VOIP Phone Solutions Reviewed

Have you considered using VoiP for your phone service? I certainly did, and after using two different companies, I have a clear choice of which one I prefer. I will explain a bit about which one I prefer and exactly why I prefer  it. I have Vonage currently, and approximately 2 years ago, I had AT&T's VoiP service. Between the two, I personally prefer AT&T.

My reason for preferring AT&T is simple, they offer a 1-800 number in which you can call from a payphone, enter your access ID number, and then make a phone call as if you are calling from your home phone! Even works from a payphone, or if your calling from a number you want to keep private. This nifty little feature is included standard in their monthly fee and does not cost any extra. Since their service included unlimited calls nationwide, there are no extra fees associated with going over minutes or any other hassles. I am the type of person who usually has bad luck and ends up stuck somewhere with a dead cell phone battery, so for me this feature was great.

Vonage is a bit for expanded in their coverage area; however, their service seems to be a bit less robust than AT&T's service. I have an internet-based business, and it involves the use of a lot of bandwidth being carried over my internet connection, this is normally not a problem, until I try to use the phone at the same time as working. I always have to adjust the speed limits on the bandwidth when I am on the phone now. This is a major hassle at times.

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Is a VoIP Right for You?

I first heard about a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) about three years ago. There was only one company that provided "land line" phone service in the area where we were living, and I was complaining to some friends about the high  cost. We had a basic phone line with no additional "frills" such as call waiting, caller ID, or voice mail, and we were paying about $35 each month. My neighbors shared the amount of money that they were saving each month by using a VoIP and I decided I needed to find out more. There are a number of factors that should be considered in making an "informed decision" as to whether VoIP service is right for you.

How it Works

In order to utilize a VoIP, you need to have the right equipment. You typically need a broadband Internet connection (essentially, a high speed internet access connection such as DSL or cable); a modem; a phone adapter (different providers typically offer adapters that are specific to their service), and a phone. Using a VoIP is similar to using a regular phone service. All you have to do is pick up the phone to call others (you call anyone who has a phone line) and your phone will ring when a call is calling through. The logistics are a bit different in that the phone adapter converts your voice into data, sends it through your Internet connection, and then converts it back into your phone when the person on the other end picks up the phone.

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WalkieTalkie Voip iPhone App Review - AppVee.com

Review of WalkieTalkie Voip by AppVee.com - The definitive source for iPhone app reviews.
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Press/Play: Mobile VoIP Wars- Who you gonna call?

Mobile Voice over IP is causing a stir. Mobile operators say they're being bypassed, but VoIP companies say they have apps that people really want to use. In this week's Press/Play, Leila Makki pushes some buttons on the leading mobile VoIP clients.
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Voice Over Internet Protocol: The Pros and Cons of Vonage VoIP

In these days where telecommunications is a leading industry, households are seeking information left and right, looking for the various alternatives. It seems that most people, at least those in the larger cities like New York, Boston and Chicago have opted to dump their landline and just stick with their wireless cell phones. That's what I did for awhile. Why does one need a home phone, really, if you can pretty much setup your wireless service for the cheapest option according to your specific calling habits? After all, most companies now offer weekends and nights free so as long as you keep your daytime chatter to a minimum, your monthly bill could probably be fairly predictable, making a convenient service for you and your family. However, there are occasions where one might prefer to use a landline in addition to or instead of a cell phone. For instance, maybe you reside in a bad network area for service. There's nothing worse than not being able to reach the outside world while at home, not to mention the fact that it's unsafe. Or perhaps you have a business you operate from home where dozens of calls are made in and out each day. In these cases, then, it may be a good idea to use a landline as your main telecommunication device.

Either that, or you can just get Vonage. That is, you can jump on the VoIP bandwagon and set yourself up with a phone service through your computer. Vonage is one of the several companies to offer telephone service through the VoIP method. VoIP, or voice over internet protocol is a newly developed means of telecommunications that works by rerouting your telephone service through your high speed internet connection. There are many benefits to using VoIP as your telecommunications alternative but also many downfalls. A few of the pros and cons of switching over to Vonage are listed below.

Vonage: The Pros

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Features Included with Most VoIP Services

VoIP Features

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology has changed the way the world communicates like no other invention since the telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. The use of VoIP does far more than to  provide users with free long distance calling. Modern VoIP service comes complete with a large array of advanced features that can rarely be matched by traditional telephone service.

VoIP not only offers the same features as a traditional telephone company, but also provides consumers with a host of features that can only be powered by a digital medium, such as VoIP. The advanced features offered by VoIP have helped pave the way for the next generation of communications technology. Let's analyze some of the features that are available with VoIP service.

