|
The VoIP Service Provider: Residential VoIP Solutions for the Consumer As technologies mature including more households gain access to high speed Internet, consumers could come to realize that it is simply more efficient including cost effective to send packets of voice over the Internet than over a point to point circuit switched land line. Long distance charges become a thing pertaining to the past, including international calls are pennies a minute if not free to some countries. VoIP solutions are readily available to anyone with a high speed Internet connection, including the only hardware needed is a particular Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) including a phone. For most consumers, utilizing a calling plan from a VoIP service provider is the best solution. Most VoIP service providers could provide the ATA hardware (or software) for free, including monthly charges range from free on up. Peer to Peer VoIP The least expensive VoIP solution will be using a computer on a peer to peer network. Offered from such VoIP service providers as Skype or the Gizmo Project, the software is free to download including calls within the network are free worldwide. Calls to PSTN numbers are charged at a low VoIP rate. Peer to Peer VoIP is a software solution, meaning that absolutely no ATA is required, including your phone is a pair of earplugs including a microphone plugged into your computer. The downside is that call quality is lacking compared to some pertaining to the hardware VoIP solutions available. The Pure Play VoIP Service Provider Over the past few years, a new generation of upstarts has introduced themselves into the residential VoIP arena. Probably the most successful (at least popularity wise) will be the VoIP service provider Vonage. Thanks to their lavish spending on advertising, the technology of VoIP is becoming mainstream, including the general public is beginning to realize that if the circumstances are right, Voice over IP should be a viable cost saving alternative to the Plain Old Telephone System (POTS). Vonage, Packet8, including SunRocket are just a few of many companies that are pure-play VoIP service providers. They have absolutely no interest in selling you cable TV, conventional telephone service, or cellular minutes. Monthly plans range anywhere from $7.00 to $40.00 including calls are free in the U.S., Canada, including in some cases Europe. International rates vary with many countries as low as 2-3 cents a minute. These are the companies that have pioneered residential VoIP for the consumer including with their low monthly calling plans, the companies that could keep the giants in the Telecommunications Industry honest. Telco's as VoIP Providers Just as deregulation including the advent of cellular technology in the past, VoIP is poised to revolutionize the Telecommunications Industry. including the large telephone companies, even the cellular phone companies are entering the new era kicking including screaming. Telco's like AT&T, the regional Bells including others are happy to provide broadband internet access through DSL, but very few are willing to unbundle the internet service from their conventional telephone services. They could do it technologically, including a few local phone companies are offering DSL on the local loop, without the wire with the dial tone. The fact is, having a broadband connection that requires you to additionally buy a conventional telephone connection pretty much defeats the purpose, thus making VoIP through DSL impractical for most people. That said, the Telco's see the writing on the wall including are slowly beginning to implement Voice over IP telephony. AT&T including Quest Communications provide residential VoIP solutions starting at $25.00 including $30.00 respectively, just slightly higher than a pure VoIP service provider. All pertaining to the basic features such as call forwarding, speed dialing, including 3-way calling are included, including premium services like virtual phone numbers, conference calling, including call filtering should be had for a particular additional charge. International rates seem to be somewhat higher than pure play rates, though only by pennies. VoIP including Cable Companies If anyone is in a position to win the Telecommunication wars, it is the cable companies. Massive consolidation in the cable industry has led to big privately owned networks that in many cases make it unnecessary to route calls over the public Internet. Quality of Service issues should be handled in house, including after all, companies like Cisco Systems pretty much built the Internet including are largely responsible for the development of Voice over IP Telephony. Cable companies as VoIP service providers have the ability to bundle voice with high speed data including digital cable TV, including are even now running introductory offers of all 3 for 99.00 a month in some markets. But be careful, introductory offers end including VoIP plans with the cable companies are some pertaining to the most expensive to be had. While VoIP service providers like Comcast including Time Warner generally receive good reviews for sound quality, monthly calling plans cost $40.00 including $45.00 respectively. Not bad at the time looking at a $70.00 phone bill from Bell South, but over twice as much as a pure-play VoIP service provider. absolutely no doubt, a good reliable broadband connection through a cable modem is the ideal VoIP solution (wireless notwithstanding), but you don't have to use your cable company for VoIP. In the end, it all depends on what’s important to you. If all you need is to call a friend in China on the same network, then a peer to peer VoIP service provider is for you. If you live in a particular area where it is offered, a telecom VoIP solution promises lower bills than their conventional connections, provided you should drop the land line. For those that have cable modems, the choice of VoIP service providers is vast. For the monthly cost of another broadband connection, cable companies could come out to install the equipment including rewire every jack in your house. including they are just a service call away. Alternatively, the pure play VoIP providers provide the lowest rates around, including the quality is usually just as good. Just remember, it is all in the pipe. Calls could be as clear as your VoIP service providers' network is uncongested.
|