Is VoIP Good For The Home?

There is no doubt that you have heard about VoIP by now. Itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs made headlines and is plastered everywhere both in online and TV advertisements. Just in case you havenรขโ�ฌโ�ขt caught on to the hype yet, VoIP is the abbreviated term for Voice over Internet Protocol. Voice over Internet Protocol is basically the ability to communicate on a phone over your Internet connection.

With VoIP, the promise is the ability to make local and global long distance calls at a significantly lower rate than over a plain old telephone line through your local carrier. The VoIP trend has caught on and large enterprises all over the globe are adopting this new technology to reduce their cost of business communications which may include fax, conference calling, along with streaming video applications. VoIP has been around for some time, but it has only been until recently that it has finally matured to the stage worthy of replacing everyday phone use.

At the household level, it is certain by now that you are compelled to embrace this technology somewhat, but are not sure how to go about it or even if this technology has any real benefit for your family. You are probably wondering, "How much? How difficult? Is it necessary?" This article hopefully will clear up a few unanswered questions you may have regarding this technology and maybe even excite you enough to go on out and get VoIP hooked up in your own home.

First off, you must have an Internet connection. No, not your 56k dial up connection, but an actual high speed Internet connection. This can be cable, satellite, or DSL Internet, but you will need high speed Internet for VoIP to function properly and become your new calling station. Dialup just doesnรขโ�ฌโ�ขt have the capacity or speed to transfer voice digitally without significant quality loss. A company named SpeakEasy has recently come out with a new DSL product that requires no current phone line for high speed Internet if DSL is your current favorite of broadband services and if you are planning on replacing your current phone service with VoIP.

Secondly you will need what is called a gateway. The gateway is connected between your computer and Ethernet modem. The VoIP gateway is where your phone line will be plugged into. Gateways enable freedom from possible computer problems that can shut down calling capabilities or deteriorate voice quality. Computer crashes, slow memory, and many other computer problems that plague us in everyday life, you do not want to plague your ability to make phone calls.

Gateways are specifically designed for VoIP phones but adapters are available for current phones should you not want to buy a brand new phone. VoIP providers usually have the adapters available for sale so you donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt have to shop around for one yourself. Before you write off buying a new phone however, video phones are the newest product line and it wonรขโ�ฌโ�ขt be long before this trend explodes. You may want to get your video phone so you arenรขโ�ฌโ�ขt left out of exciting face to face conversations with friends and relatives when they get theirs. Packet8 VoIP has a good video phone sold separately with their services.

The services included with VoIP usually include all the convenient bells and whistles your current phone service provides including your own local VoIP telephone number, call waiting, voice messaging, 3 way calling, and more.

There are some important things to remember with VoIP before you go diving in to this feature rich voice technology. You should check with your VoIP provider for local 911 emergency coverage. Some VoIP providers charge extra on a monthly basis for both 911 and 411 access so make sure you know how much it is going to cost you before committing to a calling contract.

One last important thing to remember is that your gateway is reliant on electricity to function. This means power outages will put your phone line out of service, but then isnรขโ�ฌโ�ขt your phone already only functional with electricity these days?

This article was written by Aaron Siegel of TopSavings.Net which provides consultive services for communications at the residential level all the way up to government.

Services available at the website include VoIP (Including Packet8), Internet Access (Including SpeakEasy), Long Distance, Local Phone Services, Cellular services, and more. Broadband Phone

Voice Over IP Warrior

Some companies take it easy, they enter markets with low barriers to entry, low development costs, low infrastructure problems and proven technology. And then there are companies like Audio Codes that invest millions to create new and unproven technology and products like Voice Over IP network. Ten years ago if you mentions Voice Over IP at a party, chance are nobody would know what you were talking about. While Voice Over IP is not exactly a house hold word, the millions of people using Voice Over IP use VoIP to make calls could care less.

Here's a profile of Audiocodes - Voice Over IP Warriorรขโ�ฌยฆ Since its inception, AudioCodes has been a leader in the development of Voice Over IP networks since 1998. In Voice over IP terms, we are talking ancient history. From a leading provider of voice over IP solutions, AudioCodes' products have become integral parts of systems sold by leading telecommunications and networking manufacturers. Its customers include the leading telecom and Voice Over IP equipment providers globally. from algorithms and chip development to communication boards and modules, AudioCodes provides Voice Over IP OEMs on-going product innovation to ensure a long-term relationship.

Voice Over IP - Products AudioCodes Voice Over IP products include Packet chip processors, VoIP PCI and cPCI communication boards and VoIP media gateway modules (PMC form factor) and Analog Media Gateways (2/4/8/24 ports). These Voice Over IP products are integral to the most advanced and reliable Voice over IP and Voice over ATM platforms on the market, and have been implemented successfully by leading telecommunications and networking manufacturers worldwide. Also Voice Over IP & Telephony Communication Boards - Supporting all major industry standards and protocols. With a unified API, the boards enable quick and easy implementation of enhanced voice services.

Voice Over IP - Media Gateway Modules

AudioCodes provides the primary building blocks for Voice Over IP development and next generation equipment such as media gateways, VoIP enabled class 4/5 switches, Voice Over IP enabled conferencing bridges, IP PBXs, and Voice Over IP enabled routers. The rich variety of Voice Over IP functions including voice compression, packetization, media processing, signaling processing and standard control protocols assures a fast time-to-market solution with reduced development risk. The modules utilize AudioCodes award-winning and field-proven TrunkPack software.

For more information on voice over IP and emerging Voice over IP technology, visit AudioCodes

Johnny Mayer writes on travel, technology, software, diamonds and jewelry, business, music and more.

AudioCodes Ltd. enables new Voice Over IP infrastructure by providing innovative, reliable and cost-effective Voice over Packet technology and Voice Network products to OEMs, network equipment providers and system integrators. when people look back years and years from now at the "Voice Over IP Wars" AudioCodes will be among the most celebrated Voice over IP Warriors of all time.

Disadvantages of VoIP

VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is rapidly becoming a top choice for people wishing to avoid costly telephone service. The system works by allowing you to make phone calls using a computer network, such as your Internet provider. Depending on where you live, you may be able to keep your phone number. The service typically offers some type of unlimited long distance calling within certain areas (such as within the continental U.S. or throughout Western Europe), for a set fee. Many also offer minute-by-minute charges. People who are interested in VoIP are drawn to the lower monthly fees. Also, depending on the provider you choose, package deals are available that combine both Internet and phone service. This can save both money and reduce the number of monthly bills. So if Voice over IP is so great, what are the drawbacks? The following are three reasons why you might hate VoIP.