Before looking at the more advanced features, it is important to note the basic features that are included with VoIP. When compared to the local telephone company, most consumers recognized this as being more of a "complete package". With VoIP, however, these really are the basics, and are just the beginning of what you will have available with VoIP.

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Reasons to Switch to VoIP Telephone Service

Switching to VoIP Broadband Telephone

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is one of the fastest growing markets in the communications industry. VoIP is essentially a family of technologies that work together in a way that allows computer networks to be used  for voice applications, such as telephone calls. Each day, more people make the switch from traditional telephone service to VoIP. Let's look at some of the top reasons for why people switch to VoIP.

Quick, Easy and Convenient

One of the first aspects new VoIP customers will encounter when switching from traditional telephone service is how quick and easy it is to set up a VoIP account. There is no need to spend 30 minutes on hold to reach an operator who tries to load you down with expensive extra features. Signing up for a VoIP account takes an average of two minutes to complete, and customers can even transfer their existing telephone number. The convenience of setting up a VoIP account is certainly one of the initial reasons to switch to VoIP.

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Is Somebody Listening to Your VoIP Calls?

VoIP Security

Perhaps not. But it is a fact that if somebody wants to, he can tap every VoIP call you make. This would be an invasion on your privacy but not much harmful if you were making small talk with your friends or inquiring about the health of your uncle Frank.

On the other hand, if you were making a business call in which you exchanged sensitive information and if that phone was tapped, this  could have serious consequences for you.

While snooping is also possible on the traditional landline phones, it is not that easy to carry out. The criminal needs to physically fiddle with your phone line cable to introduce a tapping device. This carries more risk of exposure than the tapping of a VoIP phone. A snooper can do the nefarious work anonymously sitting in front of his computer at home. And he can get at you three ways - through your internet service provider, VoIP service provider or your own pc if there is any security lapse at any of these points.

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Building VoIP Clusters with Asterisk (1 of 6) (HD)

Building high-performance VoIP Clusters using Asterisk (Open Source). Speaker: Kevin P. Fleming, Director of Software Technologies for Digium (c) 2007 Stealth Communications. Recorded at Voice Peering Forum Winter 2007.
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Get the Most Out of Your Phone Service by Switching to VOIP

A Comprehensive Resource for Getting the Right VOIP

VoIP stands for "voice over Internet provider" and since its heyday, has made magnificent strides towards replacing the old, pricey, often limited analog phone lines (PSTN) most have become comfortable with, and are accustomed to. Switching to VoIP not only often saves you money, but offers you a multitude of features that usually come with a heavy price tag or are not offered at all. VoIP residential unlimited plans generally range from around $15 - $25 a month and many providers offer unlimited talk time to a wide range of foreign countries at little or no additional cost. Most likely you can have both high speed Internet and a VoIP line (roughly $40 - $60 a month together) for less than your current analog long distance line.

VoIP providers also typically offer you a plethora of features like caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, call transfer, 3-way calling, caller ID block, call return, do not disturb, anonymous call block, repeat dialing, international & directory assistance block, call hunt, ring lists, online access to your account, plus voice-mail you can check from your phone, while online, or even have forwarded to your mobile phone in text message format! It's also an excellent service for businesses, since most providers offer affordable toll free numbers and fax lines.

Like a regular phone line, VoIP sends your call to a network where it is forwarded to its destination. The difference is that with PSTN the call is sent in an analog format, but with VOIP it's sent as a digital code. The difference can be compared to a vinyl LP or cassette versus the modern CD or MP3 player (both produce and receive sound in digital format). Despite the misconception that VoIP sound quality doesn't match up with traditional phone lines, Global studies show that the leading VoIP providers have actually surpassed the overall audio quality of PSTN, and that leading cable VoIP providers have also outperformed PSTN in overall reliability.

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Introduction to VoIP; A Few Tips for Those Considering VoIP Deployments

Avaya VoIP Deployment Considerations

Before you can deploy a certified VoIP solution, you need a network assessment to verify you have properly prepared your network for the VoIP traffic that will be running on it. Unless you have a great deal of experience in deploying  VoIP, an assessment is suggested and if your plan is that "with this much bandwidth, we don't need QoS", then you ABSOLUTELY need an assessment.

So, my first section is ....

The Network Assessment:
Performing a data network assessment is very different than performing a VoIP network assessment. Although the purpose of both VoIP and Data only networks is to move bits from host A to host B a very real difference exists in the requirements of each type of network. The function of VoIP technologies requires very strict standards that don't necessarily exist in a Data only network. Those standards, if not adhered to, will noticeably affect call quality.

Only in the last several years has the IT community generally accepted that VoIP Technologies are ready for the office environment and since its acceptance, have companies just begun to welcome VoIP technology. The slow acceptance of this emerging technology is despite the fact that same compression algorithms and standards for VoIP have been around for years. By far the largest reason that VoIP technology was not "ready for the real world" lies in the network that carried VoIP traffic not being ready. Even still today, if the requirements outlined in this and documents similar to this network assessment are not strictly adhered to, many companies find that they are not satisfied with the performance of their VoIP implementation.

