Computer Software

We’re hearing a lot about Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) these days. I for one am a big fan of this technology. Did you know that you could actually use VoIP in 3 different ways? That’s right! There are really 3 different ways that you can ‘make the call’. Ok, you can actually receive the call 3 different ways as well.

First up is probably the most popular. I use this way myself and most of the residential providers out there today use this as well. What is it?

ATA – Analog Telephone Adapter

Your normal phone plugs into an ATA that you received from your VoIP provider. This is the most common way to get hooked into VoIP. This device takes care of all the magic that occurs when you make and receive your calls over your broadband connection. Your analog phone signal must be converted to digital to be routed through your broadband connection and this ATA does the job.

IP Phone – Internet Protocol Phones

As the name would imply, these are ‘special’ phones. You wouldn’t know it by looking at them. They look like normal phones. What is different about these phones is the electronics inside them and the fact they don’t take a ‘regular’ phone cable (RJ-11). Instead these phones take an Ethernet cable connection (RJ-45) and also come equipped with the necessary electronics to plug directly into your router.

Computer-to-Computer

This is the oldest and possibly the easiest way to get plugged into VoIP. Here instead of using your normal phone or IP phone to make calls through your broadband connection, you use your computer itself! (You could do this over dial-up, but broadband is certainly better) There are a number of services available that offer no cost or low cost service. You’ll need the software and a microphone to speak into and speakers to hear from and of course your computer and a high-speed internet connection. Some providers offer this service for free when their software is being used on both ends of the call.

Watch out for Wi-Fi (using IP phones) and other advancements in VoIP technology. We truly are on the verge of a major breakthrough in telecommunications. So, what are you waiting for? Make the call!

Voice over Internet Protocol, short for VoIP refers to the transmission of voice traffic over Internet Protocol (IP) based network. It is a category of both software and hardware that allows people to make use of the Internet.

This means that the calls that go over the Internet are traveling over privately controlled data networks that are using IP rather than by traditional circuit transmission to transfer the calls from one site to the other using a carrier system interface. They are then sent over the public controlled telephone network.

Making use of a VoIP call is just as creating a normal touch tone telephone and dial the normal phone number any time you wanted to. The person on the other line will not even notice whether you are calling on a VoIP phone or just an ordinary telephone. The main difference is that the phone calls that the VoIP uses travels over the Internet rather than through the local company’s wires.

Communicating with the Voice over Internet Protocol came to pass in February 1995. Vocaltec, Inc. initiated its Internet Phone software. The call originated on a 486/33-MHZ (higher) personal computer and telephone. It is equipped with a sound card, speakers, microphone and modem. This determines what type of software or hardware is needed to initiate and complete a call. The software reduced the voice signal and converted it into IP pockets for broadcast over the Internet.

How does VoIP work?

VoIP sends a voice signal to a remote destination. To make it happen, you have to digitize it with an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC). Transmit it and transform it again in analog format with Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) to simply use it. This is essentially how VoIP works. It sends calls over the Internet or any other Internet Protocol (IP) network by simply changing voice traffic into data packets.

The advantage

There are advantages in using VoIP. One major advantage is that it avoids tolls charged by ordinary telephone service. You can talk to the person you want to talk to, as long as you want without paying for the time.

In short, you can talk with many people all at the same time. You can also share datas with people you are talking to with, send them images, graphics, tones, videos and many more. Having lower operating costs due to reduced hardware requirements more resourceful network infrastructure. Lower cost structures allow us to offer lower rates of call compared to a traditional telephone line.

The serious dilemma

VoIP function and services involve data transfer. An interactive data voice call takes place every time you make some calls. You still have to wait for few seconds to hear if the other side of the line answered it already. This is not best appropriate for this principle. Recent development occurred that they are making adjustments or taking place of the flow of voice signals in an improved manner. But still, respect to the quality of traditional telephone lines should take place in this matter.

All of us wants to have high quality phone calls with high accessibility at a low cost rate and an Internet connection that charges using a flat rate monthly fee structure. With the technology that is present nowadays, that is not a problem anymore.

There are not many that haven’t heard of VoIP and the benefits that it can bring to a consumer and cut costs for a business. However, many will be wondering whether VoIP is something that they need and what the benefits will be of changing over to VoIP. In this article I will highlight some of the key points and you can then decide for yourself.

From a consumer standpoint, VoIP can provide an opportunity to make significant cost savings. This is especially the case for those that make long distance calls, but how can this be? Well long distance calls are carried over your computer broadband internet connection and bypasses the telephone company altogether, meaning that a lot of taxes and charges are not incurred.

