Few technologies have made as sudden an impact on the telecommunications industry as Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP). In a matter of only years, VOIP has changed the way people think about their phone service and, more specifically, the power of the Internet. But is it all just talk, or are there real benefits to be had for you and your business? The following information sheds some light on the most important ways VOIP can change the way you call.How is VOIP Technology Changing the Phone Business?

Here are 5 ways VOIP technology is reshaping the phone business around the world:

Unifying Internet and Phone Technology. One of the promises of modern consumer electronics is the synthesis of varying utilities in a single hub (or videogame machine would be our web browser, etc.). VOIP helps realize this promise by giving people the power to control their phone communications from their computer.

Ending the reliance on land-line phones. Already, millions of individuals have given up their traditional land-line phones in favor of their cell phones. Now, more and more people are cutting the cord because of access to VOIP.

Providing free calls to millions of customers. One of the strongest selling points of VOIP phone systems continues to be the FREE calling from one service customer to another. If you and your friends, family, business partners or clients have access to the same VOIP service, the calls are gratis with most providers.

Freeing customers from the bonds of big telecommunications companies. For far too long, big telecom providers have held their customers hostage with high prices and long-term commitments. VOIP providers, on the other hand, have taken things in another direction. By giving people more power to choose their own calling plans and remove the limits that long-term contracts have placed on them.

By helping businesses save money. Businesses that choose to work with VOIP technology can potentially save thousands of dollars on infrastructure costs. Without having to worry about heavy phone installations, equipment and draconian service arrangements, businesses of all sizes can use much needed funds to develop their business in other ways.

VOIP usage for businesses and individuals has seen double-digit growth in each of the past several years. This is happening because more people are learning about this innovative, ground-breaking technology and jumping on board. Low start up costs and easy-access are also helping to fuel this growth in what looks to be a dominant part of the communications landscape for years to come.

For reliable, affordable VOIP service in the New York area, visit www.itpvoip.com. Unparalleled customer service and amazing price packages are what helped ITP VOIP be rated #1 in customer satisfaction in New York and the #1 VOIP provider in the United States by users. Every day, ITP VOIP strives to bring you the best service is the country.Contact www.itpvoip.com today for more information about how to get started.

For reliable, affordable VOIP service in the New York area, visit www.itpvoip.com. Unparalleled customer service and amazing price packages are what helped ITP VOIP be rated #1 in customer satisfaction in New York and the #1 VOIP provider in the United States by users. Every day, ITP VOIP strives to bring you the best service is the country. Contact www.itpvoip.com today!

Article Source: ArticleSpan

Back in 1997 a term called softswitch was invented and softswitches were software programs designed to replace the traditional hardware switchboards used by telephones. Softswitches serve as the gateway between two telephone networks. This really was the fuse that started the VoIP frenzy.

VoIP is sometimes called Broadband Telephone and often just Internet Telephone Service. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and it shook up Telecoms about as much as the first laws that ended Ma Bells monopoly of telephone service.

With an even more impressive bang the new Satellite TV to your PC technology is shaking up the cable TV industry. This Internet TV technology, though it has grown popular recently, has been around for many years.

The very first television episode that was broadcast over the Internet was ABC’s World News Now, back in 1994 and year later the term IPTV or Internet Protocol Television was first used. IPTV is a broadcast, delivered and received through the technologies used for computer networks and not traditional broadcast used in cable formats.

Since 1995 the technology has grown by leaps and bounds and the key is that TV to PC technology has been perfected during the age of global commerce, meaning global competition. This is great for the end user because in a global market the thing that normally makes the biggest impact, is cost.

TV to PC is making an impact because it is very low priced when compared to traditional cable or satellite TV. Because of global competition the now commonly called Internet TV providers only charge a user one time, because that’s what the competition is geared around and that’s what the market expects.

This is a case where Global competition has truly worked in the end users favor and greatly. Already millions of people have paid their one time download fee and gotten rid of their monthly cable or satellite bills.

However, like me, you may have seen it and didn’t believe it was true… I didn’t believe it was possible to get worldwide channels because it sounded too good to be true… And you know what mother warned us about!