Power Outages and Other Emergencies

One key aspect to VoIP is that, if you switch over your whole phone service, you may not have any way of making 911 emergency phone calls. Some providers are working around this problem, but before signing up and changing your service, inquire if there is a way to make emergency calls. This is particularly important if you don't have a cell phone or if you disconnect your landline completely. (Some people use Voice over IP for long distance only and keep a local number through the landline.)

Unless your provider offers some type of back-up system (some do come with a back-up battery for emergencies), if your power goes out, so does your phone. One very convenient aspect to the landline is that you can still make phone calls when the power is down. This can be a nice sense of security and allows people to check in during long power outages.

It's a New Technology

Even though VoIP has been in the works for a few years, it's still a new technology. One of the primary complaints by current users is that Voice over IP calls often have a buzzing tone in the background or an echo when speaking. While these problems are not serious, they can be annoying. If you're used to a quality landline connection, the change to VoIP may be disappointing.

Further, because it is a newer technology, providers will continue to make improvements. This will obviously increase quality, but also drive prices competitively as providers seek to gain your business. Therefore, if you are considering VoIP service, avoid being locked into a long-term contract. If something better comes along, you'll want the option of changing. Some areas do not have Voice over IP for local calls, for example, so if you opt for VoIP for long-distance service, you'll want the option of switching over your entire service once a local provider is available.

The Service Isn't the Same (Yet)

Phone companies spent years coming up with ways to service customers, such as directory assistance and comprehensive phone book listings. With VoIP, you may not have any type of directory assistance available and you may not have a listing. Prior to signing up for a service, find out what types of support systems are available. Many people take the phone company's service options for granted, so if you rely on directory assistance, you may want to think twice or wait.

In addition, depending on the type of service you choose, you may be only able to call other subscribers. If you make many calls, you don't want a service that limits who you can reach. The types of VoIP services vary considerably, from computer-to-computer calling to options that seem nearly identical to your regular phone service. Read the fine print to find out what is included and what isn't.

Also, keep in mind that in order to use VoIP, you need to have a high-speed Internet connection, such as DSL or cable. If you do not have this, and rarely use the Internet or email, then the cost of using Voice over IP could be quite more than what you are currently paying. If, on the other hand, you already have a high-speed connection, you may be able to bundle your services, including VoIP. It all depends on your needs.

VoIP is the future of calling, so if you decide to wait, you won't miss anything. In fact, the technology and service options will only improve, so if you think that you're going to hate Voice over IP, perhaps you just need to wait a bit longer.

Mike Singh is a webmaster and successful publisher of why-switch-to-voip.com. On his website, he provides more articles dealing with VoIP such as explanation of voip, overview of voip and ip phone systems.

Take Your Home or Business Phone With You When You Travel

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone service uses a broadband Internet connection (DSL or cable) instead of the Bell System circuits to carry your voice to any telephone in the world via the Internet. If you're not familiar with VoIP phone service, you'll be interested in this new technology that's giving traditional phone companies a run for their money.

Not only is VoIP phone service reliable, it costs 50-60 percent less than conventional telephone service. And most VoIP services give you free long distance calling throughout North America from any phone in the USA.

When you order VoIP phone service you receive a small "Analog Telephone Adapter" box that connects your telephone to your high speed Internet connection. This little adapter box, about the size of a paperback book, is linked to your phone number. Unlike a conventional telephone, where the phone number is fixed in place where the copper wires terminate in your home or office, with VoIP "the phone number is in the adapter box."

This opens up some fascinating possibilities.

Imagine that you are traveling away from home or the office, on vacation or on a business trip. As you pack your bags, why not slip that little adapter box into your luggage? It weighs just a few ounces and looks something like a computer modem. Remember: that adapter box contains your phone number. So wherever you take it, you're taking your phone number with you!

Now you've arrived at your hotel in a distant city รขโ�ฌโ�� perhaps even in a foreign country. Most hotels and motels today offer high speed Internet access, and that's all you need to hook up the adapter box. If you carry a laptop computer with you, that's fine. But you don't even need to turn it on to use VoIP phone.

Sit down at the desk and connect your VoIP adapter box to the hotel's high speed Internet connection. Wait about 45-seconds while the box gets ready. Reach over, unplug the hotel telephone from the wall and plug it into your adapter box. Pick up the phone and รขโ�ฌโ�� behold รขโ�ฌโ�� you've got dial tone.

Because your long distance is free, you can call anyone in the US or Canada without toll charges, as long as you're in the USA or Canada. Need to check on the spouse or the kids at home? Dial them up. Need to call the boss? A customer? Dial away. You've got free phone service, courtesy of the hotel's high speed Internet connection.

But there's more. Because you're carrying the adapter box with you, your friends, family and others can call you at your normal phone number and you can receive the call in your hotel room. Folks back in your home city don't even have to spend money on a long distance call.

You'll recall that the FCC ruled a year or two ago that phone numbers must be "portable." That ruling led to a rush of people who chose, for example, to move their home phone numbers to their cell phones, abandoning traditional landline service. That "portability ruling" saved people millions of dollars in landline service fees.

Carrying your VoIP adapter box with you is an entirely different kind of portability, and it's unique to VoIP phone service. One of our associates based in Atlanta actually carried an adapter box to Moscow, Russia, where he plugged it into a broadband Internet connection. He proceeded to dial an Atlanta number to speak to his wife from eight time zones away with no long distance charges whatsoever.

The telephone industry is evolving and VoIP services are leading the way. If you've not yet experienced the flexibility, economy and quality service you can get from VoIP, perhaps it's time to jump on the VoIP bandwagon and join the evolution.

Allan Ramsay is a 25-year veteran of the I.T. industry and principal at http://www.VoIP-USA.net, providing voice over IP phone service, landline, long distance plans, cellular phones, cellular calling plans, broadband access to the Internet and a host of Internet and telecommunication services to residential, SOHO and small business customers nationwide.

Pros And Cons Of Getting VOIP Right Now

You have a telephone, right? You have a computer, right? You want to save money, right? BAM, you are a VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) candidate.

It is inevitable that VOIP will replace traditional telephone service at some point. The only question is when should you jump in?

VOIP is quickly becoming more reliable and receiving wider acceptance. In fact, phone companies are already taking advantage of the technology to provide cheaper long distance rates. Like any emerging technology, however, there are kinks in the system that are still being worked out.

