Internet Phone (VOIP) FAQs
Call charges in General
Do I need my computer permanently connected?Yes and NO! It all depends on the provider you choose and on the access mechanisms they provide. Instant messaging type solutions like Yahoo Instant messenger and its variants ( UK- Yahoo Messenger with BT communicator). To use these services you connect a headset and microphone to your computer and you can make voice calls to any other computer on the net equipped with the same software. These type of solutions tend not to integrate with the old telephone network and don't have a telephone number. There are similar solutions (SKYPE) which also offer breakout where you can make calls from you PC to a normal telephone. Call charges will normally apply Other solutions (like Tesco VOIP -UK) require that you use VOIP telephones that connect to the USB port of your computer/laptop. They can however be used to call any telephone and can receive incoming calls (i.e. they have a telephone number). What is VOIP and Instant MessagingInstant Messaging allows you to exchange messages, files and pictures with other Instant Messaging users. It is an alternative to email and is far more interactive than email as the messages are delivered immediately. There are two main Instant messenger clients in use they are MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and AIM (AOL instant messaging). The problem with instant messaging is that a Yahoo Instant messenger user could not exchange instant messages with a AIM or MSN user and vice versa. Although this problem is being addressed and there are third party clients that support all three clients it still represents on of the main stumbling blocks with Instant messaging. Almost all Instant messenger clients now allow for video and voice exchange (internet telephones) as well as the standard text. However you still have the problem of interoperability between networks. Internet telephony using Instant messaging technology tends to be restricted also to PC to PC calls and doesn't allow for calls to normal telephones. What if I don't have broadband ?There are a number of solutions that have been around for at least 10 years that don't rely on broadband Internet connection ( nettophone). However it is probably fair to say that today all VOIP providers rely on the fact that you already have or will have a broadband internet connection. Most people get a broadband connection because they are heavy Internet users not because they want to make VOIP telephone calls. Subscribing to a broadband connection just to make VIP calls is probably not justified unless you intend to spend a long time on the telephone and you are phoning long distance. Does the person I'm calling need VOIP?No! But because the call must exit the IP network (Internet) and be delivered to a standard telephone there will usually be a call charge. Depending on the provider it may be cheaper to have made a conventional call. You should also note that not all VOIP/Internet telephone solutions allow calling to normal analogue phones. Can I Use a Standard Analogue Telephone To Make callsYou can use a normal telephone but you need to connect you standard telephone into a box that connects to the Internet. This can be a box that connects into you home/LAN, or the most common case is that you connect the telephone to a suitably equipped DSL router. You should note that not all DSL routers have this ability as they require a special port to connect the telephone. (October 2006- Most currently don't have this capability) What is A VOIP telephone ?A VOIP telephone looks like a conventional telephone except that it doesn't connect into the normal telephone connector but either into a computer, switch/hub or router. They have either a RJ45 connector (Ethernet) or a USB connection as opposed to the standard telephone connector (RJ11). Some of the newer phones use WIFI to connect to the Internet. This can be via your local/office network or a public WIFI hotspot. Related Articles and Resources:
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