Taking Advantage of VOIP
by Susan Ayers Walker
By now you may have heard the term "VOIP," which is short for the term "Voice over Internet Protocol." VOIP simply means phone service over the Internet. You can use VOIP if you have a high speed Internet connection such as DSL or cable modem. This service does not work for dial-up users.
The compelling reason to use VOIP is lowering the cost of your phone calls, especially long distance. If you make lots of long distance calls or frequent calls to other countries, the cost is much lower. The other advantage is making video calls with a web camera. VOIP is a combination of data communication and voice communication which means you can easily exchange digital pictures, videos, and documents while you are talking to a person. VOIP is handy if you have a small business make lots of outbound or marketing calls.
Before you throw out your conventional land line phone and switch over to VOIP you should know about all the disadvantages. With VOIP this are no 911 or 411 services, although the FCC is working on this. Also VOIP only works if your computer is switched on and the VOIP software is running on your computer. The other disadvantage is sound quality. Sometimes the sound is uneven and often with lots of echo. You should also be aware if your power goes out or if your Internet connection is down, your VOIP service will not work. You should have a wireless phone as a backup. If you are talking computer to computer, the person with whom you are communicating will need the same VOIP software running.
If you are willing to put up with the disadvantages you can save money, especially for long distance or calls to family and friends in other countries. Of course, there is the cost for your Internet service; usually that is a flat fee. However, using VOIP on your computer may not involve any extra charges, and so many users view their calls on VOIP as “free” since they have an internet connection anyway. Also remember that “free” typically means computer to computer calls. If you plan to make or receive calls from a land line or cell phone then there are costs associated per minute. This is where you might have to do some cost comparison.
There are several VOIP services that are easy to use--my favorite is Skype. I like to make video cam calls to my daughter and free PC to PC calls to friends and business associates in Japan and around the country. Other similar VOIP services are VOIPCheap, Gizmo, Internetcalls and Google Talk, which is still very new.
To use VOIP on your computer is simple. You need to download VOIP software from the vender of your choice. You will also need a microphone. Most laptops have a microphone built in. This is not necessarily so on a desktop. You will hear the caller’s voice over your computer speakers. However, for privacy and convenience invest in a low cost headset /microphone combo. This is easy to install, just buy a headset that plugs into your USB connector.
VOIP is a nice addition to the communication tools on your computer. It will dramatically lower the cost of your long distance or out-of-country calls. You should try it out and get to know how it works. As free WiFi hotspots grow, VOIP popularity will grow also with wireless handsets as an alternative to cell phones. VOIP is here to stay for a long time.