Advantages

VOIP has many advantages over regular phone service. One primary advantage is its low cost. If you have a fast Internet connection (DSL or cable), you can make PC-to-PC phone calls anywhere in the world FREE. PC-to-phone connections usually have a charge, but probably still cheaper than regular phone service.

You can sign up with a VOIP service provider for a monthly fee and get unlimited calls within a specified geographic area. For example, some VOIP services in the United States allow connections anywhere in North America for no extra charge. International calls are charged at a modest rate.

Another advantage is its portability. You can make and receive phone calls wherever there is a broadband connection by simply signing in to your VOIP account. This makes VOIP as convenient as e-mail. When you're traveling, you simply pack a headset or Internet phone; then you can talk to family or colleagues for next to nothing.

Phone-to-phone VOIP is also portable. Internet phones are small and light enough to take anywhere. When you sign up with a VOIP service provider, the Internet phone or adaptor used by that service is assigned a unique number. This 'phone number' remains valid, even if your VOIP service is in Los Angeles and you're connected to the Internet in London. When plugged into a broadband connection, anywhere in the world, you can make and receive calls as though you were at home .

Features like call forwarding, call waiting, voicemail, caller ID and 3way-calling, are included with Internet telephone at no extra charge. While you're talking on the phone, you can send pictures and documents at the same time.

Disadvantages

There are a few glitches that still interfere with the technology's broad acceptance by the public. Lack of continuous service during power outages and emergency calling are the 2 biggest hurdles.

Conventional phone service continues by the current supplied through the phone lineduring a blackout. This isn't possible with Internet phones. When the power goes, there goes VOIP service. Battery backups and power generators that provide electricity are the current solutions to this problem.

A major concern involves emergency 911 calls. For the most part, VOIP services aren't useful in emergencies. Traditional phone equipment can trace the locations of calls. Emergency calls are diverted to the nearest call center where the operator can identify your location, in the event you can't talk. With VOIP, there is no way currently to determine where Internet calls are originating. There is an emerging standard called e911 however, which is attempting to solve this limitation.

VOIP also has sound quality and reliability problems. Data sent across the Internet usually arrives at its destination scrambled. E-mail and documents can be reassembled in the correct order when it arrives. Voice data also arrives scrambled, but it's more complicated because of the real-time nature of VOIP. Some data packets may have to be dropped when they don't arrive in time, in order to make voice connections with the least delay. This can cause brief silences in the audio stream.

Distance and speed of the connection determine the amount of data lost. Some networks receive more traffic and thus are more likely to cause audio dropouts. One way to provide high quality audio connections is to create dedicated data paths.

With the incredible amount of work dedicated to VOIP, these disadvantages will no doubt be resolved withinin the next 2 years. It is expected that by then VOIP will have widespread consumer acceptance.

Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. Visit voip-solutions-now to learn more about this subject.

Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.

What Is A VoIP Gateway?

The meshing of old analog telephone connections and VoIP service means that there has to be something that sort of brings the two together so that customers donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt have to spend a lot of money to get the new devices needed for VoIP service. A VoIP gateway acts as a bridge between the old and the new, allowing customers to use their same phone lines, their same phones, but still enjoy the benefits of modern technology. A VoIP gateway is essentially responsible for connecting your VoIP network to your public telephone network so that you can keep using features on your old telephone but also use the VoIP network.

The VoIP gateway aides in call detection and call origin so you can get the calls when they come through. Live VoIP requires that there is a gateway or bridge between the old telephone mechanics and the new VoIP technology. This gateway will become even easier in the future as the newer technology becomes more common than the old. The VoIP gateway is also partially responsible for converting the analog to a digital voice so that voice quality remains clear and true. Without a gateway you may not get your calls and voice conversion wouldnรขโ�ฌโ�ขt be what it is now!

A gateway and a router are really what make it all happen so that a consumer can take advantage of the great quality and services that VoIP has to offer. When you sign up for VoIP service you may get more information about the specific gateway that your provider uses and theyรขโ�ฌโ�ขll be able to give you more detailed and in-depth information about the technology associated with it. The technology is so fascinating that itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs hard not to stop and listen to all the details!

Laura Rupert is a freelance writer who contributes to The Tech FAQ.

Learn 1st Hand About Vonnage, Packet8, And Skype - The Real 411

Whether you're a current user of Vonnage, Packet8, or Skype VoIP phone services....or are just curious about them....a good place to learn whatever you want to know is their online discussion Forums. Keep in mind that each of these is company sponsored or influenced....so you'll have to filter through some obvious biases and emotional attachments to get at what you really want.

If your looking for advice or information on set-up, trouble shooting, special promotions, company news, plan pricing, etc.....from actual users and company types...these are good resources. If you don't mind wading through the frequent sappy gushings of infatuated fans...you can get some very useful pearls. Occassionally you'll even hit on some eye opening honest assessments and advice too. Just look hard until you find something that fits your need. It's there.

Vonnage Forum

It's no secret that I'm not fond of Vonnage. I feel they're way over priced, have built there reputation on a massive marketing machine vice a quality product, and their customer service sucks. But this is a pretty loyal and active Forum with a few very helpful regular posters. Better to get the scoop here than listen to that annoying "Whoohoo" jingle again.

Packet8 Forum

It's also no secret that Packet8 is my favorite broadband phone service. Particularly for any business applications. Their frequent industry awards for business packages...such as the recent top nod for their Virtual Office IP PBX offering....sold me a long time ago. Their Forum takes an extra step to get into for registration but is worth it. The Forum contents are probably more informative overall about services, applications, and the parent company [8X8 Inc.] than the other 2 forums are.

Skype Forum

I've never been an advocate of Sofphone services but it does have it's place. Skype is the hands down king here...but is far from perfect. Their "free" isn't really free for example....unless those you're calling also have Skype. Plus their business applications leave much to be desired. But their following are rabid supporters. Plus they have probably the largest share of the VoIP "phone" market worldwide.....especially in Europe and Asia....for now. Their Forum can be more Rah Rah than informational at times but is well worth looking over.

Now if you prefer a more open and unbiased community dialogue and Forum experience....I suggest you trek over to the VoIP Forum at DSLReports.com. It can be somewhat of a free-for-all at times. But there's a ton of useful information shared on all kinds of VoIP providers beyond just the 3 mentioned above....as well as some links to useful tools to enhance your VoIP experience.