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Product Review: MagicJack VOIP

VOIP Tech Gadget that Lets You Place Calls Over the Internet Using Your Landline Phone

I first became aware of the MagicJack in the Fall of 2008. Their convincing television commercial and promises of free calls over the internet was so alluring, I had to find out more about this unique money-saving device. I was especially curious  how this tiny, futuristic-looking device that plugs into my computer's USB port was going to save me some cash on my phone bill. So, I hopped on the internet and signed up for their free 30-day guarantee offer.

The MagicJack website was equally informative and intriguing. With videos, features, and copius logos and quotes from major media who have reviewed the product including PC Magazine Editor's Choice, I was assured the MagicJack was a quality tested product that performed as it claims. And for the most part, it does.

Setting Up the MagicJack

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Skype VOIP Product Review

Free Videoconferencing Over the Internet, but Lacking in VOIP Features and More Expensive Than Some Competitors

The broadband revolution has brought us music, video, and pictures at the click of a mouse. But it has also inspired a new way of communicating on the cheap: VOIP, or voice over internet protocol.

Using VOIP, broadband users can subscribe to free or low-cost calling through the internet. One provider offering VOIP phone service is Skype. In this article, we'll take a closer look at Skype's  features and how the service stacks up against the competition.

Overview

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WhatsUp Gold VoIP Monitor for Cisco IP SLA Enabled Devices

WhatsUp Gold VoIP Monitor accesses information generated by Cisco IP SLA (service level agreement) enabled devices to monitor jitter, packet loss, latency and other calculated VoIP performance values. WhatsUp Gold VoIP (Voice over IP) Monitor provides you with the ability to monitor, collect and report on your network's capacity to support and maintain acceptable performance for VoIP call quality.The VoIP Monitor leverages WhatsUp Gold and seamlessly integrates to keep you up-to-date on the ...
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Is Vonage VOIP Worth It?

Before You Replace Your Phone with Vonage VOIP, Here's What You Can Expect

For years, people have dreamed of making free phone calls on the net. But the one problem was bandwidth - dial-up connectivity lacked the signal-carrying capacity necessary to make person-to-person calls over traditional copper wires.

With today's popularity of broadband, the dream of free phone calls on the net has become a reality. The technology is called VOIP, or voice over internet protocol. One of the most popular VOIP providers is Vonage, who promises to lower your phone bill substantially.

In this article, we'll take a closer look at Vonage's VOIP offering and how it compares to other popular VOIP phone providers.

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Ooma VOIP Product Review

It May Have a Funny Name, but Ooma VOIP Really Delivers

VOIP, or voice over internet protocol, is an increasingly popular way to save money by placing phone calls over the internet. One provider offering a unique and innovative VOIP phone service is Ooma. In this article, we'll take a closer look at Ooma's features and how it compares to other popular VOIP phone providers.


Overview

Ooma is a unique VOIP service provider that facilitates free local and long-distance calling anywhere in the continental United States. And when we say "free," we mean free; the only price you pay is your purchase of an Ooma Hub (the signal converter box) and an optional Ooma Scout (remote unit for another phone in the home). No monthly fees, no hidden charges; just one purchase and that's it.

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Secure VOIP communication with ZRTP

Linux Journal Presents: Phil Zimmermann comes to the rescue again with ZRTP, a protocol for securely transfering keys across a VOIP network. Transcript: dark-code.bulix.org
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OOMA VOIP Phone Adapter

OOMA is an award-winning product that gives you free home phone service. Quite simply, no more nickel and dime fees and no more monthly phone bills. Acclaimed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Business Week, and featured as one of the year's hottest products in Parade and In Style magazines, ooma offers premium home phone service as it was meant to be. Your one-time purchase of the ooma Hub device partners with your high-speed Internet and your existing home ...
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Verizon Hub Demo - Home VoIP phone and Internet tablet

A quick first-look at the Verizon Hub, a VoIP home phone with a large 7" Internet tablet. More info: www.mobileburn.com
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How to Get Free or Low-Cost VoIP on Your IPhone

A Guide to Scoring Cheap Personal and Businss VoIP on Your IPhone

It's easy to get free or at least low-cost personal and business VoIP service on your iPhone - you just need the right apps! For a full review of personal and business VoIP applications for the iPhone, keep reading.

Fring VoIP iPhone App

Fring is the premier iPhone VoIP application. It's available for free and lets you make free VoIP calls with ohter fring members or use  Skype to make Skype VOIP calls to other Skype users or simply through your Skype account.

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