| The field of telecommunications is almost | | | | and that is no doubt the most attractive |
| constantly in a state of rapid change and | | | | feature of VoIP technology to most |
| that is certainly true today as VoIP | | | | consumers.However, there are a few drawbacks |
| technology continues to grow in both quality | | | | to using VoIP for telephone communications |
| and popularity. VoIP actually stands for | | | | that you should also be aware of. First of |
| Voice over Internet Protocol, and it is a way | | | | all, you will most likely need a high speed |
| of transferring telephone calls across the | | | | internet connection in order to get the best |
| internet to a distant computer or telephone | | | | results when using a VoIP application or |
| without the use of your local telephone | | | | program. It can be done on a dial-up |
| company.A very good way to sample VoIP | | | | connection, but your results can be very |
| technology is through using instant messaging | | | | spotty and inconsistent, sometimes even |
| programs such as Yahoo Messenger, MSN | | | | downright frustrating. On a high speed |
| Messenger, and AOL Messenger. All of these | | | | connection though, you should experience |
| programs allow you to use a microphone and a | | | | voice quality that very closely rivals that |
| set of speakers connected to your computer to | | | | of land line telephones.One other |
| make free PC to PC audio calls. For those | | | | consideration is that it can be difficult to |
| instant messaging programs that also include | | | | call 911 using a VoIP program if you don't |
| video and allow for more than two people to | | | | know where you are. 911 operators are unable |
| be connected at any one time, you can even | | | | to perform a trace on calls that originate |
| hold your own internet video conference | | | | from an IP telephone or computer, so there |
| easily and inexpensively thanks to VoIP | | | | would be no way to locate the caller if they |
| technology.All you have to do is download one | | | | cannot identify exactly where they are. |
| of these above mentioned programs free of | | | | However, VoIP providers are currently working |
| charge, install it on your computer, and | | | | on this problem and hope to have a solution |
| connect up your microphone and speakers, to | | | | soon.As you can see, there are both |
| be able to sample this technology and see if | | | | advantages and disadvantages to using VoIP |
| you like it or not. If you do, and chances | | | | technology for your telephone communications. |
| are that you will, you can then sign up for a | | | | By being aware of both the pros and cons, you |
| VoIP subscription plan with one of the major | | | | should be able to make an informed decision |
| VoIP providers to let you take full advantage | | | | about whether or not VoIP will work for |
| of all of the features that VoIP has to | | | | you.Steadman Issenburg writes on many |
| offer.One of the big advantages of VoIP | | | | consumer related topics including |
| subscription plans is their minimal cost when | | | | communication. You can find a voip broadband |
| compared to local telephone companies. When | | | | phone provider and voip broadband phone |
| you start shopping these plans you'll see a | | | | service and more by visiting our |
| large difference in cost between them and | | | | communication website. |
| what you pay for your telephone service now, | | | | |