DSLReports.com VoIP Forum

There ya go. Between these open discussion resources you should be able to find whatever you need about VoIP phones ... and the specific providers cited. Just keep in mind that it's all other people's opinions. The bottom line is that it's YOUR opinion that counts most.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including Business-VoIP-Solution. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, resources, and insights.

Is there SPIT on Face of Federal Trade Commission?

Well it took the FTC some 2-years to devise a plan to stop SPAM, then they came back with definitions only. SPAM went from a nuisance to a major problem and even with the Presidents CAN SPAM Act the FTC was impotent to enforce it. They filed some 60-cases, but SPAM comes from all over the World and people still get 200 per day, although most commercial filters get rid of a good percentage. Of course that was not the FTC that did that, it was Free Enterprise.

Now there is a new thing Called SPIT (SPAM over IP Telephony) which threatens to overwhelm VoIP Networks. The FTC where are they now? Probably in some back room playing with them selves after falling for one of those Viagra generic drugs from Canada online pharmacy SPAMs? Looks like more SPIT on face of Federal Trade Commission.

So far due to the FTCรขโ�ฌโ�ขs failure to keep up with industry and never actually finishing anything they start now we have SPAM, SPLOGS, SPIT, phishing and pharming? A person might get 100 SPITs a day on their VoIP system and render the system literally useless to users by causing disruptions in their phone service? So much for a Do Not SPIT List, it will take the FTC nine months just to define what S.P.I.T is, but they will not have to look far as it is not egg on their face, why itรขโ�ฌโ�ขs SPIT. So, think on it.

Lance Winslow

VoIP Overview

Since we're using computers all the time to do our work, let's make it easy and add the phone to the pile. VoIP also known as (voice over Internet protocol), Internet telephony, IP telephony, and Internet voice is catching on and is expected to grow in the next few years. The technology has been around for about a decade, but it isn't till now that we have the supporting technology to handle it and an market reaching critical mass (hate using jargon, but there isn't a better way to say it).

VoIP requires users to have broadband connections. With 22 percent of Americans connected to the Internet by broadband, the numbers are large enough for making money with Internet voice and big telecoms are already in the game.

How VoIP works

VoIP works like email. TCP/IP networks consist of IP packets with a header for controlling communication and information for transportating data. VoIP uses the IP packets to send the human voice across the Internet using IP packets to its destination.

It digitizes a voice into data packets, sends them through the network and converts them back to voice when arriving at the destination. Digital format can be compressed, routed, and converted to other and better formats.

When calling someone using VoIP, you use a phone with an adapter. Just like we use a telephone to make phone calls on POTS (plain old telephone service), the adapter is a device to connect the phone to the network. The VoIP phone has its own phone number for callers to dial.

The good and bad things

An advantage of VoIP is it can avoid charges typically found on PSTNs (public switched telephone network). For customers, there is less worry about how long or how often they make phone calls. Calling another state costs the same as calling another country even on the other side of the world. IP-based boxes are cheaper than analog PBXes.

However, service reliability is an issue. How many times has a download or connecting to a Web site faltered? That may not be such a big deal, but it is more disruptive to phone calls. Network issues are complicated by customers getting broadband from one company and VoIP from another. When a call gets switched from network to network, it impacts quality.

When the Internet is down, so is VoIP. Traditional phones aren't affected by power like VoIP since they have its own power and work during blackouts.

Money and regs

Companies make their money by selling features and services. Connect anytime and anywhere there is an Internet connection or while in Wi-Fi-enabled hot spots. It's also exempt from traditional regulations and taxes, but that could change tomorrow though telecoms are working to keep it unregulated. This exemption is keeping prices down, and current prices are anywhere from $20 to $65 a month.

Meryl K. Evans is the Content Maven behind meryl's notes, eNewsletter Journal, and The Remediator Security Digest. She is also a PC Today columnist and a tour guide at InformIT. She is geared to tackle your editing, writing, content, and process needs. The native Texan resides in Plano, Texas, a heartbeat north of Dallas, and doesn't wear a 10-gallon hat or cowboy boots.

Common Questions About VoIP

Unless you live in a bubble, you have probably been hearing alot of buzz lately about something called Voice Over IP (VoIP). Perhaps you have heard that you can use VoIP to get cheap or free long distance calling, even Internationally. The good news is that this is true!

VoIP, which stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol is an exciting synergy between computers and telephony, but don't let that scare you. VoIP is just as easy to use as any ordinary telephone. So, you have heard the buzz and perhaps you are curious about taking the plunge and getting set up with VoIP service. Being so new, VoIP is still somewhat shrouded in mystery. Help is here! In this article we will answer several common questions most people have about VoIP Service and help clear up the confusion about the technology and how it can work for you.

What Exactly is VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol)? VoIP is a new technology that makes use of your broadband connection to route your telephone calls over the internet, rather than using the traditional analog telephone lines. This has proven to be a very efficient and cost effective way to place phone calls to anywhere in the world.

Who Can I call? This depends upon your service provider. There are a few different flavors of Voice Over IP Service. Most of the larger VoIP service providers you see advertised to the consumer market (such as Vonage, BlueSky, etc..) work just like your existing phone and enable you to call any phone, anywhere.

What's It Going To Cost? The cost for this service varies depending on the provider and the service plan you select. Currently, most service providers have plans that cost in the $10 - $25 monthly, which is considerably cheaper than ordinary phone service. Keep in mind that this service includes long distance calls. Usually, you can choose from several plans that vary in cost depending on the level of usage you desire. Most companies also offer an unlimited plan that includes unlimited long distance calls.

You will also be plesantly surprised to find that many services such as caller id, call forwarding, call waiting, three way calling, and even voice mail features often come standard with most VoIP plans. Another great benefit is that as it currently stands (in January 2006), the Government does not apply a tax to your VoIP service, unlike the additional taxes and fees that are applied to your standard phone bill. This can amount to a substantial savings alone, but this may only be a temporary benefit. As VoIP gains in popularity, it is more than likely that the Government will find a way to tax that as well.

Do I Need "Special Stuff"?

This depends on the provider, once again. One thing that you must have is an always on broadband internet connection. This means DSL or Cable Internet, for home users. Depending on whom you get service with, you will likely have to connect just regular phone to an adapter, or maybe purchase a special phone to use with the service. Check for specials before you sign up, sometimes the equipment is given away for free to encourage you to sign up. Regardless, the investment in hardware for home users of VoIP is very minimal, if it costs you at all.

Can I call 911?