The saving in long distance calling can result in a massive saving for businesses. Furthermore, the amount of VoIP service providers entering the market means that the competition and resulting pricing battle between the providers is good for many businesses looking to convert to VoIP.

In order for VoIP to work well, it is important that you have a good bandwidth connection (DSL or broadband). Other necessities include a regular phone or a computer microphone, and a VoIP route adaptor in order for your phone to connect to the internet. The fantastic advantage that you receive with the converter is that it has your number assigned to it. You may think “what is so good about that?”, well I’ll explain. As your number is assigned to the converter rather than the line that your usual phone connects to, you are able to plug the converter into any broadband connection and immediately utilize your usual number for making and receiving calls. You’ll also of course need to sign up with a VoIP service provider beforehand.

You may find that many VoIP companies offer free voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, speed dialling, call forwarding, plus 3-way calling and a lot more. Take a look around at the providers and also take the opportunity to use the trials that many companies are offering.

VoIP is still a very new technology and promises to advance significantly over the coming years. However, the benefits are already shining through, and it may soon appear that regular analogue phone system companies may not be able to compete with the advancements of VoIP. Only time will tell, but it looks as though VoIP is definitely here to stay and will soon take over in many homes and business premises throughout the world as a cheaper alternative to existing phone lines. Consider looking further into what VoIP has to offer by visiting the website below. You will find a lot of interesting information and may settle any queries that you have about what VoIP is, what it has to offer, and which providers you should consider choosing.

If you’ve never heard of Skype, your competitors are probably already ahead of you. The “Hype on Skype” as I call it, is justified for one reason alone: it really IS the communications tool of the future.

Skype is a breakthrough softphone application that allows you to make phone calls from your PC direct to another Skype user, or any regular fixed or mobile telephone. The cost is extremely cheap, and the quality has seen massive leaps of continuous improvement since it’s launch in 2003. Everyone knows all that.

Here’s what most people don’t know: Skype can be used as powerful and effective marketing tool for any small business. If you want to reach an international market, get telephone inquiries and leads from China, or even if you just want to use it to communicate with your business buddies, you should explore the hidden potential of Skype.

Using Skype as a marketing or telemarketing tool basically revolves around these facts:

1) The Power of SkypeIn and Virtual Numbers

SkypeIn, a feature of Skype still in beta, allows you to create virtual numbers in many different countries. If you maximize on this fact, you can literally have “virtual offices” all around the world, even if you’re a home based business entrepreneur with no staff, an embarrassing budget and limited time.

2) The Power of Third-Party Applications

There are many third party applications that enhance the basic software. No, I’m not talking about the ones that allow you to create cute icons or change the ring tone of your incoming Skype calls. Those are nice, but I’m talking about the business-related applications. If you know the correct ones to use, you can literally build a “virtual call center” from your desktop that has all the feature of a real call center: your own personal secretary, day-and-time manager, call routing and call waiting, conditional call forwarding, language translations and much more.

3) The Integration Capabilities

If the “off-the-shelf” version just doesn’t cut it for your business needs, then you can customize and adapt Skype into your own proprietary systems and software. You can choose to do this in-house, or outsource it to experts all over the world. If you know where and how to do this, you can create a powerful telemarketing application that cost pennies a day compared to the traditional solutions. It will be much more time-efficient, too.

So I’ll say it again: Skype is the communications tool of the future. Learning how to use it effectively in a sales and marketing context could be the deciding factor between “just another year” and “termendous year” for your business.

Pros

One advantage of using VoIP is the cost of the service. Phone service using VoIP costs less than similar service offered from traditional phone services, especially in regards to long distance telephone calls. Long distance calls through VoIP are offered at flat rates, which will ultimately benefit the consumer. Also, VoIP allows the consumer to share its voice and data equipment, which means that the costs are also shared. In other words, if you have an Internet connection already in place, VoIP can be used at almost no extra cost, and any network capacity that you are not currently using can be used for making calls.

Another key benefit of using VoIP is the fact that incoming calls can be automatically routed to your VoIP phone regardless of where you are connected to the Internet. This is especially important for those who go on business trips.

VoIP phones can also be integrated with other Internet services, such as videoconferences and file transfers. A user can send or receive messages or data while on their VoIP phone.

