Oct 4, 2011 | All About VoIP
If you’re planning to use VOIP, then you’re going to need a soft phone. Contrary to what a lot of people think, this is not a piece of equipment. Instead it’s software that you’re going to use in order to make phone calls via VOIP.
How soft phone works is very similar to a regular telephone. The only difference is that it’s found in your computer.
How It Works
You can download soft phones or it may be part of the VOIP package. Regardless, a soft phone may look like a regular telephone in your PC. If you want to use it, you may need to open a window, press the shortcut key in your keyboard, or open a program where it’s currently embedded.
If you need to talk to someone, you make sure that you’re wearing your headset, and the microphone is on.
Soft phones can be used for any type of calls, from PC to PC as well as from phone line to PC and vice versa.
Functions
The functions of soft phones are also highly similar to those of regular phones. For example, you can set up telephone conferences. This means there can be three or more people listening and talking simultaneously.
They may also have the call forwarding function. The call can be forwarded to another VOIP-based computer in the network, or even to your mobile phone. This is necessary if you’re always on the move.
There is also speed dialing. You can assign numbers to names or long numbers you wish to call. This way, you can spare the hassle of remembering long phone numbers. You can also maintain your own address book online.
Soft phones may also be capable of storing voice mail messages, which you can instantly access by a mere press of a button. Other common features are onscreen number, call timer, IM and predictive dialing integration, as well as video calling.
Indeed, soft phones make VOIP an easier-to-manage and functional tool for both business owners and personal users. However, before you can take full advantage of them, you need to ensure that you’ll meet their compatibility requirements. For example, your hardware should match your chosen soft phone. If not, either one of them will not function right.
Oct 4, 2011 | All About VoIP
Out with the old, in with the new—this is how we usually describe those technologies that are already called passé because new things have already arrived. That is not the case with VOIP.
VOIP is predicted to stay for a very long time, but like a lot of technologies, it’s expected to evolve.
Here are some of the things we can anticipate in the coming years:
MobileVoIP: For the past few years, VOIP is dominated by cable companies, who package VOIP along with their channels. This is really not a problem since cables have enough “space” to handle the transmission.
Nevertheless, people are looking for more than just quality of audio and video. What’s important for them today is mobility, which eventually paved the way for mobile VOIP.
Mobile VOIP is entirely new, so it’s not as secured and as well developed as other forms of VOIP. However, many modifications are on the way, and it won’t be long before cable companies will rank only second or third among the list of providers.
4G: What’s the significance of 4G for VOIP? There are two possible way on how to take advantage of mobile VOIP: WIFI and 3G. A lot of mobile devices, from smartphones to tablet PCs, can connect to both. 4G, however, is going to be the fastest of the three. This means that there will be less delay and loss of sound and video. Quality of audio and video in mobile VOIP, which isn’t as stellar as expected, is going to experience tremendous improvement.
Low Cost: This has been happening for a lot of years now, as traditional telcos have no other choice but to reduce their long-distance charges and prices of their premium services. This way, they can compete with VOIP providers. But as more methods of getting VOIP become available, they will further be compelled to drop some more.
Expansive Mobile Services: The loss of traditional telecommunication companies is the gain of mobile carriers. Don’t be surprised if they’re going to take advantage of mobility and charge you with their add-ons.
Wholesale VOIP: In the coming years, more small businesses will emerge. To make sure that VOIP is reachable and affordable, big-time companies are willing to offer their services to wholesalers.
Sep 30, 2011 | All About VoIP
There’s no such thing as a perfect technology. A good example is VOIP. Though VOIP offers a slew of advantages to both consumers and business owners, it still has its own limitations. Knowing them in no way demoralizes VOIP. Nevertheless, as a user, you ought to have realistic expectations about it.
1. Without Internet connection, it’s nothing.
You’ve heard about cable VOIP or other forms of topology. Regardless of your choice, however, VOIP is non-existent without Internet connection. After all, it stands for voice over Internet protocol. If you’re able to hear sounds or play videos, then most probably you’re not using VOIP but something else, perhaps traditional broadband connection.
This also means that if you’re struck in a destination that has poor connection or your provider is currently down, you cannot communicate via VOIP.
2. The quality of sound and video can be very poor.
Poor video and audio quality sometimes happens for a number of reasons. First, there can be such a very high traffic, with people using the same bandwidth as your VOIP. Moreover, the process of compressing and decompressing, as well as sending and converting signals in the IP network, can mean loss or delay.
