your area – your life could depend on it. You are responsible for keeping your E911 address current in order for this service to work properly. If you move and forget to change your address with your VoIP provider, emergency services will not be able to locate you. A “live” internet connection is required in order to use VoIP, because calls are transmitted over the internet. This can present a problem when your internet service is down. Broadband is also required by most VoIP providers, because internet phone service needs to have enough bandwidth in order to work properly. Be sure you have reliable broadband internet service through a reputable provider if you’re planning on using VoIP as your primary phone. Power is required in order to use internet phone service. Without power, your cable/DSL modem won’t work, and your VoIP adapter won’t work – you will have no phone service. If you live in an area that is prone to power outages, this might be a big issue for you. Existing phone wiring will not work with your new VoIP service unless you make some modifications. Traditional telephone wiring is designed to transmit to/from the phone company switch, not the internet. If you want to use your existing phones and phone jacks with VoIP you need to disconnect and reroute the telephone wire coming into your house. This is a fairly easy task but beyond the scope of this article. If you use an expandable cordless phone system with VoIP however, this totally eliminates the need to fool with any wiring.
Is Broadband Phone Service Right for You?

These are some of the more common issues that you need to be aware of before making the switch to VoIP internet phone service. As with most things, there is usually an easy workaround that can minimize or prevent any problems. With 10 million VoIP subscribers in the United States alone, it’s obvious that the downside of VoIP is not keeping people away. When you consider the tremendous cost savings, free long distance calling and all the free calling features you get with internet phone service, most find that it’s no problem dealing with a few occasional inconveniences.

June 28th, 2010 | Posted in Article | Comments Off
Tags: Acronym, Broadband Modem, Choices, Expe, Final Destination, Free Features, Hardware Configurations, Internet Phone Service, Internet Service, Local Phone Company, Network Cable, Phone Jacks, Router, Telephone Companies, Telephone Line, Telephone Service, Traditional Telephone, Voice Over Internet, Voice Over Internet Protocol, Voice Signals

The acronym VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It is a modern day technology that allows you to make and receive voice calls using a broadband internet connection instead of the analog phone line. Simply stated, VoIP service converts your voice into a digital signal that travels over the internet. The signal is converted back to regular voice signal before it reaches the end destination.

An active broadband internet connection – be it cable or DSL or wireless – is a pre-requisite for using VoIP service. A VoIP phone or a regular phone connected to VoIP adaptor is also needed. Some VoIP service providers install special software and microphone to enable you to make and receive phone calls to other subscribers in the same network using the computer

There are indeed a number of things that you should consider before deciding whether VoIP service is right for you. The foremost advantage in acquiring VoIP service is the savings in cost. You may finish up saving considerable sums of money, when compared with traditional phone service. VoIp also provides several attractive features like voicemail, decision waiting, call forwarding, and caller ID.

If you seriously intend buying VoIP services, bear in mind there are many providers who will offer you 30 days trial period free. VoIP is indeed gaining in popularity as many business enterprises are unable to pay exorbitant phone bills are turning to the Internet for this service. VoIP services enable businesses to meet all their communication needs at really negligible cost.

VoIp will drastically reduce long distance call costs and it can be a veritable boon if you are an exporter/importer or businessman who needs to frequently communicate with clients or business associates located overseas.

Most VoIP suppliers provide unlimited local and long-distance calling for a comparatively low flat fee. Because a VoIP exchange is based on software rather than hardware, it is a lot more versatile and easier to maintain and VoIP systems are also scalable.

When signing up with a VoIp service provider, you will normally have the option of using your own broadband phone or buying a broadband phone from the provider, or getting a special adapter to connect your existing phone to your broadband connection. You can also choose to make VoIP phone calls using your PC by purchasing a wired or wireless headset.

Another benefit is there are no regulatory fees or special taxes with Internet phone call service. This can mean a significant saving as many traditional phone plans include 20% or more in fees and taxes added to the bill each month.

There are many advantages of VoIP broadband phone service but VoIP also has its share of demerits. Some VoIP-services do not work during main power breakdowns or when the internet connection is down. It will be essential to install a backup power supply or have a mobile phone as a backup, if you want to enjoy undisrupted communication facilities.

The 9-1-1 service provided by VoIP service is also different from traditional phone line. As VoIP phone services can be used from any internet connection, the location of the caller cannot be determined automatically. Therefore, it is important to provide an accurate address to the VoIP provider to contact during emergencies.

Tags: Analog Phone Line, Attractive Features, Boon, Broadband Internet Connection, Business Associates, Business Enterprises, Call Forwarding, Digital Signal, Free Voip, Long Distance Call, Phone Bills, Special Software, Trial Period, Voice Calls, Voice Over Internet, Voice Over Internet Protocol, Voice Signal, Voip Phone, Voip Service Providers, Voip Services

So, you have been hearing about the option of getting your broadband internet service through a satellite company instead of the cable provider you may or may not have available in your area, right? Excellent. If you have been paying attention to the satellite internet option then you are quite clearly leaning in a smart direction, and all you need to do really is learn a few more details about this kind of service and the benefits which you can expect from it. Of course, not all satellite providers are the same and policies and benefits may vary to a certain degree from one company to another: however, there are certain general qualities to such services when provided by the leaders in the field-and hopefully you won’t settle for anything short of a leader in the satellite internet industry when you make your purchase! So, below we have listed a few of the main considerations to keep in mind when purchasing a satellite connection to the internet, which hopefully will allow consumers and internet-junkies out there to make an informed (and intelligent) decision as to where to get their connection from:

1. Fast, professional installation. When you subscribe to a satellite internet service, you can rest assured that you will be plugged in within a relatively short period and that all installation procedures will be handled by a certified technician. On average, the waiting period does not last more than two weeks counting from the time the phone or online request was submitted, and for people in urban or suburban areas or places close to the company’s supply center will probably have a much shorter wait. Then, in terms of installation (a process which can make even the most intelligent and handy person cry out of impotence) there is no cause for concern as a pro will take care of it all, needing no more than a few short hours or less to get it all taken care of. (Bear in mind that the architecture of your home or the presence of vegetation in or around your home may pose problems here, so try to tackle these issues before your installer shows up at the door.)

2. Dial-up x50. With your satellite internet service, you will be at least improving your download speeds by a factor of 50 when compared to what you were experiencing with your dial-up connection. Some satellite providers can offer download speeds in excess of 3 Mbps (during non-peak hours, of course) and quite competitive upload speeds as well.

3. Excellent customer service. If there is one thing that sets satellite internet providers (and the satellite industry in general) apart from the competition, it’s the general attention to customer concerns and prompt service which these companies offer. Forget about all the horror stories coming out of the masses of cable customers; stick with satellite if you want to enjoy a superior service and furthermore feel like you are a valued customer, not just another source of income for somebody sitting in an office far away.

June 26th, 2010 | Posted in Article | Comments Off
Tags: Bear In Mind, Broadband Internet Service, Cable Provider, Certified Technician, Handy Person, Impotence, Intelligent Decision, Internet Industry, Internet Junkies, Internet Option, Paying Attention, Person Cry, Professional Installation, Satellite Company, Satellite Connection, Satellite Internet Service, Satellite Providers, Suburban Areas, Vegetation, Waiting Period