3. VOIP Weaknesses
Cheap calls and portability are great, but there are other issues you need to consider before you decide whether it's for you. The most important thing to keep in mind is that VOIP won't be as stable or reliable as your normal phone line purely because more components need to be working for the service to be up. Depending on the type of service you have, you'll need some/all of the following to make calls:
- A broadband Internet connection
- The electricity running
- Your computer on
- Your analog telephone adaptor working (ATA device).
With a normal phone line, all you need is the phone connected.
And despite the ability to make and receive all of your phone calls through VOIP, in most cases you'll still need to have a normal landline phone connected to have your broadband service. At this stage, this also means two numbers -- one for your normal line, and one that your VOIP provider gives you
The exception is if your house can access cable, satellite or wireless broadband Internet services, in which case you can dump your normal landline. But be aware that you won't have a phone if your broadband connection or electricity goes down -- which is an important thing to consider in case of emergencies.
While the quality of VOP is improving all the time, bear in mind that if your broadband speed isn't up to scratch it won't stack up to a normal phone line. If your Internet speed falls below a minimum level (see what you need) then you will probably experience choppy sound and delays. And since you're using the Internet to make calls, most VOIP calls won't have any location information attached to it. So, for example, if you make an emergency call using VOIP, the emergency operator may not know exactly where you're calling from. The same goes for other location-based services such as calling for a pizza or a taxi.
Finally, like any thing you do over the Internet, VOIP will chew up bandwidth. If you have a broadband connection with a low monthly download cap, you may need to keep a close eye on your limit -- roughly 10-minutes of conversation using VOIP equals a 1MB download.
4. Types of Services
Soft Client | Hardware-based VOIP
In simplest terms, there are two types of VOIP services available. The first is a soft client, which is essentially a piece of software that turns your computer into a phone. The second needs a piece of hardware, such as an analog phone adapter (ATA Device) or an IP phone. Comstech Internet supplies a free VOIP Soft Client from Counter Path
VOIP Soft Client
The Soft Client option is probably the easiest, but it can also be the most restrictive in terms of who can make calls to you and who you can contact. All a user needs to do is download the free VOIP Soft Client software onto your PC, install it and, providing you have a headset connected to your PC, you can make calls immediately (you can also just use your PC's speaker and built-in microphone if it has one, but you may experience some echo).
VOIP Soft Client is a great option for those wanting to try out our VOIP service. Its main drawback is that you're tied to your computer to make and receive calls.
This is a USB phone which works along with the VOIP Soft Client and make it a much more natural feeling to make and receive calls
Hardware-based VOIP
Hardware-based VOIP services are handier because they try to mimic the traditional phone experience -- that means having a handset that you use like any other phone, except it's tied to your broadband service. Hardware solutions include VOIP phones (telephones with built-in VOIP capabilities) and Analog Telephone Adaptors (or ATAs, which turn your existing phone into a VOIP-capable one). ATAs are available from Comstech Internet.
ATAs are small devices which connect to a user's home network/modem, with the other end being plugged into your existing handset (analog, cordless or DECT phones). Unlike softphones, you don't need your computer to be on to be able to make and receive calls, resulting in a service that almost has the same "always-on" feel of a normal phone service. That's almost, since you still need a broadband connection running, as well as power to the ATA for the phone to be working.
5. What you'll need for VOIP
The main common denominator is a broadband internet service -- for consistent quality, dial-up will simply not do. After downloading your free VOIP Soft Client and registering your unique VOIP number you will be able to connect to the VOIP Network. Then its as easy as dialling your VOIP to VOIP numbers to make free calls.
Or buy some credit and make off net calls.
As to the speed of broadband you'll need a connection you can get away with 256kbps download/64kbps upload but to have call quaility you realy need 512kbps download and 128kbps upload. If you're going with an ATA, you'll obviously need the ATA device and a telephone you can plug in some ATA devices allow you to share you existing handset with VOIP and you land line.
6. Don't forget....
Doing other Internet related activities while making a VOIP call can also affect quality, depending on your connection speeds. If you have a fairly slow broadband connection, try not to make downloads while on the phone.
And finally, don't throw away your existing phone. Using a VOIP service requires at least the electricity on and your Internet connection running -- if either of these two are out during an emergency, you won't be able to make calls, whereas you'll still be able to with the normal landline.