You need to check with the provider to ensure that they do indeed provide this functionality. That said, in May 2005, the US Government ordered all interconnected VoIP Providers to provide 911 functionality to their subscribers.

Sounds... Too Good, What's the Catch?

Well, there is a minor catch which is that if your internet goes out, so does your phone. This isn't usually too big of a problem, however as most modern broadband ISPs do a great job of maintaining reliable service.

Where Do I Find VoIP Providers?

Usually, it is not important that you find a local provider just as long as the provider you choose is based in the same country. Therefore, the internet is a very valuable resource for finding and comparing VoIP providers.

Which one Do I choose?

The VoIP provider that you choose is a personal choice, as they all tend to work slightly differently. What sounds the most feasible for your setup and usage requirements is the best choice for you. Do keep in mind that this is a rapidly maturing technology and that changes are occurring all the time. You will want to choose a company that you feel will be able to provide you reliable service in the future.

For more information on VoIP(Voice Over IP) technology and to compare VoIP Providers, visit us at http://www.VoIPVolt.com

Comparing VoIP Providers For Small Business Solutions

It is no secret that communication is key to survival for small business. The advantage to small busineses of using a VoIP solution is that the market is very competitive. While there are relatively few companies from which to choose for normal phone service, many VoIP providers will gladly offer VoIP phone service at a very competitive rate and with unlimited long distance.

But....you need to do your homework first.

Phone service features indispensable to your business, such as voicemail, conferencing and call waiting, allow business to flow smoothly and efficiently. So....how do you decide if a VoIP solution is best for your business?

One of the first steps when analyzing your current service is to decide what features your business needs. Does it need multiple lines to accommodate the sales force? What about a toll free number for customer service? Make a list of all the features your office uses and think about others you might want to try.

The next step is to make an estimate of all intrastate (in- state), interstate (state-to-state) and international calls. An easy way to estimate these numbers is to view a recent phone bill. You might be surprised at how large or small your call volume actually is. If you rely heavily on fax machines, consider the number of incoming and outgoing faxes. As you review these numbers, remember to consult growth projections for the rest of the year.

Once you've done all this...you're ready to go comparison shopping.

Here's some resources to help you do that:

* VoIP Comparison Reviews

VoIPReview does a good job comparing feature sets from each of the providers. Its user reviews seem a bit skewed, but otherwise the site looks good.

* ZDNet Reviews

ZDNet usually has objective reviews. Read through its commentary on any of the providers you are considering.

* Broadband Reports

Broadband reports has a specific area for review by users...with a regularly updated scoring system. It's often skewed with a tad bit of emotion....and reviews are mostly residential. But it does give you an idea for business use.

* Google

I'm sure most of you already do this, but once you've figured out what you're looking for, perform a search on companies on Google to see what others have said about it.

If you're willing to do a bit more work, contact various providers and create your own comparison chart. You can begin your research by visiting voipreview.org. The site offers VoIP facts and reviews of various broadband phone service providers. Compare the business plans for different providers and research the various features offered with each plan. Also, make sure your current Internet connection can handle VoIP calls. The Web site testyourvoip.com will evaluate and score your Internet connection. You'll know if it makes sense to run your phone traffic over your broadband connection.

Here is a list and description of the top ten (supposedly) VoIP providers (includes home plans for telecommuter staff).

- Axvoice

Axvoice has many plans for you to sign up. Unlimited call to USA/Canada plan costs $ 18.99 per month. Unlimited international & USA/Canada plan costs $29.99. Axvoice also has business plan starting from $ 39.99 per month.

- INVIVNI

INVIVNI has three plans, Residentials, Small Office, and Business. The Residential plan costs $24.95 per month. The Small Office plan costs $32.95 per month, and the Business plan costs is negotiable.

- VCInetwork

VCInetwork has three plans, Unlimited Long Distance :Home, Unlimited Long Distance: Business and 500 minutes to USA/Canada and Europe. Unlimited Long Distance : Home plan costs $28.95 per month. Unlimited Long Distance : Business plan costs $49.95 per month and 500 minutes to USA/Canada and Europe plan costs $14.50 per month.

- Skype

Skype is famous for their slogan, "The Whole World can Talk for Free". Skype is a free download and users can make free calls via, Skype to Skype. For a fee, you can advance your Skype to Skype Out and make calls to landline phones. Skype In will let your choose your area code and phone number. This way, friends and relatives can call you locally, if you select the same area code. Skype is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, and Pocket Pc operating systems. Not really a good business solution.

- Vonage

Probably the most well known VoIP providers, you may be surprised to discover that Vonage is also one of the more expensive providers. Vonage offers two plans, residential and small business. Residential users may choose between the Basic 500 plan and Unlimited. The Basic 500 plan offers 500 minutes of talk time for $14.99 a month. The Premium Unlimited residential plan costs $24.99 per month.

The Small Business Basic plan costs $39.99 per month and allows 1500 minutes. The Small Business Unlimited plan costs $49.99 a month and provides unlimited calls throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

- Dialpad

Dialpad and Yahoo have merged services. Currently, Dialpad offers three plans- Dialpad Monthly 300, Dialpad Monthly 500, and Dialpad USA. The cost for Dialpad Monthly 300 is $7.50 per month, Dialpad Monthly 500 costs $9.99 per month, and Dialpad USA costs $11.99 per month.

- Broadvox Direct

Broadvox Direct offers residential and small business services. Their residential services include the Residential Choice Plus plan for $9.95 per month. The Residential Choice Plus plan includes 100 outbound minutes and unlimited incoming minutes. Their Residential Unlimited Plan costs $29.95 a month and includes unlimited calling anywhere in the US and Canada. The SoHo Small Business Regional Plan costs $34.95 per month and includes 1500 monthly minutes in the US and in Canada. The SoHo Small Business Unlimited Plan costs $44.95 per month and includes unlimited calls in the US and Canada and also includes a free fax line and Yellow Page listing.

- Galaxy Voice

Galaxy Voice offers two plans, Residential and Business. Their residential plan costs $19.95 a month and includes unlimited calling, Voicemail, Caller Id, Call Waiting, Call Return, Three Way Calling, and Call Forwarding. Their business plan costs $39.95 per month and includes unlimited calling, Free Voice Mail, Free Call Transfer, Free Call Forwarding, Free Repeat Dialing, and Free Caller ID block.

- Voice Pulse

Voice Pulse has three plans, America Unlimited, Local Unlimited +200, and Business Unlimited. The America Unlimited plan costs $24.99 per month. The Local Unlimited +200 costs $14.99 per month, and the Business Unlimited costs $45.99 per month.