Cons

One cause for concern with VoIP is emergency 911 service. Before the government stepped in, 911 was not an optional feature for VoIP service providers, and 911 calls made after-hours were not guaranteed to be routed to the local area’s emergency call centers of the caller. However, the U.S. government required that all VoIP service providers make 911 service standard and functional by September 2005. Some VoIP service providers have appealed this deadline, so it would be wise for consumers to be sure of what their service provider’s policy on 911 is.

Another disadvantage of the VoIP service is the lack of encryption, which means that it is relatively easy for someone to eavesdrop on a VoIP call and even change the content of the call. There are a few solutions to this problem, but they do not guarantee full security of any calls. Airtight security would require the user to utilize encryption and cryptographic authentication, which are not yet readily available to consumers.

A third drawback is the inconsistent sound quality of the calls made with VoIP. The sound quality is oftentimes fickle and calls often have delays and echoes as well. This means that some calls made with VoIP might not be as smooth and natural as calls made over landline phones.

Business communications has always been a challenging arena for management….subject to cost, function, reliability, and other pressures and concerns. The emergence of VoIP technology….and specificly application to PBX systems via IP based protocols….has provided an enormous opportunity for companies to reap many benefits.

Many companies today have multiple office locations around the country or around the world. Currently, each office uses its own PBX system and inter-office phone calls are routed through the PSTN and charged long distance and international rates by carriers. Most companies also employ workers on a part time basis who work from their homes. Those workers get reimbursed for telecommunication expenses they incur while performing their duties. It just makes business sense for companies to explore alternatives to consolidate their telecommunication systems and reduce costs.

The answer…..purchase a Voice-over-IP enabled PBX system and deploy it in a Virtual Office setup.

Voice-over-IP (VoIP) is a fairly new technology for transporting voice calls over the Internet which allows users to realize substantial cost savings on long distance and international calls. Besides cost effectiveness, VoIP enabled PBX systems (or IP PBX) offer easy integration with existing telecommunications systems and are characterized with low operating costs as their upgrade is done through software updates rather than more expensive hardware replacement. Additionally, the technology simplifies the communication infrastructure (no need for separate voice and data cables) while offering high scalability.

Virtual Office models are used by companies that want to consolidate their communications, reduce costs and achieve more cohesive corporate images. To implement the model, a company has to install a single IP PBX system in its headquarters and distribute to employees IP phones or regular phones with VoIP adapters. Employees can make intra-office and inter-office phone calls through dialing PBX extensions. Such calls are routed through the Internet and are practically free. Company customers, on the other side, can dial a single inbound number plus extensions in order to reach the company’s employees. The latter receive the calls on their IP/Regular Phones at any location in the world with Internet connectivity.

So what kind of a VoIP PBX solution does your business need? – a turnkey Virtual Office solution that could be customized to meet your company specific needs.

My recommendation for this solution is the highly acclaimed package from Packet8. Recently thes Packet8 Virtual Office solution for small and medium sized businesses received Network Computing magazine’s Editor’s Choice award over competitive offerings from Covad Communications and Velocity Networks. That’s some pretty stiff competition….and says a lot about Packet8′s performance. The Packet8 Virtual Office solution received the highest overall rating for its rich feature set, call management tools and low subscription price.

The Packet8 Virtual Office is a cost-effective, easy-to-use alternative to traditional PBX systems that allows users anywhere in the world to be part of a VoIP-hosted virtual phone system that includes auto attendants, conference bridges, extension-to-extension dialing, business class voicemail and ring groups, in addition to a rich variety of other business telephone features normally found on high-end, premise based PBX systems. Their Virtual Office reduces an organization’s telecommunications total cost of ownership (TCO) with a minimal initial investment combined with unlimited local and long distance business calling throughout the United States and Canada and Packet8′s low international rates.

Now…..here’s an overview of what to look for when making the business case for investment in VoIP technology for a VoIP PBX solution:

* Ways to save money for corporations…..

- Eliminate or reduce intra-office toll charges

- Avoiding service and support contracts on existing PBX hardware

- Eliminate the need for on-going Centrex services — and charges

- Reduce expansion costs via lower costs for adds, moves and changes; lower user hardware costs

- Reduce the on-going costs for separate voice messaging systems

- Provide productivity benefits for remote and traveling workers who can be empowered with the same integrated capabilities as office workers

- Reduce user training and learning on phone and messaging systems

- Cost-effectively implement unified messaging

- Improve security

- Reduce systems downtime and improve performance

Additional benefits for call centers…..

