VoIP: Easy as 1-2-3

Disclaimer to whomever is in charge of Mr. Jackson's estate: please do not sue us for the title of this blog. We are alright people, and one time we even did a Thriller video in the office. Not really, but how cool would that be?

Anyway, the other day I was talking to my mom, who just recently purchased a new laptop. One of the features she was the most excited about was being able to video chat and Skype with other relatives. Yes, I just used Skype as a verb. Now, my mom is not a tech-savvy person in the slightest, so it was interesting to hear her talking about this, particularly with the amount I've been hearing about Skype, Google Voice and VoIP in general these days. I think it says a lot about the potential and growth of VoIP.

For the uninitiated, VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a technology that allows you to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line.What makes people so excited about VoIP is its ease of use and potential savings benefits over some long distance carriers.

If you've ever thought about switching to a VoIP provider for your everyday phone needs, here are some of the reasons to give it some consideration...

• Cost. Charges for VoIP service tend to be lower than many long distance services. While providers often charge for how long a phone call lasts, VoIP calls are measured by the amount of data transffered. Given the spread of broadband Internet, this tends to be much lower. Beyond that, using your high-speed connection as a phone line is really like getting a two-for-one deal.
• Availability. The only thing you need to connect to a VoIP provider is an Internet connection. With that, you can make calls just as easily as e-mailing people.
• Features. Whereas many phone companies charge for extra calling features, these are often free with VoIP. You can have multiple calls going on at once, call waiting and more.

So how many of you out there use VoIP over regular home phone service? What have your experiences been?

Comments

[Amanda]

I think it should be noted that unlike dark ages internet where you used your phone like to hook up to the web and used up your ability to call people, you can use VoIP and Internet simultaneously. On days when I work from home, I am able to talk on the phone and be online at the same time.

[Mal]

Skpe is terrific!

I speak to family and friends all alround the world ..for free. For as long as I want.

[Lindsay]

Lingo has a program that does not charge you for incoming calls - only outgoing calls. This is really convenient since my phone bill is only about $5 per month. The sound quality is excellent and I never have issues with the line itself.