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IP-Enabled Services

Internet Voice, also known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), is a technology that allows you to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line. Some services using VoIP may only allow you to call other people using the same service, but others may allow you to call anyone who has a telephone number - including local, long distance, mobile, and international numbers. Also, while some services only work over your computer or a special VoIP phone, other services allow you to use a traditional phone through an adaptor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is VoIP/Internet Voice?

VoIP allows you to make telephone calls using a computer network, over a data network like the Internet. VoIP converts the voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that travels over the internet then converts it back at the other end so you can speak to anyone with a regular phone number. When placing a VoIP call using a phone with an adapter, you'll hear a dial tone and dial just as you always have. VoIP may also allow you to make a call directly from a computer using a conventional telephone or a microphone.

How Can I Place a VoIP Call?

Depending on the service, one way to place a VoIP call is to pick up your phone and dial the number, using an adaptor that connects to your existing high-speed Internet connection. The call goes through your local telephone company to a VoIP provider. The phone call goes over the Internet to the called party's local telephone company for the completion of the call. Another way is to utilize a microphone headset plugged into your computer. The number is placed using the keyboard and is routed through your cable modem.

What Kind of Equipment Do I Need?

A broadband (high speed Internet) connection is required. This can be through a cable modem, or high speed services such as DSL or a local area network. You can hook up an inexpensive microphone to your computer and send your voice through a cable modem or connect a phone directly to a telephone adaptor.

Is there a difference between making a Local Call and a Long Distance Call?

Some VoIP providers offer their services for free, normally only for calls to other subscribers to the service. Your VoIP provider may permit you to select an area code different from the area in which you live. This means you may not incur long distance charges if you call a number in your area code regardless of geography. It also means that people who call you may incur long distance charges depending on their area code and service.

Some VoIP providers charge for a long distance call to a number outside your calling area, similar to existing, traditional wireline telephone service. Other VoIP providers permit you to call anywhere at a flat rate for a fixed number of minutes.

If I have Internet Voice service, who can I call?

Depending upon your service, you might be limited only to other subscribers to the service, or you may be able to call any phone number, anywhere in the world. The call can be made to a local number, a mobile phone, to a long distance number, or an international number. You may even utilize the service to speak with more than one person at a time. The person you are calling does not need any special equipment, just a phone.

What Are Some Advantages of Internet Voice?

Because Internet Voice is digital, it may offer features and services that are not available with a traditional phone. If you have a broadband internet connection, you need not maintain and pay the additional cost for a line just to make telephone calls.

With many Internet Voice plans you can talk for as long as you want with any person in the world (the requirement is that the other person has an Internet connection). You can also talk with many people at the same time without any additional cost.

What Are Some disadvantages of Internet Voice?

If you're considering replacing your traditional telephone service with Internet Voice, there are some possible differences:

• Some Internet Voice services don't work during power outages and the service provider may not offer backup power;

• It may be difficult for some Internet Voice services to seamlessly connect with the 911 dispatch center or identify the location of Internet Voice 911 callers;

• They may or may not offer white page listings.

Can I use my Computer While I talk on the Phone?
Yes

Can I Take My Phone Adapter with me When I Travel?
You may be able to use your VoIP service wherever you travel as long as you have a high speed Internet connection available. In that case it would work the same as from your home or business.

Does my Computer Have to be Turned on?
Not if you are making calls with a phone and adaptor or special VoIP phone, but your broadband Internet connection needs to be active. You can also use your computer while talking on the phone.

How Do I Know If I have a VoIP phone Call?
It will ring like any other call.

Can I make free or cheaper phone calls using the Internet?

Yes. Phone, fax and video calls (IP telephony) can now be placed over the Internet (or any IP network) using market available client software or hardware. In most instances, users will only need to make a one-time purchase of client software or hardware to begin placing unlimited long distance calls for the cost of an Internet connection. The quality of the calls will not match that of calls placed over the traditional phone network but it should be as good as ham radio or cb communications. With additional hardware and software purchases, higher quality communications can be achieved.

How does the technology work?

Briefly, an Internet telephony application compresses and digitizes your analog voice signals and sends them as individual packets across an IP network (a digital network) to the recipient Internet telephony application. The recipient application then decompresses the voice transmissions and you have Internet voice communications.

Internet calls can be supported from PC to PC, PC to Phone, Phone to PC or Phone to Phone:

PC to PC

Allows Internet users to exclusively utilize PCs to place or receive a phone call through the use of a software or hardware application. This method of communication requires that the user's computer have a microphone, speakers and sound card. However, besides just making phone calls, many of the PC to PC software phone applications also enable users to hold group conferences (3 or more people), share the same PC screen, or surf the Internet as a group. In addition, some PC to PC solutions also support video transmissions through the use of a PC camera.

PC to Phone or Phone to PC

Allows Internet users to place a call from their PC to a traditional phone or to receive a call on their PC from a traditional phone. These forms of communication utilize software or hardware applications that can connect a phone to a computer or that connect between the phone and the wall jack.

Phone to Phone

Allows Internet users to place an Internet call directly from a traditional phone to a traditional phone. With some solutions, a computer is not even necessary. This type of communication generally requires the user to open an account with an Internet phone company and pay per minute charges, however, there are some client products that will enable you to use traditional phones without paying for the service.

What do I need to begin utilizing the Internet to make free or cheaper phone calls?

Generally, you will need at least a 75 MHz system, with a sound card, microphone, speakers, a connection to the Internet and the software or hardware application that will enable you to place and receive calls over the Internet. Most of the Internet telephony applications will only allow you to communicate with other users of the same application, so both you and your call's recipient must be using the same Internet telephone application.

How to begin utilizing the Internet to make phone calls:

Individuals or small businesses that want to make Internet calls will need to download an Internet phone software program or obtain an Internet phone device. It will need to be installed in or connected to the device (computer or telephone) that you would like to use to make a call, configured to operate properly, then you can begin making calls.

Medium to large sized businesses that would like to utilize the Internet to place and receive calls can utilize the software or hardware applications mentioned above, however, those applications do not always provide the best possible communications quality and typically only allow one user per application to place or receive calls. There are many other Internet communications solutions that are better suited for corporations as they enable corporations to implement Internet communication solutions over a PBX, to voice enable web sites, to use an existing or virtual private IP network to communicate between multiple corporate locations, or even to offer Internet telephone services. These solutions will cost more but the ROI can be expected within a year of implementation.

Individuals and corporations can also utilize one of the many Internet phone companies (ITSPs) to place calls from a PC or phone to any PC or phone in the world. Using an Internet phone company will enable you to bypass the initial purchase of software or hardware equipment, however, you will have to pay per minute charges associated with phone bills .

How to enhance your Internet phone experience:

To enhance your telecom experience, you can also purchase additional equipment such as headphones with an attached microphone (recommended), a camera (for video communications), or audio and video cards specifically designed for Internet communications. To view a listing of such devices, visit our computer peripheral section.

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