Understand, I come from the old school where you pay every month for Cable TV and you got a limited number of channels. So when I hear about over 4,000 channels, millions of free movies we can download anytime we want, with no limits. Then to top it all off we only have to pay one time for the service and never pay another thin dime… Then yeah, it sounds too good to be true.

That said, I was so impressed with the quality of the channels, the number of the channels and the small cost that I canceled my cable TV service the very next day.

TV to PC is rocking the cable providers’ boat because global competition is forcing the Internet TV providers to offer great quality, tons of features and more and more channels daily to stay competitive.

Here’s a big thumbs up to global competition.

Michael Littles is a big supporter of Satellite TV to your PC. Satellite TV to your PC technology. He writes about the benefits of this technology often and even offers a free video to share his knowledge. While they’re still available claim your copy of the video at: http://www.tv2pc.nxagemco.com

Article Source: ArticleSpan

For mid-size to large companies, implementing VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) for their telephone service can be a tremendous benefit. You know that using VoIP can potentially save your company money, especially if you make many domestic long distance calls or international calls. And, while it all sounds exciting, your business depends on your telephone service and it’s more than a little nerve wracking to actually make the switch.

Introducing your new telephone system is not something you can do in a day. It’s important to get it right and you can lay the groundwork for a smooth transition with these following suggestions.

Who’s in Charge?

The initial step in planning the rollout is to decide who will be in charge of each phase. In most midsize to large companies, the telephone system is managed by one department and the IT structure is maintained by another group. In moving to a Voice over Internet Protocol environment, your telephone system becomes part of the IT structure.

However, IT personnel may be unfamiliar with the special requirements of telephony applications while the telephone personnel might not be familiar with the Internet. It is important to ensure that you have people in charge who understand the intricacies of VoIP. You may need to integrate the two departments or bring in a Telecom Management Professional to facilitate the process.

Bit by Bit

It is very risky to switch over all your phones to VoIP at once. A better way would be to set up an initial test with one department or a small group. This rolling out in phases will allow you to pinpoint, diagnose and fix any problems that might occur within a more manageable group. You can then increase your VoIP footprint as you get more comfortable.

Get Your Network Right

A proper Local Area Network (LAN) is paramount in supporting your VoIP system. It is the backbone for the system to operate and ensuring the integrity of your network connection will ensure quality of service (QoS).

Voice over Internet Protocol only works over broadband connections. Businesses want to save money by making the switch to VoIP, but may forget to increase the bandwidth from their Internet Service Provider (ISP). As a result, you can have delays, static, echoes and even lost connections.

You should do a complete assessment of your network to make sure that all switches, cabling, and any other components are of sufficient grade and speed for your system’s needs. An Internet speed test can simulate VoIP phone calls to let you know what you can expect from using your existing connection with a hosted VoIP PBX (Private Branch eXchange). Catching problems early in this area will save countless headaches later.

At this time you should also make sure your server’s security is up to date. Also update all operating systems on all networked devices, including mobile phones.

Quality, Security, New Hardware, and Compliance Issues

We are all used to the very high quality of our traditional telephone network (PSTN – Public Switched Telephone Network) and expect the same from any new service. However, voice transmissions are in real-time and thus less forgiving than regular IP transmissions, such as email. Quality of Service (QoS) will depend on making sure your network has sufficient bandwidth and speed so your calls don’t have jitter, echoes or degradation of voice quality.

VoIP calls are sent over the Internet. Because of this, those voice packets are subject to the same threats as your data. There are many ways that your VoIP network can be compromised and you will need to treat your phone network just like you do your data – with firewalls, encryption and virus protection. Security should be carefully thought out and addressed at the beginning, not as an afterthought.

It’s important to choose the proper phone for your business. Make sure you comparison shop and check such items as screen resolution, HD voice technology, backlit LCD and the many other options that can be used.

If you’re in a regulated industry like healthcare or finance, your data network is subject to government compliance requirements. The same will be true for your new VoIP network. Privacy of client data must be protected.

Another important issue that must be addressed is 911 services. Because of the portability of the equipment, emergency centers don’t always know the address information from your VoIP phone. In most instances now, using a 911 tool, you can verify your emergency service coverage.

