VoIP Websites » Issues and Trends

VoIP Providers: Choosing the Cream of the Crop (Part 3)

admin — Tue, 02 May 2006 09:42:59 +0000

Of course with the big players you’ll generally pay about 5 or 10 dollars more, just for the assurance of having a well-known brand name like AT&T or Vonage ( the current largest VoIP providers in the market).

But then more and more companies are spreading its wings, so again, it’s all up to you. However, keep in mind that if a service has less than 100,000 subscribers you might want to think twice before signing up for anything.

Lastly, consider the fact that regardless of its popularity VoIP is still a new technology. So, there are no guaranties that you’ll find the service to your liking. Therefore, switching cold turkey is not a good idea. Whenever you’re trying something new, it’s always advisable to test the waters first.

You might want to consider trying out the 30-day money back guarantees that most providers offer instead of signing for the regular subscription. However, I advise that you read the terms carefully first just to make sure that the offer has no hidden agendas. You might also want to try VoIP as a second line. Once you’re convince that the service is truly what you’re looking for, you can make the full transition.

So, contemplate on these factors first before you take that plunge. After all, information is the key in making a sound decision. Happy hunting!

Reasons why make a switch to VoIP for business? (Part two)

admin — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 10:44:41 +0000

Reason number one, you can choose your area code. For instance, if you have clients in Los Angeles, but you work from New York, you can obtain a Los Angeles area code so that you seemed like you’re right next door. This can be a good way to create a business presence in multiple cities very cost effectively. Next, you can order toll-free lines for less than traditional carriers. Having a toll free line makes your business seem bigger. Also, you can take your calling plan on the road when you travel, and can use your ’softphone’ to make calls to/from hotels. No more paying exorbitant fees for local calls, which saves you money (reason 6)

The higher end VoIP plans allow you to place an unlimited number of calls for one set fee. This can help you budget your business expenses more effectively. You can forward calls to any number when you’re out of the office, meaning more flexibility. VoIP also allows you to call internationally for very low rates, so
you can expand your business reach and influence across the globe. (reason 9). Setting up a VoIP phone system is easy, and can often be done in less than five minutes, provided you have high speed internet and an IP-usable phone (reason 10).

So, for all these reasons, VoIP is great for business. It’s affordable, convenient, and simple to use. As the world of business gets more complex, it’s nice to know your telecommunication systems doen’t have to follow suit.

Philippine VoIP operator faces criminal charges

admin — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 14:42:21 +0000

A small group operating an unlicensed VoIP relay in the Philippines has been arrested in raids conducted by the local police and anti-fraud staff of cellular operator Globe.

The group has been found to operate a facility that routs international calls into Globe telecom’s cellular network without passing licensed International Gateway Facilities. This is done through Voice-over-Internet Protocol, and hence the company lets users call for a fraction of the price of regular international calls.

A cool idea, right? Well, maybe not in a country where the legality of VoIP is still in the grey. At present, only telcos given a Congressional franchise may operate international gateways. And even VoIP services are limited to accredited value-added service providers. The telcos are even opposing this, claiming that only licensed franchisors should be able to operate VoIP.

Sounds like backward thinking to me. But I do guess large companies have a strong lobbying influence with the powers-that-be, in this case, Philippine lawmakers. VoIP has been around since about half a decade, and yet, some people are not yet warming up to the idea that large and expensive telecom facilities have become passé—calls can now be routed through the Internet at a fraction of the cost, and with added features and benefits.

