| With the advent of widespread broadband | | | | document and convert the data into sounds, |
| Internet connections, consumers are | | | | which don't travel well over the internet. In |
| discovering what businesses have known for a | | | | IP telephony, much progress has been made on |
| while. Voice over IP telephony, or VoIP as it | | | | a standard called T.38, whose mission is to |
| is known, can be a viable and cost effective | | | | convert the fax sound into sendable data. |
| alternative to the Plain Old Telephone System | | | | Another option is iFax, the T.37 standard |
| (POTS). | | | | that sends faxes as an email attachment or a |
| | | | remote printout using the Internet Printing |
| As VoIP upstarts are popping up everywhere, | | | | Protocol. Today, separate Fax lines can be |
| most notably Vonage, Packet8 and Skype, even | | | | added by most VoIP providers for an extra |
| the big Internet Service Providers are | | | | charge. |
| offering voice over IP packages to their | | | | |
| residential subscribers | | | | Emergency services such as 911 are also an |
| | | | issue with IP telephony. It is the nature of |
| Such features as caller ID, call forwarding, | | | | the Internet that tying a particular node to |
| automatic redial, and even 3-way calling are | | | | a geographic location is quite difficult, and |
| standard on most VoIP packages, whereas many | | | | street addresses are not easily routed to a |
| phone companies consider them add on's and | | | | nearby call center. In the U.S., the FCC has |
| will charge you extra. But the real kicker | | | | mandated that VoIP providers implement |
| is, if it is right for you and you pick the | | | | Enhanced 911 (E911). Providers are making |
| right Voice over IP solution, you should be | | | | progress by encouraging their customers to |
| able to reduce your phone bill by half or | | | | register a street address to their phone |
| more. | | | | number, enabling them to route emergency |
| | | | calls to a nearby call center. |
| How Does Voice over IP Work? | | | | |
| | | | Voice over IP and Broadband Connections |
| IP Telephony is a packet switching | | | | |
| technology, as opposed to circuit switching | | | | While a broadband connection is not |
| as used by the PSTN (Public Switched | | | | absolutely necessary, it is what makes VoIP |
| Telephone Network). The PSTN method uses | | | | shine. Many households are turning to DSL or |
| copper wires to physically connect one caller | | | | cable modems for their internet connections, |
| to another through a series of circuit | | | | and wireless broadband WiFi hotspots are |
| switches, as illustrated by the switchboard | | | | popping up everywhere. |
| operators of old. | | | | |
| | | | The problem with DSL is that it is provided |
| In voice over IP, the analog voice is | | | | by telephone companies which for the most |
| converted into digital packets that are | | | | part require you to have a landline, pretty |
| routed through the internet, and in the case | | | | much defeating the purpose. Some regional |
| of one of the parties being on a PSTN | | | | Telco's are starting to unbundle their DSL |
| connection, the packets are routed to the | | | | services by offering "naked DSL", an Internet |
| nearest local switching station and placed | | | | connection without the analog line on the |
| back on the PSTN. If both persons are using | | | | local loop. When you think about it, there |
| VoIP, then there is no reason to use the | | | | really doesn't seem to be much motivation for |
| PSTN, and the entire conversation takes place | | | | the Telco's to promote VoIP, as it would |
| over the Internet. | | | | effectively be like cutting their revenues in |
| | | | half. |
| Needless to say, this is much more cost | | | | |
| effective than using land lines for the | | | | If your household has cable television, you |
| entire distance. If a caller in New York uses | | | | more than likely can get broadband access |
| VoIP to call a PSTN number in Seattle, the | | | | through a cable modem. Most cable providers |
| call doesn't leave the internet until it | | | | charge around $50 a month for broadband |
| reaches the switching station in Seattle, | | | | internet access, and for those who utilize |
| making it for all practical purposes, a local | | | | the Internet often, a high speed internet |
| call. | | | | connection is well worth the price. Some |
| | | | cable IPS's offer residential Voice over IP |
| The Drawbacks of Voice over IP Telephony | | | | for $40-$50 a month. Through the pure play |
| | | | VoIP companies like Vonage or Packet8, you |
| There are some points that one should | | | | can get VoIP for around $15-$25 a month, |
| seriously consider when thinking about | | | | potentially eliminating the need for a land |
| dumping the POTS. VoIP generally requires a | | | | line at all. |
| Broadband Internet connection, which in turn | | | | |
| requires power. If a power outage should | | | | Wireless networks also work great for VoIP, |
| occur, you have no telephone service. Battery | | | | and are especially convenient if you travel a |
| backups could solve this problem, but not on | | | | lot. Hotspots all over the world allow you to |
| a long term basis. Internet Service Providers | | | | call anywhere using a WiFi VoIP phone. |
| (ISP's) also have a tendency to go down | | | | Internet phones come in all shapes and sizes |
| occasionally, though they are getting better | | | | with all kinds of bells and whistles. From a |
| all the time. Calls can be forwarded to your | | | | full business desk phone from Cisco, to |
| cell phone if your power is out, but in real | | | | phones indistinguishable from cell phones, |
| disaster situation, even cell phones are not | | | | even regular cell phones that are VoIP |
| a perfect backup, as seen by Hurricane | | | | capable - new products and technologies are |
| Katrina. Faxing over an IP network has proven | | | | coming out every day to get you better |
| to be problematic. Fax machines scan a | | | | connected for less. |