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Voip Broadband Phone Service - The Future Is Here!
By Debbie Jacobsen, Sat Dec 10th
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In 2004 the terms VoIP, internet phone service and IP phone wereforeign to almost everyone except technology professionals andgeeky computer types.� Now most people I talk with are at leastslightly familiar with these terms, as the internet phoneservice market is now starting to take off.� Contrary to whatmany people believe, VoIP is not a new technology.� It wasintroduced to the public in 1995, by a company called Vocaltec.�By using internet phone software, registered users could makephone calls via their computer using a dialup internetconnection.� I made my first internet phone call in 2000 usingmy computer, a headset, a dialup internet connection and a freeaccount with Net2Phone.� The sound quality was terrible, but itwas an absolutely fascinating experience to be making a freelong distance call over my computer.� Now in 2005, ten yearsafter the first commercial use of VoIP, the technology isfinally ready for prime time!��
Significant improvements have been made with VoIP in the pastfive years, and communications companies have started investingheavily in the technology.� The quality and reliability ofservice has improved so much within the past year or so thatVoIP is now suitable and reliable enough for everydayresidential and business use.� In fact, so much attention is nowbeing given to the continued improvement of VoIP technology thatit's well on it's way to becoming the PREFERRED method ofcommunication by home users and businesses alike.�
There were around 1.5 million internet phone users in the USA in2004, and around 2.1 million today according toTelecommunications Industry News.� According to variousstatistics I've seen, the number of VoIP users in the UnitedStates is projected to be around 17 to 18 million between 2008and 2010.� This in an increase of over 1000% within the next 3to 5 years!� Experts also estimate that by 2007, 75% of longdistance calls worldwide will be made via the internet.� The USis currently not the biggest user of VoIP technology -� thereare about 7 million users in Japan out of approximately 12million worldwide today.� The internet phone industry isbooming, and will continue to grow over the next decade.� Itseems that everyone including EBay wants in on the explodingVoIP market now, as evidenced by their purchase of VoIP providerSkype in September 2005.
More people are showing interest in obtaining Internet PhoneService because they are starting to hear more about it.� Thisis due in part to more "converted users" raving about the amountof money they are saving and the great features they get forfree (I love my Packet8 VoIP service so much I wrote a websiteabout it!).� A greater awareness has also come from increasedadvertising efforts by major cable and communicationscompanies.� Many cable television and phone service companies(like Verizon) have been pouring money into VoIP technology inorder to capture some of this new market share.
In an effort to hold on to their customers, many regular PSTN(public switched telephone network) phone companies are nowoffering "unlimited long distance calling" for a flat monthlyfee of around $39 per month.� Current subscribers are startingto cancel their traditional phone service as they are convincedthat VoIP is a better option.��Not only is VoIP cheaper
(under$25 a month for unlimited calling), but most providers throw inall of the optional features for free.� Phone companies chargeextra for services like voicemail, caller id and call waiting.��I think phone companies have missed the boat when it comes tocompeting with VoIP, but that's a topic for anotherarticle......
With all of the telephone service options now available, it isbecoming difficult for consumers to choose the right providerfor their needs:�
Should you subscribe with a true VoIP service service provider(like Vonage, Packet8, SunRocket, Voip.net, etc...), or shouldyou choose the phone service that your cable companyprovides?�If you compare VoIP provider rates with those ofthe cable company, "pure" VoIP providers are clearly thewinner.� Cable companies do provide free installation, butVoIP is really very simple to install.� Many cable companiesoffer discount through "package deals", but it's always smart tocompare total cost and included features with VoIP providersbefore making a decision.� For a comparison of major VoIPproviders, visit http://
Should you switch to VoIP and get rid of your landline phone, orkeep what you've got and pay for unlimited long distancecalling?� If you don't use the internet, keep your landlinephone and forget about VoIP for now.� To get the most bang foryour buck out of VoIP service, you need to have cable internetservice.� This eliminates the need for a phone line and "dialtone" that you have to pay the phone company for.� To use VoIPin �the most cost effective way, calls should�go through yourcable broadband connection - this eliminates the need forstandard phone service.� VoIP does not work well over dial upinternet; you really need broadband in order to get the bestaudio quality.
Depending on your long distance calling habits, VoIP internetphone service can save you between 40% - 80% per year vs.traditional PSTN phone service.� The technology is mature nowand the quality of service is great (and getting better all thetime).� It's hard to beat unlimited local and long distancecalling for less than $25 per month; plus you get freevoicemail, caller id, call waiting, call return, and all theother features that normally cost extra.�
VoIP is definitely here to stay, and cost savings is only one ofthe many benefits it offers.� Internet phones will change theway the world communicates.� It's now possible to live inanother country and have a US phone number, you can have several"virtual" phone numbers in different states or travel the worldand bring your home phone with you.� It's an exciting time inthe world of communications - are you ready to switch to VoIP?�
� Copyright 2005, Debbie Jacobsen. All rights reserved.
�This article may be used without permission as long as itremains in original form, including live links.
About the author:Debbie Jacobsen is an Information Technology professional andauthor of http://www.saveonphoneservice.com, an informativewebsite about the benefits and features of internet phoneservice as well as a comparison of top VoIP providers. To seemore of her articles about VoIP, visit her blog athttp://djvoip.blogspot.com.
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