UMA challenges VoIP

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 11:22:25 +0000

Cellular providers might just have the last laugh, as the industry moves towards wireless and VoIP convergence. A new technology, dubbed UMA—or Unlicensed Mobile Access—is the traditional mobile operators’ response to the growing popularity of VoIP, and this might just be the Skype- or Vonage-killer the telcos have been looking for.
UMA basically allows seamless integration of cellular and broadband Internet connectivity via WiFi. Telcos envision the ideal scenario as residential or office WiFi networks serving a similar function as a cell site. So for instance, the moment you arrive home or at the office, your mobile phone will be switching to WiFi mode, and using on your own broadband connection to link up to the network.
Well, it’s essentially WiFi plus wireless, so what’s the difference with VoWiFi? Well, ordinarily, you’d be on a different network from your mobile provider, if you had VoWiFi, even with the current WiFi-enabled cellular phones. But with UMA, you are still on the mobile network, and you may be reached with the same telephone number—the integration is seamless!
Whether VoWiFi is the cellular killer or the other way around, consumers are sure to be the clear winners in this case, as intense competition is likely to bring handset prices and service costs down.

VoIP and the US Government

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 12:37:36 +0000

The US government has begun regulating VoIP technology. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. VoIP is the technology where voice is transferred into data then is carried over the Internet by Packet Switching technology. Packet Switching has become the standard means of telecommunications. A Packet is a unit of information, and the packets are then routed over the Internet. This is in contrast with circuit switching. The early telephone system is a perfect example of circuit switching network. The circuit is an electrical current, reminiscent of the early switchboard operators who would “connect” the callers.
VoIP works with a broadband or high speed Internet connection and allows you to place phone calls over the Internet rather than with telephone lines. There are variations between different VoIP service providers. Some only allow communication between two computers that are running the same service, while others will allow you to call any phone from your VoIP service provider.
VoIP has many advantages, simply because it is cost effective and Packet Switching uses less bandwidth then Circuit Switching which in turn saves money. Since the inception of VoIP, it was clear that because VoIP utilizes Packet Switching and not Circuit, VoIP was in a new category all by itself. Hundreds of years have passed, dedicated to passing and establishing certain laws regarding Circuit Networks and telecommunications, yet VoIP has gracefully slipped beneath all of the established rules and regulations.
It is due to this fact that VoIP is more cost efficient. VoIP is not held to the same tax rules and regulations that apply to PSTN networks. Though we can expect further legal matters to address this issue. Furthermore, VoIP service providers have been concerned about regulations for IP communications being left to each state’s interpretation. This could prove to be an unsightly battle in the future. VoIP technology is booming and by the year 2008, it is expected that most companies will be using VoIP for their business needs. Many VoIP service providers are in favor of Federal Regulations to accelerate the rapid growth of VoIP and provide stability for customers nationwide. Currently, the FCC has begun regulations with VoIP, yet we can be sure that in the next few years, we will see rapid advancements in the race to regulate this phenomenal technology.
The FCC has initiated two major moves of concern to all VoIP technological advances everywhere. The first concerns CALEA and the other is in regards to Enhanced 911.
CALEA stands for Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act. CALEA would enable law enforcement to issue taps on VoIP data the same as they do with PSTN. This is an interesting area, because VoIP technology has now opened the door, through CALEA, to monitor other forms of Packet Switching networks. If VoIP service providers can be called upon for tap and trace procedures, and if it doesn’t matter if the communications were PC to PC, then that would extend to Instant Messaging services, gamers, and the like. When it comes to the area of the FBI, CALEA, and tapping VoIP there are some major issues to consider. First, the government rulings have been established for decades regarding Circuit Switched technology, by transferring these rules to VoIP (packet switch) we are redefining the nature of VoIP.
The second issue that the FCC has established new regulations is in regards to Enhanced 911. This stems from the fact that when VoIP first went mainstream, there was no way for users to contact 911. This lead to many problems and the FCC has declared that if subscribers don’t sign a waiver stating that they understand their VoIP services will not connect to 911 like PSTN networks, they will have to be cut off. Currently, the new Enhanced 911 service does have its imperfections, and we can expect to see more growth in this area as VoIP service providers redefine telecommunications.
The impact of these rulings lies in the fact that the US government is trying to enforce rules upon VoIP technology as if it were PSTN. The truth of the matter is VoIP is very different from PSTN, and what the implications of this kind of ruling may lead to in the future is unchartered water.