- VoIP American

VoIP American has three different plans. These are the VoIP American PBX plan, the VoIP American Voice plan and the VoIP American bVoice plan. The VoIP American PBX plan cost $19.99 a month for a private line and $44.99 a month for unlimited calling. The VoIP Voice Residential Basic plan costs $14.99 per month and the VoIP Voice Residential Unlimited plan costs $29.99 per month. The bVoice Business plan costs $34.99 per month.

- Packet 8

Packet 8 not only offers phone plans, but they also offer videophone plans. Their residential plans are the Freedom International and Freedom Unlimited. Both of these plans cost $19.99 per month. [note: currently they're running a special for $9.95 per month for your 1st 3 months.] The Videophone plan is the Freedom Unlimited and that too is $19.99 per month. Their business plans consists of three different plans. These are the Virtual Office service plans, the Virtual Attendant Service plans, and the Business Phone Service plans. The Virtual office phone plan costs $39.95 per month, the Virtual Attendant service plan costs $14.95 per month, and the Business Attendant service plan costs $34.95 per month.

- Sun Rocket

Sun Rocket offers their signature service for either $24.95 per month or $199.00 per year.

- Speakeasy

Speakeasy offers many different plans ranging from Home Office, Small Office I, Small Office II, and Small Business. Their Home Office plan costs 79.90 per month, the Small Office I plan costs $560.00 per month, the Small Office II plan costs 1,039 per month and the Small Business plan costs $2,349 per month.

Analyzing phone service is often a real headache. However, unreliable line quality, which results in poor customer service and huge monthly bills are even worse. In the end, doing your research will pay dividends for your business. Personally, I have no reservations recommending Packet8 for your business VoIP solution right now. However, go through the above steps first for your own peace of mind.....you'll likely reach the same conclusion.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including Business-VoIP-Solution. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, resources, and insights.

VOIP

This article contains the excellent information about the Voice Over IP Protocol.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology is the wave of the future in terms of telephone communication via the Internet. VoIP has several advantages over circuit-switched technology used by local phone companies. Circuit-switched technology uses a 'permanent' connection between the caller and callee, which requires a huge amount of bandwidth for each call.

This type of technology can only carry certain types of calls, such as telephone to telephone. Also, the hardware circuit-switched networks need to run effectively are extremely expensive, mostly because voice and data services must be supported on different wires. Therefore, each service needs separate hardware to accommodate the voice and data types of traffic. Needless to say, your local phone company then passes the costs of building and maintaining a circuit-switched network to the you, the consumer. Unforturnately, this equals higher rates for your telephone services.

VoIP - How Does it Work?

VoIP technology is when phone calls travel networks using Internet Protocol (IP). What this means is that the calls are passed through the Internet or privately managed data networks that are using IP to send the calls from one location to the other. So whether the call is passed through the Internet or data networks, the voice stream is broken down into packets, compressed, and sent toward their final destination by several different routes.

This is where circuit-switch technology and IP technology differ, in that circuit-switched technology uses a 'permanent' connection for the entire phone call. Once the call reaches the callee, the voice stream packets are reassembled, decompressed, and switched back into a voice stream by several hardware and software elements, depending on the call's final destination. The type of software and hardware needed to start and end a phone call is determined by where the call originated, such as a PC, phone, or an Integrated Access Device (IAD) and whether the call is going to be completed on a PC, telephone, or IAD.

ADVANTAGES OF VoIP

The following is a list of the numerous advantages for using VoIP:

ร�ยท Voice and data can be sent over the same lines.

ร�ยท 8 time the number of phone calls can be placed on those lines than in the circuit-switched environment.

ร�ยท Quality of sound is excellent.

ร�ยท Lower operating costs due to reduced hardware requirements and a more efficient network infrastructure.

ร�ยท Lower cost structures enable lower rates than the traditional telephone companies.

ร�ยท Use of different devices to talk to one another.

This article is submitted by Kashif Raza http://www.networkingtutorials.net

How VoIP Phones Work

Long distance phone calls will never be the same again thanks to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The basic premise for this technology is to convert analog audio signals into digital data for transmission over the Internet, a technique which allows you to make your phone calls over the internet.

The way VoIP works is pretty straight forward. Whereas the traditional circuit switched technology reserves a dedicated path from a caller to the receiver for the entire duration of the conversation, VoIP converts the voices into data for transmission over data networks. At the receiving end, the data is once again converted back into audio.

The implication of this process is that a regular Internet connection is all one needs to make absolutely free phone calls. In using free VoIP software for Internet phone calls, the role of the telephone company and consequently its charges are completely eliminated.

This path breaking VoIP technology is poised to redefine the very method the worldรขโ�ฌโ�ขs phone systems use. Major players in the VoIP world, like Vonage, are already making their presence felt having been on a steady growth for some time. Leading traditional carriers like AT&T are already in the process of incorporating this revolutionary new technology in markets across the US. Simultaneously, regulatory agencies including the FCC are taking a long hard look at VoIP to harness the technology into a more secure format.

Among the multiple advantages attributed to VoIP technology, include the use of the same lines for both data and voice transmissions. With one network, both installation and maintenance expenses are minimized. Compression technology makes it possible for multiple calls, as many as eight, on the same lines as opposed to the circuit-switch systems. Neither is there any compromise on sound clarity.

With VoIP it is also possible for various devices to be inter-linked, thereby enabling added incentives like PC-Telephony. Integrating the phone system to a customer database provides ideal support for customer relationship management or CRM.

Phone calls using VoIP are not subject to toll charges. When both sides have high-speed Internet access and VoIP phones, distance charges donรขโ�ฌโ�ขt apply no matter how long the call duration or distance may be. The possibilities in terms of businesses and consumers to save on costs are therefore staggering. Whatรขโ�ฌโ�ขs more VoIP can also be utilized in setting up an independent private interoffice networks for main to satellite office communications.

Punks Johnston likes writing about VoIP phones. See http://www.voipphonereviews.net for more information.

Should You ,VoIP?

My friend in Florida, Samuel, called me last week and immediately I noticed a difference in the sound quality compared to our usual conversations. At first, I dismissed it, thinking he was calling me from his cell phone. Five minutes into the conversation when the call suddenly dropped off I "knew" for sure he was calling on his cell. Until he called me back from his cell that is. It turned out that Samuel was using his regular home phone, but when he told me that he had a VoIP account that was all I needed to know.

