VoIP Solutions, Taking care of Your Business

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, has been a subject of boiling issues for the past years. Many businessmen from large corporations have turned to VoIP and have made savings of at least 50 percent with their telephone bills.

VoIP has grown in demand because it can assist users with their tasks. This is one thing which may not be available from traditional networks. Some of such tasks include the following:

* In UK, the US, and other member countries of organizations like VoIP User, phone numbers are available for free use.
* Incoming calls can be controlled to be automatically forwarded to a VoIP phone, wherever you may be connected to the network. So, a traveling businessman can still receive incoming calls by just connecting to the internet with the use of a VoIP phone.
* With the use of VoIP phones, call center agents can do their work from any location with a stable and fast internet connection.
* Various VoIP packages offer free features such as Caller ID, Call Forwarding, 3-way Calling, and Automatic Redial.

VoIP solutions entail VoIP problems. For the past years, the problems that have stirred up on the use of VoIP focused on the voice signal quality. If IP packets are delayed or lost at any point in the VoIP network, users will experience a brief drop-out of voice transfer. This case is obvious where there are long interworking and distances between endpoints and in congested networks. But this has changed. Many companies have sought for VoIP solutions for a clearer signal that has even surpassed that of the present analog landline service.

Another VoIP drawback is that sending faxes is difficult because of networking restraints and software limitations. However, a VoIP solution is in progress to outline an IP-based alternative for Fax-over-IP delivery. This is called T.38 protocol. A substitute solution to fix this drawback is by treating the faxing method as a message switching mechanism that does not require real time data broadcast. Examples are sending fax as a remote printout or as an email attachment. The incoming fax data can be completely buffered by the end system before being displayed or printed.

However, there are three main issues that concern VoIP solutions before VoIP can dominate the world. These are mobile VoIP phone service, power outages, and Emergency 911 services.

The first VoIP solution that needs to be directed is a way to substitute voip phone service to cellular phone service. Presently, wireless VoIP, or wVoIP, is reliant on the reach and location of Wi-Fi hotspots. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi hotspots have lower reach compared to the present microwave systems of cell phones and may not be practical on a larger range.

A VoIP solution for the problem of replacing a cell phone service can possibly be an advanced cellular-VoIP service. Presently, there a few manufacturers that can produce dual-purpose phones. Such cell phones work as standard cell phones; but when the user is within a hotspot, the cell phone can get connected with VoIP. This type of solution will help the users save money, particularly when they are in hotels, airports, cafés, and other hotspot areas.

Another drawback of VoIP is the irregularity of the Emergency 911 service. Not all current service providers of VoIP provide full Emergency 911 service. But, this has changed as the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, has taken an action on this dilemma. It has directed all the phone service companies to provide the standard 911 service, even if the customers have not specifically requested to avail the service.

Another VoIP dilemma that has to be prevailed over with VoIP solutions is the power outage concerns. During a power outage, the local phones are still operational. But VoIP requires high-speed internet connection. Without power, the internet access is lost, and so with the VoIP connection. The use of cell phones is the current alternative workaround during residential power outage. Many VoIP companies and providers have started to install power backups in the VoIP hardware sets to attend to this issue.

But these VoIP shortcomings would not stop the VoIP technology in its widespread deployment. VoIP solutions are coming. Don’t get left behind! Do you have VoIP already?

February 17, 2009 · Filed Under Voip

Comments Off

The True Score of VoIP User in China, Internet and Mobility Combined in One

Voice over Internet Protocol, or commonly known as VoIP, was first introduced in the North America and European countries and proved to be a “hot item” in the modern communication industry. In addition, the popularity of VoIP system increased further when VoIP system providers introduced the mass-market VoIP services, which allows VoIP subscribers to make and receive voice calls over the traditional PSTN or public switched telephone networks. It resulted to cheaper system maintenance and low monthly subscriptions. In addition, most VoIP system providers are offering unlimited voice calls within domestic applications (areas within the United States, for instance) as well to some other parts of the world, particularly in Canada and selected European and Asian countries for a fixed monthly fee.

If you will take a look on the VoIP’s continuous saga on the modern communication industry, you will notice that the main reason for such huge popularity of the system is the cheaper maintenance cost and mobile advantage over traditional telephone lines. VoIP service providers offers monthly subscription cost for as low as 60 percent compared to traditional telephone lines, which makes it cost-effective, especially for small businesses. Hence, if you are maintaining 4 telephone lines and you are averaging $300 per line in terms of monthly subscription cost, you will be able to save as much as $180 per line alone if you will use VoIP instead. That would bring down your telephone bills to $120 per line or a total of $480 compared to $1,200 in all of your 4 telephone lines.

Another noticeable feature of VoIP over traditional telephone networks is its mobile advantage. VoIP allows you to travel anywhere and could still receive and make voice calls using your VoIP phone. For instance, if you have a Detroit phone number and you are traveling in Great Britain, anyone can still make a phone call to you provided that you are connected to the Internet. In addition, your VoIP phone can integrate with other services provided over the Internet such as data exchange, audio conferencing, and video conversation. Such advantage, within cheaper cost, is possible using the VoIP communication system.