- Virtualize call centers, allowing more flexibility in the center’s configuration….either helping consolidation efforts, or providing enterprise capabilities to telecommuting call center workers

- Improve customer support services and reduce abandoned calls and call times

- Improve customer satisfaction and reduce customer turnover via improved call center services

Cost considerations….

- VoIP telecommunication hardware and software

- IP phone sets or soft phones

- Network upgrades for possible quality of service and performance upgrades

- Implementation labor and professional services

- On-going support and administration labor

- Support and maintenance contracts

- Increased support calls and potential user downtime losses on initial deployment

- IT Training

- User Training

- Write-off, write-down and disposal costs for existing telecommunication assets

Potential project risks……

- Quality of service/performance

- User training and adoption

- Administration and support skill levels and resources

- Proprietary vs. open systems interoperability

How Does The Solution Work?

Inter/Intra office calls…….

Caller A, who is located in the corporate headquarters, wants to make a call to Caller B, who is located in the corporate headquarters or in any of the company’s offices worldwide.

Caller A picks up his VoIP device (IP phone, phone with adapter or softphone) and dials Caller B’s extension.

The VoIP PBX server searches its internal database and obtains call routing information about Caller B The VoIP PBX server routes the call to Caller B’s VoIP device.

If the destination number is unreachable, the system forwards the call to Caller B’s voicemail.

As soon as Caller B picks up his VoIP device the conversation starts.

During conversation Caller A’s VoIP device convert voice to digital packets and send them to Caller B’s VoIP device and vice versa.

Both A and B can use traditional PBX functionality, like call on hold, caller ID, call forward, etc. Calls are free

Outbound calls…….

Caller A, who is located in the corporate headquarters, wants to make a call
to Caller B, who is a company customer.

Caller A picks up his VoIP device (IP phone, phone with adapter or softphone) and dials the customer’s number.

The VoIP PBX server searches its internal database and obtains call routing
information about the VoIP carrier, who should terminate calls to Caller B’s area code.

The call is routed to the VoIP carrier.

The VoIP carrier terminates the call to Caller’s B number over the PSTN.

During conversation, Caller A can use traditional PBX functionality, like call on hold, caller ID, call forward, etc.

Calls are charged on time basis at pre-negotiated rates with the VoIP carrier

Inbound calls…..

Caller A, who is a company customer, wants to make a call to Caller B, who is a company employee.

Caller A picks up his phone and dials the company’s central access number.

The VoIP PBX server prompts the caller to enter an extension.

Caller A dials Caller B’s extension.

The VoIP PBX server searches its internal database and obtains call routing information about Caller B.

The VoIP PBX server routes the call to Caller B’s VoIP device.

During conversation, Caller B can use traditional PBX functionality, like call on hold, caller ID, call forward, etc.

Calls are either free if the company uses a local access number or charged on a time basis if the company uses a toll free one.

Voice over IP (VoIP) technologies carry great promise to reduce telecommunication and networking total cost of ownership while empowering businesses with new capabilities and agility. When making your decision on deploying a Virtual Office VoIP PBX solution consider the strategic and tangible benefits as well as the costs and risks outlined above. If it all seems too overwhelming seek out the assistance of an unbiased independent advisor such as Business-VoIP-Solution.com.

The buzz for this new phone system technology is reaching a fever pitch yet, many people still have limited knowledge. There are many terms that you need to understand when searching for a VoIP provider so that you may take advantage of this low cost technology. I am going to list them here.

AS – A group of networks under mutual administration that share the same routing methodology. An AS uses an internal gateway protocol and common metrics to route Packets within the AS, and uses an external gateway protocol to route packets to other AS.

ASP (Application Service Provider)
An independent, third-party provider of software-based services delivered to customers across a wide area network (WAN).

ATA – Analog Telephone Adapter A device that connects between an analog telephone and an Internet connection port, and allows you to use a standard phone to make and receive VoIP calls over the Internet.

Average Hold Time – The average length of time between the moment a caller finishes dialing and the moment the call is answered or terminated

Bandwidth The maximum data carrying capacity of a transmission link. For networks, bandwidth is usually expressed in bits per second (bps).

Broadband
Descriptive term for evolving digital technology that provides consumers a single switch facility offering integrated access to voice, high-speed data service, video demand services, and interactive delivery services.

Codec – Short for coder/decoder, a piece of hardware or software that automatically encodes/compresses and decodes/decompresses voice signal data packets. A codec is used to minimize bandwith usage while preserving voice quality. Although many proprietary compression schemes exist, VoIP networks typically incorporate at least one of several standardized audio CODECs for the sake of interoperability.