Get Out Your Crystal Ball

While you are planning your VoIP needs, take into consideration your possible future needs. Plan for growth in capacity and possible new applications, such as video conferencing. Sometimes it’s easier and more cost effective to upgrade infrastructure now to address future concerns than it would be to have to do the whole process again.

Backup Plans for Network and Power

Unlike your regular phone lines, your VoIP service is dependent on your Internet connection. And, unlike your regular phone that will continue to operate during most power failures, your VoIP service will not. Redundant connections will prevent loss of your phone service if one ISP should go down. Likewise, backup power supplies or backup generators will be needed in the event of a power outage.

You must always monitor and test the network to ensure continuous success. You must also install any code revisions and security updates that your vendor provides. Just as in data networks, a little common sense will go a long way and keeping these guidelines in mind will smooth the way in making the switch to VoIP.

With more than twenty-five years of experience in planning, implementing, managing and consulting on telecommunications projects, Nermine Shaker has generated tens of millions of dollars worth of savings for her clients. She is a Partner at The Sygnal Group, a Telecommunications Management Company that offers unbiased reporting, analysis and implementation of telecom strategies to businesses of all sizes. http://www.SygnalGroup.com

Article Source: ArticleSpan

Wi-Fi internet connections have changed the way we live our lives and spend our time online. Only a few years ago, we were shackled to our desks or wired laptop PCs when we wanted to access the Internet. However, the development of wireless internet technology has

VOIP

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is more than just a cool-sounding acronym – it is a means for placing and receiving phone calls without using a landline or even a major wireless cell phone carrier such as Verizon or AT&T. VOIP allows anyone who has a Wi-Fi enabled cell phone to use services such as Skype whenever they are in range of a connection. These VOIP carriers offer inexpensive calling around the world – with FREE service when communicating with other people who have the same plan or use the same company’s service.

Wi-Fi has helped VOIP grow, as people are now able to take advantage of the service without having to be near their PC while using a compatible headset.

PRODUCTIVITY

Dragging around an Ethernet cable for your laptop and searching for a hard-line connection to the Internet was a daunting task. Now, individuals who can track down an Internet "hot spot" can take advantage of Wi-Fi connection from almost anywhere. The growing number of Wi-Fi signals around the United States has been a boon to student, businesspeople and anyone who needs to work online when they are away from their home or office.

Companies such as T-Mobile revolutionized this industry by offering Wi-Fi hot spots in coffee shops and airports around the country for a small fee. Since that time, however, entire cities have sponsored free Wi-Fi access in their busiest areas, thus allowing anyone to pop open their laptop and get to work when and where they like.

GAMING

Wi-Fi connectivity has helped fuel growth in the Internet gaming industry as well. Individuals can now log on Wi-Fi signals almost anywhere and compete in the latest games using their PC or even next-generation portable consoles such as the Nintendo DS or the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP).

The enhanced speed of Wi-Fi network signals have allowed gamers to play complex, graphically-advanced games with little or no "lag" that can negatively affect the experience. Most games now come with a significant multiplayer element because of the ease in which people can log on and start playing with others around the world.

GPS

Wi-Fi signals can turn any phone into a GPS device. By accessing wireless signals, satellites are able to track the location of a phone and provide directions, maps and other crucial information to the traveler. There are even real-time traffic reports available for those who want to avoid snarls in larger metropolitan areas.

PARENTING

Believe it or not, Wi-Fi has helped parents keep better track of their children as well. It is not uncommon for parents to place a Wi-Fi based GPS device in the cars of their teenagers so they know where they are at all times and that they stay safe when away from the home.

ITP VOIP is the leading New York provider of internet-based calling. Customers agree that the service and pricing at ITP VOIP make them #1! Visit http://www.itpvoip.com today for more information.

Article Source: ArticleSpan

If you’re looking for a way of making cheap phone calls, you’ll have come across new technology called Voice over Internet Protocol (Voice over IP, or VoIP). Most people realise that the decision about whether to use VoIP is really a no-brainer. It allows you to make calls over the internet, instead of through a traditional phone line, so the amount of money it can save you can be significant. But once you’ve made the decision to use VoIP to make cheap calls, what next? How can you make sure you pick a good low-rate VoIP provider?