The VoIP market is not just expanding on United States, Canada, and European territories alone. In fact, the Asian VoIP market is also making its way as one of the huge-expanding VoIP markets around the world. The revenues of VoIP usage in Asia is projected to reach $10 billion in 2009 from $5.5 billion reported in 2004. Most Asian VoIP users utilize the broadband-based phone system to make international calls, which is said to be a major development in the VoIP market in Asia. Currently, there are approximately 8.7 million existing VoIP lines in use in Asia.

The volume of VoIP users in Asia came from China, which is projected to have over 1 billion regular telephone users and 200 million Internet users by 2010. It is also projected that China will have as much as 400 million mobile users within 2010. However, it is believed that the statistics will decline, following the huge popularity of VoIP in the United States and European territories. Once the Chinese are educated with the advantage and benefits of using VoIP communication system both for residential and business application, market analysts believe that the billion telephone users will drop by as much as 40 percent, based on the projection of VoIP market share increase in Asia.

Currently, the VoIP market in Asia is projected to have a total revenue of $5.5 billion in 2007. About a quarter of these earnings would be spent on Internet Protocol exchanges to open more VoIP lines for Chinese users. The projected revenues of Chinese VoIP market is expected to hit at $7.8 million in 2010, if the subscription in VoIP usage will increase within the projected percentage increase of 13.5 percent annually.

The Asian VoIP market, particularly the Chinese market share, is expected to be as huge as the United States and European VoIP market by 2010. However, the projection will depend on how China and other Asian nations will react on the VoIP communication system. If they learn the benefits of VoIP, the statistics will materialize, and China will go on the VoIP way.

February 16, 2009 · Filed Under Voip

Comments Off

Avail the VoIP Offers of Free International Calls in the Philippines

Filipinos have established the value and culture of close family ties. So even if family members or friends have to work outside the country, they still would find ways to get connected in any way. Good thing there’s the VoIP technology in the Philippines that bridges the distance. Now, it is possible to connect to the family way back in the home country for cheaper or free long distance or international calls.

VoIP phones will render immense benefits for Filipinos who have relatives and friends abroad as well as those who would want to establish international business. Primarily, VoIP phone service is 90% cheaper than the regular phone. This means that you can cut off your budget allocation for phone bills without cutting short the chats.

Most VoIP providers offer unlimited long distance calls so you don’t have to spend for long-distance phone cards. Also, you can readily call the other subscribers who belong to the same network for free and unlimited. So even if you are working in the US and your parents are in the Philippines, you can easily have access to them by making them subscribe to the same network or by choosing their area code. The advantage of the VoIP phone is that it lets you choose an area code even if it’s outside your location.

There are many additional features offered by VoIP phones which are not possible with the traditional landline. For example you are making a call through the computer, you can unstoppably talk while using other computer programs. Plus, most VoIP companies provide voice mail, conference calling, call divert and simultaneous alert. In case you leave the house, you can still receive calls due to your number. And to protect you from intruders, VoIP phones also offer caller ID just like in traditional phones.

Furthermore, VoIP services allow you to confirm and listen to your voice mail messages through the web. This means that you can have access to your user number even if you are traveling as long as you carry with you the adapter and an internet connection is there. People can contact you anywhere you are as if you are at home or in your office.

In order to appreciate the functions of VoIP phone, it is helpful to understand first how the system works.

VoIP service works by transmitting your voice through a high speed internet connection. In this process, your voice is converted into digital signals which flow into the packet-switched network. The processing of data is therefore easier and faster compared to the traditional circuit-switch of analog phones.

Because of the tempting offers of VoIP phones, numerous companies offer VoIP services to help Filipinos abroad get in touch with their love ones in the Philippines. Make a wise choice in getting a VoIP service provider.

So how do you get started with the VoIP service? The equipment needed vary according to your preference. You can use a regular phone and plug it to an adapter and it will function just like the traditional landline. This equipment is provided by the VoIP phone company as part of the service plan. To optimize the features, you can use a computer equipped with the a sound card, microphone and earphones, and the VoIP software.

There are many VoIP phone companies that offer a free trial of the service. A few others charge a minimum rate for start up cost. For free VoIP service, the free call is usually from pc to pc and the VoIP software must be compatible. The VoIP software can be downloaded for free so choose the best package for you.

When comparing VoIP providers, read reviews and feedbacks on the quality of their services. Better yet, ask your friends who have already subscribed. The quality of the broadband significantly affects the quality of calls and features in VoIP phones. Every VoIP phone company offers appealing packages so make sure that you prioritize your needs.

VoIP technology is indeed a great help in order to keep the family together although physically distant. Especially that many Filipinos aspire to venture on job opportunities abroad, VoIP services will be of great advantage.

February 16, 2009 · Filed Under Voip