2 Big Reasons Why You Should Be Using Voip

Due to lower prices and more flexibility many people have been making the switch over to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) systems for long-distance calls. But what exactly is VoIP, how does it work and more importantly how will it save you money? We'll cover all of that, but first, here's a quick primer on VoIP.

There is a very good chance that you have been using VoIP for some time now. That's because phone companies caught on a while back that the technology can streamline their routing of thousands of calls. But these days VoIP is gaining ground over analog phone lines in both homes and businesses for making calls. VoIP is often termed an 'international calling service' but the fact is it is often used to make local calls as well.

While iIt's been referred to as IP Telephony and VoBB (voice over broadband) the most commonly used term is Voice over IP (VoIP). The FCC definition of VoIP states that it "converts your voice to a digital signal that travels over the internet." Which means that your call is sent over the internet rather than your telephone line. (Telephone gateways are necessary at the point of origin and at the call's destination, however.)

And what about that "flexibility?" As long as you have a working connection on the internet you can make a call from anywhere with voice over IP. And it's because of this ability to access the internet from almost anywhere, you can bring your mobile phone with you when you leave town and use it as though you were back at home or at your office. And if you find that too inconvenient you could simply make the call using voice over IP on your laptop, without the phone. To do this you would need to have a mic and speakers on your laptop.

These days our regular phones come equipped with a wide variety of attractive features. Not only will most VoIP companies provide you with these additional features, they also won't charge you for them. So you'll still have call waiting, caller identification, repeat dial and 3-way calling. Most VoIP companies will provide call forwarding to voice mail for a small fee. As you shop for your VoIP provider, make certain you understand what services are included in the base price and which you have to pay extra for.

There are actually three ways you can use voice over IP. You can call on a regular phone with adapter, an IP (internet protocol) phone or use your PC to make any kind of call including cheap international ones. Here's how each one works.

When using a standard phone to make a voice over IP call you will need to use an ATA (analog telephone adaptor). You will then be able to convert the analog signal into a digital one by using the adaptor to connect your phone to the computer. It's incredibly easy to install and use and it's the most common way people are using voice over IP services today.

Even if you saw an IP phone the chances are you wouldn't know it. It closely resembles a business phone except for the connector. IP phones use an Ethernet connector instead of the standard RJ-11 connection. It has everything needed to handle a VoIP call by connecting to your router. (By the way, you can make VoIP calls from any Wi-Fi spot if you have a Wi-Fi phone.) As long as your computer has the right tools (and most of them already have them loaded on when you buy it) you're good to go. One thing to keep in mind though is that a fast internet connection is always better (suck as a cable modem or DSL). A slower connection can only lead to frustration and the likelihood that your call will not be satisfactory.

Now let's have a look at the price advantages. When using voice over IP for a long-distance call (or a local one) you can skirt around traditional phone company and reduce your costs or eliminate them completely. As voice over IP calls are routed the majority of the way over the internet you are not charged the full distance between you and person you have called. Instead you're paying mere pennies for accessing the internet and the two local phone networks (both the origin and destination points).

You are you not charged anything above your internet service provider monthly fee when you choose the computer to computer approach. Since you're paying for that anyway, the calls are free. And if you're a regular user, you'll find it quite convenient to have your phone and computer integrated.

When accessing a free internet message system you'll pay nothing when placing a call. Or (and this is neat) when the number you are calling uses a free internet message system. This is why voice over IP has the reputation for delivering cheap international calls. You can call literally around the world for little or no fee.

The different voice over IP services have different rate sheets according to their own standards. There will be cases where subscribers to the same service providers can contact each other for free. Other times the charges will be laid out similarly to traditional long-disctance fees but far less expensive. And in still other cases, your voice over IP provider may charge you a nominal flat rate for a fixed number of minutes. But in the end you will be amazed at just how inexpensive these services are to use. The majority of the VoIP services have rate sheets and price calculators built into their websites quickly enabling you to see what kind of fees you'll be paying.