What is VoIP? VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol which is a method for you to talk with someone via your broadband internet connection, cable or DSL. Your voice is translated into data and sent over the same connection used for your computer. VoIP has become popular because you can talk to people for just a few cents per minute...worldwide! In fact, in a recent ad I saw that one of the leading providers of this service is offering free calls to Canada and charging just 3 cents per minute for calls to Hong Kong and 6 cents per minute for calls to Copenhagen. People who frequently call international destinations love VoIP. Heck, at prices one-tenth the amount or less of conventional long distance rates VoIP does have a strong appeal for consumers.

Overall, plans seem to start at around ten dollars per month and increase to around forty dollars monthly depending on offerings selected. Many VoIP plans give plenty of "extras" as part of the package including:

Call Forwarding

Call Waiting

Caller ID with the name

Repeat Dialing

3-Way Calling

Voicemail

Call Blocking

911 Accessibility

I have seen plans that also offer widespread 411 accessibility, fax service, and virtual phone numbers which allow users to select phone numbers outside of their area code.

There are big drawbacks to VoIP and I learned what one of them was when I was talking with my friend in Florida: a power failure will mean that your phone will not work. My friend lives in an area of frequent lighting strikes and occasional power failures so each time there is an interruption he has to wait for power to be restored before he can call out from his home phone. Fortunately, he keeps his cell phone charged, but he does have to pay for most calls made on his cell. In some areas the savings from a VoIP account will be offset by cell phone usage.

911 calls also can be difficult to place; you may need to dial a lengthy ten digit number to the police, fire, or ambulance station instead costing you valuable time in an emergency. Some providers are working hard to overcome the problem, but it hasn't quite been done away completely.

In all, VoIP usage continues to grow and it will probably become an important way for many to place calls, particularly internationally. You can't stop power outages and 911 issues remain, so weigh your options carefully before making the move over to Voice Over Internet Protocol.

Matthew Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on just about any and every issue imaginable. You can preview samples from his high performing site at http://www.thearticlewriter.com

Will VoIP be a Mass Market Product?

A common thinking among "Marketing people " is that for every product that enters the market there must be a path, a target, a need ( real or created) that decides how the product must enter the consumer's life, which part of the population is more likely to go for it, which niche it is going to fill and, most important "...certain things being stated, something other than what is stated follows of necessity from their being so." and that is the final issue: the price.

Depending on those anavoidable patterns a product is more or less ready for a certain market.

High technologically devices, the ones that offer perfect quality and cost a fortune will target the elitarian market, where the price has not big importance (on the contrary, if the price would be lower than what certain people can afford, the product wouldn't reach them) since it means luxury.

When a product ceases to be luxury and begins to be a need, then the mass market is ready. The product can enter 60% of consumers' lives, reach easily a good upgrade in the percentage and become " The New Product of the year 200....".

Let's consider the VoIP market.

Prior to recent theoretical work on social needs, the usual purpose of a product invoked individual (social) behaviors. We now know that these assumptions are not completely wrong.

Wrong would be NON considering them.

In systems where many people are free to choose between many options, a small subset of the whole offer will get a disproportionate amount of traffic (or attention, or income), even if no one of the system actively work towards such an outcome. This has nothing to do with moral weakness, selling out, or any other psychological explanation. The very act of choosing, spread widely enough and freely enough, creates a power law distribution.

Now, thanks to a series of breakthroughs in network theory by researchers we know that power law distributions tend to arise in social systems where many people express their preferences among many options. We also know that as the number of options rise, the curve becomes more extreme. This is a counter-intuitive finding - most of us would expect a rising number of choices to flatten the curve, but in fact, increasing the size of the system increases the gap between the #1 spot and the median spot.

In other words: give to the people the choice among desktop phones and mobile phones and the majority will choose what they think more convenient, in spite of the cost of the service.

In a way the cost of the service is the only left advantage in favour of the fixed telephony.

If the price was the same the desktop phones would disappear from the life of the average consumer (mass market consumer).

To see how freedom of choice could create such unequal distributions, consider a hypothetical population of a thousand people, each picking their favorite way of telecommunication. One way to model such a system is simply to assume that each person has an equal chance of liking each kind of telephony. This distribution would be basically flat - most kind of telephony will have the same number of people listing it as a favorite. A few will be more popular than average and a few less, of course, but that will be statistical noise. The bulk of the telephony will be of average popularity, and the highs and lows will not be too far different from this average. In this model, neither the quality of the voice, the availability, the design of the device nor other people's choices have any effect; there are no shared tastes, no preferred genres, no effects from marketing or recommendations from friends.

This is the mass market of VoIP as dreamed and forecasted by most hardware producers.

People would choose VoIP in spite of the fact that the systems are not intercommunicating, the available phones are just desktop phones, most of the population doesn't have a "Flat rate DSL" and some do not even have a decent connection, (just one " UP to...) and just because VoIP means cutting cost.

They have a few wrong assumptions:

1. Most of the people want to save calling internationally

2. Most of the people will use a cheap Flat rate connection

3. Most of the people know how to handle a computer or a network, and so solve all the eventual problems that could arise.

But they do not consider that:

1. Most people call locally and just a few once in a while internationally.

2. Most of the people do not have a cheap flat rate Internet

3. Most of the people are not IT experts.

Besides people's choices do affect one another. If we assume that any kind of telephony chosen by one user is more likely, by even a fractional amount, to be chosen by another user, the system changes dramatically.

If Robert (our average mass market consumer) likes to have a phone in his pocket, available mostly anywhere, it is very likely that Mary would like the same.

Is VoIp ready for the "Mass Market"?

The answer could be No and Yes.

What would VoIP offer more than the existing several choices?

1. Price. Telephone calls would be completely free of charge among two IP phones ( and that believe me is a GREEEEAT THING when you try it)

2. The never enough considered satisfaction to be able to ref..ck who f..cked us for many years...

What would VoIP telephony need to be #1 spot in the curve?

1. A reliable PORTABLE Phone that doesn't need millions of Hot Spot's to work.

2. A reliable, cheap flat rate internet connection anywhere for everybody.

If ONE could put these patterns together, THEN VoIP would really have the chance to be #1.

