New Cheaper Phone Calls Thanks To VoIP

A new VoIP craze has well and truly hit the public's imagination. A whole raft of media advertisements have been created, promoting this new communications phenomenon. If you managed to bypass this new revolution in PC related communications the word VoIP is an abbreviation of Voice over Internet Protocol. Users of the new found technology are able to speak into a microphone/ phone to any other computer in the world that has a connection to the internet.

Regular phone bills can be minimized with the use of VoIP as it enables very low call rates, vastly lower than with the conventional telephone. These low costs are the same no matter where they are to. VoIP calls can travel to the other end of the planet if the necessary connections and equipment are in place! Big companies are taking advantage of this potential for cheap calls massively and have installed the necessary software and equipment, loosing the old need for the traditional conference calls, large numbers of faxes etc, whilst at the same time getting to grips with such media tools as streaming video applications. The recent explosion in VoIP use has hidden the fact that this technology has been around for quite a number of years simply waiting to become more economically viable.

Families have also been very interested in this technology. Do they believe all the hype about how it will hugely improve their everyday lives? Is this technology really as impressive, reliable and affordable as is often touted by the sales pitchers? Any unanswered questions alongside possibilities you may not have realized yet are included here in this article to help further your understanding of this new VoIP technology. Once you've read everything here you may be more inclined to get out there and purchase, then test run, this exciting communications system.

To begin with there must be an internet connection to your residence! This connection should be a high speed one. Any of the following varieties i.e. cable, satellite or DSL, but not 56K dial up. VoIP is only able to function properly and transform into your new calling station when following this important advice. A significant loss in quality occurs too frequently when using slower connections like 56K dial ups. These now rather antiquated connections quite literally don't have the capacity or speed needed to get the digital calls transferred. If DSL happens to be your favorite broadband service at the moment, and you're hoping to replace your current phone service with VoIP, a company known as SpeakEasy has recently developed a VoIP design that doesn't require phone lines to be already installed.

Another important requirement is a 'gateway', needing to be connected between your Ethernet modem and computer. Your phone line is required to be plugged into this VoIP gateway to then enable calling to be high quality, unhindered by any potential computer problems that may occur. Many computers have a variety of momentary unpredictable problems, e.g. slow memory or crashes which could significantly reduce quality calling time.

Adapters are available so that VoIP can fit any phone, old/ existing or new. Promoters of VoIP provide and sell adapters enabling you to reduce the time you may spend shopping around for one. Albeit a great money saving plan, not buying a new phone will probably mean you miss out on the next big VoIP move, video usage in combination with VoIP on phones, a trend that looks set to blow up everywhere. A company known as Packet8 VoIP sells a great video phone in addition to their usual services.

Phone services that have VoIP included typically contain the whole range of great offers and gadgets the current phone services provide. Aspects that are covered in detail include three way calling, voice messaging, your own VoIP telephone number and call waiting.

Major aspects linked to this brazen new feature-laden phone technology that you should be aware of are that local 911 emergency coverage exists. This feature may come as an additional extra charge on top of the basic package, hitting your wallet on a monthly basis. Don't commit to a calling contract until you have seen all the costs levied upon what ever deal you choose.

Lastly, remember that the fuel your VoIP system uses is electricity, the occasional power cut will sadly put a stop to its functioning, just for a short while until the problem is sorted out. This is the one small aspect that the normal commonplace phone calls don't have to deal with, due in part to them containing their own small power supplies.