Introduction to VoIP

What is VoIP?

First things first, VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. At a base level that means phone calls over your broadband connection. You really do need a high-speed connection to take advantage of VoIP to get phone calls comparable to a normal landline phone. Traditional "dial-up" connections are not really sufficient.

VoIP works in a different way to your home phone. Your home phone is based on an analogue network, whereas VoIP is based on a digital one. Essentially when you speak into a VoIP enabled phone or headset your voice is converted into digital packets; it is then compressed to help your Internet connection run more efficiently and then it is transferred down the connection much like an email. Once it reaches its destination the process is reversed.

Why might I want to switch to VoIP?

It's a good question. We all have a working phone in our homes or business, why should we change? Lets look at the advantages and disadvantages of VoIP

Advantages

Well to put it simply - cost. VoIP makes calls significantly cheaper. And (Depending on your package) for a low cost monthly subscription local and national calls can be made for free, and international calls made at a significantly lower rate.

When you subscribe to a VoIP service it is possible to get a phone number for life. You will be able to take your number with you whenever you move (or even travel) with obvious benefits.

The contract packages that companies who are offering the service contain for the most part all the features and more that your current phone service supplier offers. You are likely to find most VoIP companies offering free voicemail, call forwarding, caller ID, call waiting, call waiting ID, 3 way calling, speed dialling and much more.

VoIP is very much in it's infancy; the technology is progressing all the time. Future benefits that we may not be able to envisage yet are certain to appear, you current analogue phone system will not be able to compete.

Disadvantages

Your VoIP phones system will be exclusively based on your broadband connection, if you ISP has a period of service downtime then you will not be able to make calls. Additionally if your electricity supply has a power out then you will not be able to make any calls, this includes calls to the emergency services. Some providers have already got a work around with the emergency calls, so make sure when you decide on a supplier they provide this.

A further disadvantage currently is the set up of the VoIP is not the simplest procedure to undertake, though many suppliers will assist with installation.

The quality of the call via VoIP can be slightly less than your current analogue phone, but the technology is steadily improving, and before long you will not be able to tell the difference in call quality between the two mediums.

? Mike Bromley 2005

The author runs a site about voip service providers at voip service providers

apartment cleaning near Glenview ..
In The News:

iPhone and Android users can reduce Wi-Fi calling battery drainage through settings adjustments, background app limits and stronger Wi-Fi connections.
Work email scams are becoming harder to detect as criminals use AI and spoofed addresses to trick employees into opening malicious attachments and links.
From her Arizona living room, Christina Chapman ran a covert hub that helped North Korean operatives infiltrate U.S. firms, netting $17 million in stolen salaries.
UC Santa Barbara researchers developed a soft robotic intubation system that achieved 100% success rates for experts and 96% for paramedics with minimal training.
Scammers exploit probate filings to target grieving families with fake fees and debts, Kurt "Cyberguy" Knutsson reports.
Automotive giant Stellantis becomes latest victim of widespread Salesforce breaches affecting companies like Google, Cisco and Adidas this year.
A woman from Washington reunited with her missing Maine Coon cat Louie after 11 days using Love Lost, a free AI-powered pet recovery platform.
Expert cybersecurity tips help Mac owners remove malware infections and strengthen defenses with antivirus software, password managers and system updates.
Meta's AI chatbot training rules bans sexual roleplay with minors and block access to child abuse material as regulators scrutinize its safety measures.
Online banking users face a new threat: web injection scams that overlay fake pop-ups to steal logins. Here’s how to spot them and protect your accounts.
Meta introduced Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger while launching a School Partnership Program for U.S. educators to report bullying within 48 hours.
Executive order signed by President Donald Trump tasks Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA Commission with using AI to find new cures for childhood cancers.
New FileFix attack tricks Facebook and Instagram users into running malicious PowerShell commands disguised as Meta account maintenance to deploy StealC infostealer.
Step-by-step instructions help users migrate to Windows 11 while preserving emails, contacts, documents, and software licenses during the transition.
Chrome faces its sixth zero-day attack in 2025 as Google patches critical V8 engine flaw CVE-2025-10585 discovered by Threat Analysis Group.
The Hypershell X Ultra exoskeleton features 12 terrain modes and carbon fiber construction to enhance hiking, cycling and outdoor adventures.
Personal data from public records and data brokers helps scammers create tailored scam stories, making their calls and emails more believable to potential victims.
Uber Eats partners with drone delivery startup Flytrex to test autonomous food delivery services in U.S. markets, marking the company's first investment in drone technology.
OpenAI announces 120-day plan to strengthen ChatGPT safeguards for teens, including parental controls and expert council on AI wellbeing.
Spam emails can help improve security — if reported correctly. Learn how to report spam across major email services and get key tips to protect your inbox and personal data.
Harvard researcher Avi Loeb says comet 3I/ATLAS weighs 33 billion tons and spans 3.1 miles, making it far larger than previous interstellar visitors.
The Glassboro Public School District in New Jersey has partnered with ZeroEyes and InformaCast to detect visible firearms and alert staff and law enforcement within seconds.
Hackers use fake Google search results to trick users into downloading lookalike apps laced with malware that have been pushed to the top.
Generative A.I. has lowered barriers for sophisticated cyberattacks as hackers exploit ChatGPT and other tools to forge documents and identities.
IOS 26's new features include bigger lock screen clocks, dirty lens alerts, and improved spam detection for iPhones.