Compression
compression is used at anywhere from 1:1 to 12:1 ratios in VOIP applications to consume less bandwidth and leave more for data or other voice/fax communications. The voice quality may decrease with increased compression ratios.

Find-me/Follow-me Lying at the heart of the “unified messaging” or “ubiquitous communication” concept, Find me/Follow me is a feature that routes incoming calls to a user no matter where he or she roams or what type of device is being used (home, business or mobile phone). This “presence” feature, which rings multiple phones simultaneously, is offered by many IP PBXs and some hosted services. The feature is typically activated by pressing a softkey.

Firewall
A system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network. Firewalls can be implemented as hardware, software, or a combination of both. All messages entering or leaving the intranet pass through the firewall, which examines each message and blocks those that do not meet the security criteria specified on the firewall.

FXO – Foreign Exchange Office. A device that connects with a Central Office (CO) or PSTN analog line.

FXS – Foreign Exchange Station. A device that connects with an “end-user” device such as a telephone or fax machine.

Gatekeeper – The central control entity that performs management functions in a Voice and Fax over IP network and for multimedia applications such as video conferencing. Gatekeepers provide intelligence for the network, including address resolution, authorization, and authentication services, the logging of Call Detail Records, and communications with network management systems.

Gatekeepers control bandwidth, provide interfaces to existing legacy systems, and monitor the network for engineering purposes as well as for real-time network management and load balancing, .
Internet Telephony – Any method of transmitting voice over the internet. A multimedia PC with special client software will digitalize your voice.

IP PBX – IP Private Branch Exchange. A business phone system that offers advanced phone services between VoIP and PSTN networks, such as music-on-hold, automatic call-routing, voicemail, and call transfer.

IP phone – also called an Internet phone or broadband phone. An IP phone plugs into a broadband Internet connection to make and receive VoIP calls over the Internet.

Packet – A logically grouped unit of data. These packets of data are distributed over the internet, and then are de-constructed to voice when they reach their destination.

PSTN – Public-Switched Telephone Network, is the commonly-known telephone network. PSTN is a circuit-switched network.

PSTN Failover – an optional port on an IP phone or ATA device that connects to the PSTN network in case your Internet connection or electrical power goes down. This configuration requires you to have a regular telephone line and service.

Route – A set of parameters predefined by Voip provider to facilitate routing of traffic between the Gateways/Gatekeepers controlled by a Voip provider Member either via ownership or via a partnership with the owner. Along with specifying other parameters, a Voip provider Member using the Gatekeeping Service assigns to a Route values specifying the details of both originating and terminating Gateways/Gatekeepers.

SIP – Session Initiation Protocol. One of the newer, more common signaling protocols used for VoIP.

Softphone – a “software” phone on a PC that can send and receive calls over the Internet.

VoIP – Voice over Internet Protocol, which is a technology that allows you to make and receive phone calls and faxes over the Internet instead of through the telephone or cellular network.

VoIP Gateway – device that converts analog voice signals to digital IP packets for communication over an Ethernet (LAN or WAN) network.

VSP – VoIP Service Provider

In order to use VoIP, both sender and receiver need to have a broadband connection. This is a high-speed Internet connection usually provided by cable or a DSL modem. Broadband modems are usually used to connect computers to the Internet, but in the case of VoIP, computers are not necessary, because now there are telephones that connect directly.

Calls to all destinations worldwide for free via internet – without computer

While the flagship of the TerraSip VoIP product palette, the Starphone, previously went over the virtual store counter for 89 Euro, it is now available for a thrifty 59 Euro, beginning immediately.
With this, TerraSip is reacting to an increased demand. “The Starphone is so interesting because it offers a diversity of functions like no other comparable product on the market and provides comfortable internet telephony without requiring a computer or software.” says Daniel David, responsible for products and purchasing for the company.

Low Initial Investment
Alongside the remarkable design, the SIP phone offers a large foldable display, an alphabetic keyboard and open standards. It supports all current protocols and is delivered already pre-configured. This comfort as well as the low price makes entering VoIP telephony palatable, through which regular telephone fees can sink up to 90%.

No Contract Obligations
The requirements for the operation of a Sip phone are a broadband internet connection, such as DSL, as well as a router, to which the Starphone is connected with a network cable. The Sip account, which makes dialing via the internet possible, is provided by TerraSip free of charge. Interested users can register on the webpage www.terrasip.com, completely without any contractual obligation.

