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What exactly is Voice Over IP and why should you be excited about it?
What exactly is Voice Over IP and why should you be excited about it?
by Will Martin
Voice over Internet protocol...or Voip for short. Yet another new technology buzzword to add to the constantly growing list.
But this is one word you should get used to seeing because you'll be seeing more and more of it over time. While Voip technology
is certainly not new (in fact it's been around since 1995), it's certainly gaining momentum at a rapid pace. So what do you
need to know about it? Here's some basic explanation of what it is so you can make a better decision as to whether it's right
for you.
Without going into technical details, Voip technology actually breaks down your voice into data that can be
interpreted by a computer, transmitted across the broadband connection to the receiving end, then the digital data on the
receiving end is put back together to an analog sound which ends up being very close to the original sound. The end result,
while not perfect or as good as a normal telephone yet, is actually more than adequate to hold a conversation.
You
might be thinking "if its not as good as a telephone then why would I consider it?" Well, the main advantage of using Voip
service is the cheap cost. Not only is it cheaper then using a regular phone service, but you will be able to get additional
features like caller ID that cost more if you use a regular phone service.
So now that you know the extreme basics
of how Voip works and the main advantages, what do you need to get started? The first thing you'll need is a broadband/cable
modem connection. This is the main requirement. Without this you will not be able to use it. You will also need a router since
you'll be sharing your modem with your IP telephone, which is the third piece of equipment you'll need. So once you have the
three necessary pieces of equipment you're all set. All you need to do is plug the phone into the router and you're ready
to choose a provider.
Choosing a provider is simply a matter of which provider you feel most comfortable with. They
all offer different options and different providers have different advantages. It really depends on what you're looking for.
If you plan on making a lot of long-distance phone calls then you'll want to choose one that has the cheaper long-distance
plan. It's really no different then choosing a phone company for a regular phone.
So there you have the basics of
what Voip is and how to get started. To learn more, visit http://www.what-is-voice-over-ip.com to learn more specific details
about all of the items discussed in this article, as well as additional information on Voip technology.
Learn more about exactly What Is Voice Over IP
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