Tell Me About... VoIP - Part 2

VoIP - Part 2

by Michael E. Callahan aka Dr. File Finder

This question submitted by Dana Harvey, Ron Bailey, Jessica Wallace,Candice Hudson, Walter Johnson and numerous others

This is part two of a two-part article on VoIP, or Voice overInternet Protocol. Last time I went over the basics of VoIP andtalked about how you can use VoIP by installing software that lets youcommunicate "computer to computer." Just a few programs thatallow you to make VoIP phone calls include:

• Skype
• YahooMessenger
• MSN Messenger

If you do a search here on Tucows for voip you'll see all ofthe program listings.

VoIP is rapidly gaining in popularity because it makes so muchsense for both users and companies. As I mentioned in the first articlewith VoIP you don't have to run any wires, sink any poles, or buy lotsof other equipment. I've read a number of articles that estimate that bythe end of this year there will be nearly five millionfamilies in the US using VoIP phone service.

Everything I've read from a variety of sources leads me to believe thatgradually the entire phone system will switch over to a VoIP orientedsystem. It's going to take some time, but I think it makes sense. Let megive a little background on a VoIP phone system.

Companies offering VoIP phone service are currently pricing it the waycell phones are priced, by the minute. I've also seen "unlimited" callplans. That's a pretty good deal if you think about it. At the sametime, VoIP phone systems tend to offer a slew of cool features thattraditional phone companies charge you for. These include such thingsas:

• Call waiting
• Three-way calling
• Caller ID
• Call transfer
• Repeat dialing

Some VoIP phone systems let you check voicemail right from theInternet. Slick. Now, like all things there are pros and cons to VoIP.On the plus side we have lower cost, more flexibility, more mobility,and ease of installation. At the same time, because it's dependent onthe Internet, there may be problems from viruses, worms, and lostpackets of data. The phone lines I use now are buried in the ground andeven they have problems now and then so I think it's a wash.

VoIP seems to be the wave of the future when it comes to phoneservice. I hope you enjoyed this two-part articles on Voice over PhoneProtocol or VoIP.

I'd like to thank Dana Harvey, Ron Bailey, Jessica Wallace,Candice Hudson, Walter Johnson and numerous others for askingthis question.

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