If you’re convinced by VoIP, but you haven’t yet signed up, then don’t rush in. Curb your excitement about the thought of all those cheap international calls, take your time and consider the following points.

1. Reputation. Customer feedback is worth more than anything a company says about itself. Does the low rate VoIP provider, as well as offering cheap calls, also enjoy a solid, positive reputation and the goodwill of its customers? Can you find any comments or reviews from existing customers? Some VoIP providers will offer testimonials. What do these say? Are they independent? Perhaps you can find someone who already uses that particular VoIP provider, and who might be willing to give you a candid view about the service.

2. Call plans. Think about what countries you call, and how frequently. Check the VoIP provider’s call plans. How many are there? What countries are included? There’s no point signing up for a call plan that includes a raft of countries that you’re never likely to call, or will call only infrequently. Does the provider offer a basic call plan for UK landlines only, as well as one that includes dozens of countries around the world, and various call plans in between? Beware of a VoIP who offers call plans that simply seem to good to be true – it could be a sign that they’re in financial difficulty. Expect to pay from around £6 a month for the most basic, UK-only call plans, and around £20 a month for a call plan that covers numerous countries, with a range of call plans in between.

3. International tariffs. Check the VoIP provider’s international rates for calls to countries that aren’t included in your call plan. You don’t want to have a wonderful, low-rate call plan and find yourself stung by high rates whenever you call a number that’s not included in your plan. Fortunately, because VoIP uses broadband to make calls, you’ll find that even these rates are much, much lower than those offered by traditional phone companies.

4. Tie-ins and fees. Does the VoIP provider want you to commit to a contract? Is there a trial period? What are the penalties, if any, if you cancel your service? Are there any set-up fees, admin fees, equipment fees, postage fees, or any other kind of charges? And you want to make sure that there is a money-back guarantee, no-questions asked trial period? Check the VoIP provider’s website to see how transparent they are about their charges. Ideally, they should be absolutely clear about what you will be charged, and when.

5. Flexibilty. Will the VoIP provider allow you to choose a dialing code? Some will give their customers the option of deciding what dialing code they want – either one that’s local to where they live, like a traditional phone service, or one that’s local to their customers or family. It might not be relevant to your needs right now, but it could be something that would be of great benefit in the future.

6. Customer service and technical support. What’s the customer service and technical support like? Can you contact someone for free, by phone or email, when you need to? Is there someone available to talk to you at any time? Some of the fiercest criticisms of telecoms companies are the result of poor customer service and dreadful technical support. You really don’t want this to ever be a headache, should you ever need it, so make sure that the VoIP provider puts the customer first in these respects.

7. Features. What features does the VoIP offer? Traditional service providers often charge for features such as voicemail, call-waiting, caller id, call forwarding etc. Does the VoIP provider charge for such basic features? Or do they offer them for free?

8. Add-ons. What does the VoIP provider offer in terms of chargeable services you can bolt on to your account later, if you want to? These days, thanks to advances in technology, you can get really useful add-ons. You might, for example, be able to make calls from your computer or laptop, add a second phone line, or create a ‘virtual’ phone number that rings to your own number, so that friends or family who live abroad can call you cheaply.

9. Transparency and clarity. Does the VoIP provider’s site look professional? Is it easy to understand and navigate? Can you find what you want straight away? Is the language clear, concise and unambiguous? Does it inspire confidence that this is a trustworthy VoIP provider?

10. Keep your number. Can you keep your original telephone number if you want to? Is it a straightforward process?

If you’re already convinced (and you should be!) by the cost savings of using VoIP providers to make cheap international calls, it’s best not to rush into signing up with any old provider. Think carefully about the issues listed above, choose your VoIP provider wisely, and cheap calls will be all yours. You’ll never look back.

Costas Kariolis – Online Marketing Manager of Vonage UK. Vonage are leading low rate VoIP providers for home & small business users. Offering cheap phone calls and free international calls to landlines via an internet phone service for a set monthly fee. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Costas Kariolis Online Marketing Manager E-mail: theteam@vonage.com

Article Source: ArticleSpan