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Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has been heralded as the end of the telephone as we know it. While most inventions related to the Internet end up being over-hyped, this is not one of them. VoIP is changing the way millions of us make “phone” calls.
What is VoIP?
When instant messaging programmes such as MSN Messenger arrived, millions of people started to regularly communicate in this way. VoIP works in a similar manner. Often referred to as Skype, (because the company Skype is by far the biggest player in the game so far), users must download the relevant programme to their computer and open an account, which is free. Once you have a username, you can call anyone else who has an account, as long as you know their username. You can also call landlines and mobiles, but you will need to put credits on your account with a credit card to do this. The major attraction of Skype and newcomers like Gizmo or JahJah, is the fact that paying for long distance calls is simply becoming a thing of the past for many people.
Nowadays, you can also buy a landline number from Skype, in whatever city or country you want so others can call you from regular phones. Although the list of cities is still limited it is growing. So, for a small fee every few months, you can rent a number in London, meaning that if you a had a lot of friends in the UK you can make It possible for them to call that number (i.e. your Skype account on your computer) and only pay for a call to London. Now, that is a revolution…
What do you need to make VoIP happen for you?
The most important consideration if you are thinking of using VoIP is the speed of your Internet connection. You need to have a reasonably fast connection to enable as trouble-free a transmission as possible. You also need a microphone, speakers and some headphones, (most computers have the microphone and speakers built in). You can, however, buy sets specifically designed for this purpose at most computer stores, at prices lower than you might expect. Some Internet service providers (ISPs) now offer adaptors for your regular phone, which then plugs into your broadband modem. If you like, you can also get a web-cam so your image can be easily carried to whomever you are speaking to.
What are the best things about VoIP?
- It’s free, as long as the person you are calling has an account with the same company, such as Skype.
- It’s easy to use. All you have to do is download a simple-to-use programme, register and you can start calling. With JahJah, you don’t even have to do that much.
- Video calls. With loved ones overseas, you’ll wonder how you ever survived without video calls. Many web cafes also have web cams installed, and Skype already downloaded.
What are the negatives?
- It’s reliant on your Internet connection. If your neighbour’s Net surfing clogs your ADSL up, your call quality may suffer.
- You can only call other users for free. If you want to call a normal phone line you will have to put some credits on your VoIP account.
- The lines are not high quality. Compared to a normal phoneline, the line quality can be poor. Voices dropping in and out as well as echoes are a fact of life with this technology, at least at the moment. Physical distance can compound this. The further away the person is the more problematic this is likely to be.
- Internet speed. VoIP is not recommended for dial-up Internet.