See my website: http://www.worldonip.com or contact me patrizia@worldonip.com

About The Author

Patrizia is an ebooks publisher. See also http://www.easymediabroadcast.com

patrizia@worldonip.com

Cheapest Solution in VoIP Broadband Phone Service

VoIP is an abbreviation for voice over Internet protocol. It is easy to confuse VoIP with broadband phone service. Though broadband phone service uses the voice over Internet protocol to send and receive phone calls, it is not actually VoIP. As of now, VoIP basically comes in three forms, PC-to-PC, PC-to-Phone, and Broadband telephone service.

You may have used the most common PC-to-PC or PC-to-phone VoIP services without even realizing it. Have you ever used Yahoo Messenger to call someones computer? If you have, you've used Yahoo's free PC-to-PC VoIP service. Additionally, Yahoo Messenger allows you to call someones home telephone from your computer for a small fee. This is called PC-to-Phone VoIP.

Broadband phone service also uses VoIP but allows you to make and receive calls on your home telephone the same way you always have. While PC-to-Phone, and PC-to-PC only require a software download to use the service, you'll need a broadband phone adaptor to be able to use your home telephone with VoIP. Once installed, broadband phone service is very much like a traditional land line with just a few exceptions.

Now we know VoIP is the means of transmitting voice data over the Internet, and PC-to-Phone, PC-to-PC, or broadband telephone are the VoIP hardware and software solutions for VoIP. Armed with that information, which is the cheapest solution in VoIP for you? Free VoIP is not always the cheapest solution in VoIP. Let me explain.

As mentioned before, PC-to-PC VoIP is often times free with Popular Instant Messenger clients such as Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, and now, Google Talk. These messengers provide an excellent free service which allows you to talk to friends and family over long distances through your home computer and speakers or headset.

What if you need to call someones home telephone or business phone? That's where PC-to-Phone Voip comes in. PC-to-Phone allows you to call a telephone from your computer. Though PC-to-Phone isn't free it's very cheap, sometimes around 1 cent per minute or less. Examples of Popular PC-to-Phone VoIP services are offered by Yahoo Messenger and Skype.

Broadband telephone service allows you to make and receive phone calls without the aid of you're computer. Broadband telephone is hyper popular since it cuts out the telcos and dramatically reduces your phone bill. Some VoIP companies offer unlimited local plus long distance calling for a flat fee of less than 20 dollars per month.

As with anything else, the cheapest solution for VoIP is going to be determined by your usage of the service. If using your computer to talk with your contacts does not bother you, by all means use PC-to-PC or PC-to-Phone. If you want to reduce your phone bill, and enjoy the convenience of talking on a normal phone, broadband telephone is going to be the cheapest solution in VoIP.

Daymon Hoag is the Editor for Cheapest Service and provisioner of Cheapest-Service.com VoIP Broadband Phone

VoIP Technology

VoIP technology seems to be great! But confused about how to go about it? That's the common refrain of people wanting to graduate from a dial-up connection on to VoIP. The applications of VoIP technology are so surreal, so amazing that this dilemma is not exactly uncalled for.

But before we go into the applications of VoIP, let's first understand as to what is VoIP. VoIP (voice over internet protocol) is a technological innovation allowing you to send data, audio & video concurrently over the internet, this transforms into minimal use of the available bandwidth thereby offering mind blowing transmission speeds.

VoIP has the potential to fulfill all your communication needs be it telephony, data transfer, video conferencingรขโ�ฌยฆ your imagination is the limit. To move onto the big league, you would have to contact a VoIP service provider. These VoIP providers buy bandwidths from wholesale VoIP providers & sell it to individual customers at a premium.

Today the UK VoIP market is flush with a wide variety of VoIP providers, in order to truly enjoy VoIP you must be able to pick & choose the best provider as per your individual needs. This seems easy but it is not so, the VoIP carriers in their eagerness to corner larger chunks of the VoIP market often forgo quality & reliability.

But as it is said that 'to every problem there's a solution', you can get past this hiccup on your way to super fast communication by taking expert advice from independent VoIP link providers. These websites being independent & impartial provide you with instant links to the best VoIP carrier in your area.

This way on one hand you get a broad overview about VoIP services & on the other hand ensure effortless transition in to the VoIP arena.

VoIP for sure is the communication solution of the future, faster you join, more the advantage you get!!

VoIP Phone Service
ALEN
voip-traffic.com

Skypecasting and Marketing With Skype

Skype is already changing the way we do we do business, even as you're reading this. A little piece of software that uses VoIP (Voice Over IP) and P2P (Peer-to-Peer) technology, it created waves after waves of excitement, anticipation and even frustration since its launch.

Skype (sometimes pronounced as Skaip or Skypee) is a softphone application that allows you to make phone calls from your PC direct to another Skype user, or any regular fixed or mobile telephone. The cost is extremely cheap, and the quality has seen massive leaps of continuous improvement since it's launch in 2003. Everyone knows all that.

Here's what most people don't know: Skype can be used as powerful and effective marketing tool for any small business. If you want to reach an international market, get telephone inquiries and leads from China, or even if you just want to use it to communicate with your business buddies, you should explore the hidden potential of Skype.

The latest phenomenon to be related to Skype is "Skypecasting" which is basically having teleconferences using Skype. In fact Skpecasting itself is a term coined from "Podcasting". With Skypecasting you can have online teleconferences for free. The latest version of Skype should support more than 100 users simultaneously so numbers should not be a problem.

However, there are more basic Skype applications that can also be used to get your sales and marketing efforts across to your target market quickly.

SkypeIn, a feature of Skype still in beta, allows you to create virtual numbers in many different countries. If you maximize on this fact, you can literally have "virtual offices" all around the world, even if you're a home based business entrepreneur with no staff, an embarrassing budget and limited time.

There are many third party applications that enhance the basic software. If you know the correct ones to use, you can literally build a "virtual call center" from your desktop that has all the feature of a real call center: your own personal secretary, day-and-time manager, call routing and call waiting, conditional call forwarding, language translations and much more.

If the "off-the-shelf" version just doesn't cut it for your business needs, then you can customize and adapt Skype into your own proprietary systems and software. You can choose to do this in-house, or outsource it to experts all over the world. If you know where and how to do this, you can create a powerful telemarketing application that cost pennies a day compared to the traditional solutions. It will be much more time-efficient, too.

Of course, there are more third-party applications being developed as you're reading this. In fact, much like the iPod, there's an entire sub-industry built around Skype, including USB phones, lead generators, Skype "call centers" and much more. All in all, it's an exciting time for telecommunications over the web.

G. Krishnan is the author of "Internet Telephony Secrets", one of the first guides to marketing with VoIP and Skype. For more information please visit http://www.voipandme.com.