Is The Phone Network, Cellular Network Or Internet More Suitable For Communication?

We are living at an exciting time for the progression of science and technology. It seems like no sooner have we grasped how one gadget works then we are presented with another, seemingly more impressive version. One area that has experienced significant changes is that of communication technology.

The telephone is a piece of technology that we are all familiar with and, surprisingly, the system has required only minor adjustments over the past century. Until the latter half of the 20th century the telephone was regarded as the only means of contacting friends or family quickly and efficiently. Nowadays, the traditional phone network is being rivalled by the internet and cellular networks.

Mobile phones have advanced rapidly in the last decade and tariffs have reached an all-time low. The advantage of using a mobile phone is that it enables the user to make calls from almost any location in the UK, provided you have signal and enough battery power! New smartphones even offer 3G internet access so you can do everything from sending emails to online shopping without having to switch on your computer. It is not yet possible to make phone calls over the 3G network but with advances in 4G technologies this could change in the future.

Laptops and desktop computers can now also be used to make calls over an internet connection. The software is free and all you need is a webcam and microphone to be able to make free video calls to friends and family anywhere in the world. The only downside to using your computer is that you need to coordinate your calls so both parties are logged on at the same time.

An alternative way you can make calls over the internet is using a VoIP (Voice over IP) line. Using VoIP works in the same way as your regular landline phone. The only difference is the call is made using your internet connection rather than over the phone network so the calls are essentially free. When using VoIP you must have a good high-speed internet connection otherwise the quality of calls may be poor.

Some of the downsides of using VoIP are the risk of being left without a phone line if your internet connection fails or there is a power cut. A traditional landline phone does not require electricity to be powered. In addition, when calling the emergency services from a VoIP phone or mobile they will not be able to trace your call so you will need to provide your address details.

It seems that cellular networks, the internet and phone network all have their advantages and disadvantages. For the time being perhaps a combination of all three will work best for you.