In fact, many Skype users have already complained about “dropped calls” when they’re using their smartphones for VOIP connection.
Another plausible reason is your weak Internet connection. If it’s not fast enough, then you can’t expect VOIP to work flawlessly.
3. It’s not reliable for 911 service.
One of the best things about living in the United States is there’s a unified method of reporting agencies. When you’re in deep trouble or someone else is, you simply have to dial the three-digit number. But there’s a hitch: it is solely dependent on your geography. VOIP, sadly, isn’t geographically based. You have to find a way on how to report emergencies.
Some VOIP providers try to compensate this, though, by offering you an E911 service. Instead of being able to talk to someone on the phone, your address is directly sent to their station.
4. It’s not that secure.
The different malicious activities online can happen right in your own VOIP service. It’s definitely possible for someone to steal your information as it travels through the IP network. Someone can just intercept any call and use the opportunity to scam you.
Sep 30, 2011 | All About VoIP
When one mentions VOIP, the first thing that comes to mind is Skype. For those who have heard about it many times, they may also think about routers and soft phones. But VOIP, or voice over Internet protocol, is more than that.
VOIP can be pretty complex to explain, but you’ll never be able to appreciate the technology and its purpose and benefits if you don’t know how it works.
How You Get VOIP
VOIP, if broadly defined, is the transmission of video and audio through broadband Internet. This is different from the traditional method, where sound travels through the conventional telephone lines. Of course, how these media files are converted also varies.
When one calls a VOIP number, the sound travels through the IP network, which is connected to a computer (or a laptop) that makes use of VOIP. The user then hears the voice. However, audio does require a good amount of space in order to travel and be heard properly. To achieve this, it goes through a process called compression. This way, its large space is greatly reduced. A special algorithm is also utilized, which is referred to as CODEC. The sound is also broken into chunks but is put together into transmission packets known as IP packets. Each of these packages can contain as much at least 10 milliseconds’ worth of audio.
Ideally, there should be no gaps between these packets, so you can definitely understand the message that is being delivered. However, technical glitches can happen, and VOIP can experience some delays. It’s also possible that a number of these packets are lost in transmission. To compensate for the loss, the CODEC works to fill in the gap and provide you with the most fitting audio.
How to Make PC-to-PC Calls
One of the other factors that can affect the quality of sound and video is the relationship between computers. Nevertheless, there’s no denying that PC-to-PC setup is the easiest to understand and is the cheapest mode of VOIP communication. The requirements are very simple. It’s essential that both PCs are capable of playing audio and video. They should also have headsets with microphones.
If you need more information about VOIP, all you have to do is to find a dependable provider. Their wide range of experience and expertise will help them answer all your questions correctly. They can also initially set up your VOIP and teach you how to maintain it.
Sep 27, 2011 | All About VoIP
Why use VOIP when you can make it into your own business? These days plenty of huge VOIP companies are now selling their services in wholesale. To understand it better, it is very similar to webhosting reselling.
Those who participate in wholesale VOIP offer the services to small-time and startup businesses. Their requirements are usually small, and they don’t want to spend a lot of money no matter how good or vital the technology such as VOIP is.
Wholesale VOIP makes what’s supposed to be an expensive package more affordable. The bundle may also be customized to further meet the needs of these small businesses. Most of all, more people will be able to take advantage of VOIP.
But how do you exactly do wholesale?
1. Find a good company to work with. You still need a good amount of technical and customer support, even if you’re selling VOIP to your own customers. After all, a huge portion of the maintenance of the infrastructure lies on the wholesaler. If the system shuts down, there’s nothing much you can do about it but depend on the expertise and experience of the wholesaler.
2. Make sure that you understand VOIP. Customers usually don’t know that you’re into wholesale VOIP. What they are aware of is that you are selling VOIP to them—no one else. So if they have any questions or issues about VOIP, they come to you.
You, however, cannot provide them enough support if you don’t understand the technology yourself. It pays to learn as much as you can about it before you go into wholesale VOIP.
3. Invest in your own infrastructure too. You can’t rely everything on your wholesaler. You also need to shell out some money in order to offer more effective VOIP technologies to your clients. For example, you may enhance your security features by upgrading to more sophisticated firewall and anti-virus software.
4. Get to know the different features you want to offer to your potential clients. Benefits are the ones that matter to your clients, but they are highlighted by your product’s features. VOIP possesses several kinds of features, from call forwarding to auto attendant and integration to an existing PBX system. To increase your selling point, find out which features will be attractive to your target market.
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