VoIP and Internet Phone Services Compared

How to Choose a Proper VoIP Service – Guide

by Yaroslav Lyssenko

[ 11/08/2005 | 10:07 PM ]

The Internet has already changed the media world and the way people receive or transfer information to each other, but the Web began to address other aspects of life, communications between people are now much easier and cheaper: sending an email costs nothing and it is also possible to talk to each other for free using appropriate Internet services as well as the so-called VoiP technology.

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Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, is the routing of voice conversations over the Internet or any other IP-based network. The voice data flows over a general-purpose packet-switched network, instead of traditional dedicated, circuit-switched voice transmission lines.

Designtechnica Reviews has posted a guide which describes different problems that could be found during VoIP setup and utilization. The author also takes a look at numerous VoIP providers, services they offer as their quality.

“There’s plenty of competition - and even more options. The one that’s being pushed most, hooks up your regular home phone to your broadband connection. That’s quite understandable, as it keeps everything familiar; this is what VoicePulse does, offering virtually the same services at the same price. You can read Designtechnica’s review of VoicePulse here. Some are taking it into what might be considered the Space Age. Packet 8 offers a video phone under one of their plans (you have to buy the phone for $99, and of course it’ll only work if the person you call has one, too). And there are many more out there, eager for your business. Even the giants like AT&T are getting in on the act; AT&T has the CallVantage service, although their special $29.95 per month is higher than the young services’. Comcast expects to offer its customers VoIP by the end of the year,” writes the autor.

• Designtechnica Reviews: VoIP and Internet Phone Services Compared.