Is Voip A Viable Replacement For Your Regular Household Phone?

A regular household telephone has been operating via a phone network that has required few adjustments over the past hundred or so years. The only real changes to the phone network have been the progression from a manual operating system to a computerised one and a switchover from copper wires to fibre optic cable, which digitises the analog signal and enables transmission of multiple conversations down a single fibre. These changes have enabled the phone network to reach a global scale but the technology remains simple and reliable.

Households and businesses have always made use of phone communication; however, in recent years they have received competition from cellular networks and the internet. Even with the impressive tariffs that many mobile phone companies offer, the landline still remains a low-cost and reliable option for most people, but what about the internet?

Internet communication has progressed rapidly over the past decade or so. Email is arguably one of the most popular and powerful communicative tools the internet has to offer because it is fast, low-cost and reliable. Users can communicate with friends and family anywhere in the world. They can send as many instantaneous messages as they like and the only cost is that of their monthly contract from their internet provider.

Some software has enabled users to make free video calls via the internet. While this is an impressive service many households find it a hassle to switch on their computer, webcam and microphone, log into the software and of course instruct the recipient to do the same at the same time. In response to this, a range of phones with internet or VoIP (Voice over IP) lines have been produced so that users can make a phone call as they would with a regular phone but instead use their internet connection rather than the phone line.

Many businesses have switched to a VoIP phone service because it enables low cost calls (including international calls) and allows for multiple devices such as mobiles and computers to be synched to one another. In addition, a VoIP line is mobile and can be moved to wherever you are located.

In the home there are a few downsides to using VoIP. You will need a high-speed internet connection otherwise the quality of the calls may be poor. Also, should the internet stop working in your home then you will not be able to make any calls to the provider. Something you should be aware of is that even in a power-cut your regular landline phone can still be used to call for help. In addition, if you do need to contact the emergency services you will need to provide your address as they will be unable to trace your call from a VoIP line.

VoIP can save you a significant amount on your phone bills but it is perhaps still worth keeping a traditional landline in your home in the event of an emergency.