VOIP For Your Business

Many companies are now beginning to look into alternatives to... Read More

Get a ?Virtual Phone Number? - Eliminate Long Distance Charges with VoIP Phone Service

There's a revolution brewing in the telephone industry. But it's... Read More

Why Over 90% of VoIP Services Are Vulnerable to Attack

John Ashcroft, Attorney General, in remarks at the High Technology... Read More

Take Advantage of Internet Phone Calls (VOIP)

Voice Over IP (VOIP) is a relatively new technology. Voice... Read More

VoIP Phone Home?

The movie Extra Terrestrial (ET) coined the phrase "phone home"... Read More

World On IP Community versus Telecoms Monopoly

World on IP community versus the TELECOMS' monopoly or a... Read More

Will VoIP be a Mass Market Product?

A common thinking among "Marketing people " is that for... Read More

VoIP in the Home

VoIP is set to revolutionise home communications. With VoIP you... Read More

Voice Over IP ? Saving Money

I was on a tech support call with a client... Read More

How Voip Can Mask The Size Of Your Business And Save You A Bundle

Have you heard the buzz about VOIP (Voice Over Internt... Read More

VoIP 101: Voice over IP for Beginners

For those who have never heard about the potential of... Read More

How to Never Pay a Hotel Phone Bill Again

The protocol is increasingly being adopted as the standard means... Read More

Using a Bluetooth Headset with your PC

BluetoothFor those of you not familiar with the term, Bluetooth... Read More

VoIP: Finally Worth a Look

Dear Internet Friends, Hundreds of thousands of consumers collectively save... Read More

Security, Stability, and Interoperability Issues on VoIP Implementation

Now we have accepted that VoIP is no longer just... Read More

Is VoIP the ?Next Big Thing? in Telecommunications?

VoIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol has been simmering for... Read More

Voip - Voice Over IP and Business: Is It For You?

VoIP allows users to make phone calls using their high-speed... Read More

Take Your Home or Business Phone With You When You Travel

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone service uses a broadband... Read More

Why VoIP is not Going to Fail

VoIP is an almost constant topic in our daily dose... Read More

Google Joins the Internet Phone Revolution

Its not so long ago that the idea of free... Read More

Telecom Industry Transition: WiFi, VoIP, WiMax - The Wireless Age is Already Here

VoIP on WiMax will make the latest 3G technologies obsolete... Read More

How VoIP Works -- Busting Out of Long Distance Rates

VoIP is the newest advancement in audio communications technology, and... Read More

Outstanding VoIP Voicemail Features Makes Getting VoIP Voicemail Extremely Convenient

There are many types of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)... Read More

How VoIP Will Affect Every Household and Business in the World

Seattle venture capitalist, Greg Gottesman, calls it "?one of the... Read More

VoIP - What is the Problem?

In the beginning, when the Internet Protocol was first designed,... Read More

residential cleaning services Morton Grove ..