VOIP

What is VoIP? Name 2 or 3 companies that offer this service. How does this service work, as opposed to the traditional service that it is used to replace? What reservations (if any) would you have about adopting VoIP in your home or office? Please cite at least 2 sources.

Voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP, IPA: /vɔɪp/) is a protocol optimized for the transmission of voice through the Internet or other packet-switched networks. VoIP is often used abstractly to refer to the actual transmission of voice (rather than the protocol implementing it). This latter concept is also referred to as IP telephony, Internet telephony, voice over broadband, broadband telephony, and broadband phone.

VoIP providers may be viewed as commercial realizations of the experimental Network Voice Protocol (1973) invented for the ARPANET providers. Some cost savings are due to using a single network to carry voice and data, especially where users have underused network capacity that can carry VoIP at no additional cost. VoIP-to-VoIP phone calls are sometimes free, while VoIP calls connecting to public switched telephone networks (VoIP-to-PSTN) may have a cost that is borne by the VoIP user.

Voice-over-IP systems carry telephony signals as digital audio, typically reduced in data rate using speech data compression techniques, encapsulated in a data-packet stream over IP.  – SOURCE : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VoIP

A landline, main line or fixed-line is a telephone line which travels through a solid medium, either metal wire or optical fibre. This is distinguished from a mobile cellular line, where the medium used is the airwaves. Landlines usually cost less than cellular lines and provide better voice quality, and are used when there is no need for mobility or where cellular service is unavailable. A land line is also used to increase the security of communications, as it cannot be intercepted by a receiver without physical access to the line.  SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landline

So we can see in a nutshell, we’re looking at voice compressed into data and sent over the internet, either hardwired or wirelessly, versus an actual voice signal sent over a dedicated, hardwired, metal or fiber optic telephone line.  The former, also known as VOIP, is offered by such companies as Vonage, Skype, and Speakeasy.  This technology has gained a ton of popularity in recent years, primarily due to simple economics.  VOIP is considerably less expensive than traditional landline service, with set rates for all calls, whether local or long distance.  The question becomes, at the risk of sounding cliche, do you really get what you pay for?  VOIP tends to be less reliable, as well as has significantly inferior voice quality, on a regular, consistent basis.  This is not always the case, however, in my experience (I have a few friends that use VOIP) it is the case enough of the time, for me to have serious doubts that I would trust my business to it.  I might consider using it for personal use, if I had the need (I have not had any kind of home phone service for approximately six years, I have relied on cellular service as it suits my personal needs).   

My personal opinion on the debate of VOIP versus landline, is that while VOIP is easy on the budget, for the immediate future, you do indeed get what you pay for as far as the superior reliability and security of landline service. 

Additional source:  Google.com (voip vs. landline) also (VOIP) and (landline)

~ by kenk124 on September 25, 2008.