Top 3 Reasons to Switch to VoIP
Voice over IP has become
very popular in the last year. Almost
everyone has heard of Vonage and
thousands have dumped their old long
distance provider to go with the new
internet revolution.
1. Price - This was the primary reason
that I switched to Vonage. It
immediately reduced my long distance
phone bill in half. This is the primary
reason why most users made the switch.
2. Convenience - Face it, when you only
have to worry about paying one bill
instead of two that is just easier.
However it isn't just having one bill to
pay that makes VoIP more convenient. I
really like the way I can log into my
account and customize all the features
that come with my voice over IP package.
With my old long distance provider I
would have to buy all 10 of the features
they offered even though I only need two
or three. The most convenient aspect of
the features is the online voicemail.
Simply login and download the message
and play it on you PC.
3. Flexibility - With Voice over IP I
never have to change my phone number
again! I simply take my VoIP router with
me and boom I am back in communication
with my friends and family. I don't have
to worry about telling all the people I
know that I have a new number.
I can also get a second line that allows me
to have a number from a different area code. So,
if I have a friend in Vancouver that calls me in
Toronto regularly I can get a second line with a
Vancouver area code. My friend now can call a
local number and talk to me without paying any
long distance charges (my friend doesn't have
VoIP).
Important Facts
To make your VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
work good enough you need to have broadband
internet connection. Internet broadband
connections are represented with cable or DSL
modems with bandwidth of 56 kbits and higher.
The main idea of VoIP is voice connection using
computers. All you need is appropriate software
installed on your computer and microphone with a
headset or speakers connected. Do not forget
that using such software is free and easy to
download.
Unlike computer-to-computer calls which are free
of charge VoIP software is also used as simple
trunk-line. But even so such calls are still
cheaper then phone-to-phone ones.
Remember- to make computer-to-computer calls you
should run the same software at both sides. But
in case of making cellular or land-line call via
VoIP no extra software or equipment is needed.
How Does It Work
In order to be able to send your voice over the
Internet, it has to be transformed into digital
data. The digitalization process is called
'sampling' and involves 'breaking' the sound
into very small pieces that can be characterized
by a number value. After this process has ended,
the digital result is compressed and divided
into small 1500 bytes packets that will be send
over the Internet. Packets contain not only the
voice but also data regarding their order needed
for a correct reconstruction and data about
their origin. Once the packets have reached the
destination they will be reconstructed and the
resulting digital data will be transformed back
into analogue sound and played by the speakers.
A broadband connection is required due to the
large amount of data that has to be transmitted
over the Internet in a short time to avoid
noticeable delays. This is the reason why the
system is more popular among companies that
already use and can easier afford such
connections.
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