Calls to other networks worldwide from only 1.4 cents per minute
Calling other TerraSip members is free, with low fees for conversations using other networks. One minute throughout all of Europe or the USA, as well as many countries in Asia and Africa only costs 1.4 cents, with a national tariff available beginning at 1 cent.

Information about the provider
TerraSip is a young, globally oriented Service Provider operating worldwide. It offers free internet telephony via the international SIP standard for members.
TerraSip’s focus is mobile internet telephony, Voice over WLAN, or VoWLAN. TerraSip will present its first pilot project concerning mobile Internet Telephony in Germany in spring 2006.

Following the arrival of VoIP, or Voice Over Internet Protocol, the internet techies have been raving about it, and it is now one of the hottest new technologies around, but what is it and why is it talked about so much?

Well let’s begin with what VoIP is. In short, it allows you to make phone calls over the internet using your broadband connection, but has many benefits:

- You can make phone calls from virtually anywhere in the world to anywhere else using your computer.

- Depending on the speed of your connection, you are able to make several calls at the same time.

- If you move home, you are able to keep your same number, even if you move from one side of the world to the other. As you do not have an actual land line, but a converter that has a number assigned, as long as keep the converter with you, you can plug it into any broadband connection and immediately utilize your usual number for making and receiving calls.

Another benefit of VoIP, which many will find useful, and be an attractive feature for many businesses, is the ability to connect to your office phone, whether it be from a hotel or from home. This will enable company personnel to work out of the office, but still have access to all of the office phone system features.

VoIP can also be very cost effective, especially when making long-distance calls. This factor has meant that telephone service providers have to compete with VoIP, in turn ensuring pricing is much more competitive.

At the beginning, the voice quality for those using VoIP was not as good as with a traditional phone line. However the continual technological advancements have meant that the difference in quality is now not as apparent.

So how does it work?

To begin with your voice is converted into bytes so that it can be compressed, split it into packets, and transmitted over the internet. These packets, which contain a collection of information, including the origin, timestamp, and intended destination of the packet, is then converted at the receivers end so that your voice is recognised.

There are many that are already abandoning existing telephone networks and solely using VoIP. For a wealth of information on VoIP take a look at http://www.voip-serviceproviders.info.

Vonage is one of the leading providers of commercial and residential VoIP telephony. In a short span of three years, it has acquired more than a million customers for this recent communications technology. The company is based in Holmdel, New Jersey and offers quality-rich features as a part of its VoIP offering to customers. Customers throughout the United States can avail Vonage services; Vonage started its Canada and UK services in 2004 and 2005, respectively.

In order to make use of the services provided by Vonage, customers need a broadband internet connection and a good quality VoIP router or adapter. Vonage is different from IM-based VoIP services such as Skype as it offers greater ease of use and a greater selection of plans. A number of monthly packages are offered by Vonage; these include fixed minutes as well as unlimited use. The minutes allotted can be used for communicating with anyone in the U.S.; long-distance charges are applied for international calls. These charges are far less than those charged when using traditional telephony. Vonage offers a 14-day or a 30-day money-back trial period for customers to test the features and quality of VoIP service provided by Vonage.

Vonage subscribers are provided with a regular telephone number that can be used from anywhere in the world. Subscribers are free to choose an area code different from that of the place where they are located. For a small monthly fee, subscribers can obtain virtual numbers. The concept of virtual numbers helps subscribers, especially if they are businesses with a global network, to save on communication costs. If a US-telephone number is used from outside the US for making a call to the US, it incurs only local charges. However, all area codes in the US are not covered by Vonage; therefore prospective subscribers should check for number availability before deciding on Vonage.

Vonage is one of the few VoIP companies that provide a package which is a complete fully functional replacement for land lines. Vonage provides its subscribers with an extensive set of features including 911, call forwarding, 3-way calling, free in-network calling, call waiting, and voice mail at a fraction of the cost as compared to traditional telephony. Vonage makes use of SIP, which is a robust open source protocol, for its software.

Subscribers are not required to connect a computer to the Internet for using the Vonage phone service, as the company provides handsets. Moreover, unlike other VoIP services, Vonage does not charge extra for calls between the Vonage network and landlines. Vonage is ideal for those who need to make regular long-distance calls, since it works just like a regular telephone; it suits people who are not comfortable in making calls through a computer.

The flip side of subscribing to Vonage is that the cost, although lower than traditional telephony, is much higher as compared to other VoIP services. However, the cost is offset to a large extent by the services offered and voice quality. Also, since the phone number of a subscriber may not correspond to his actual location, implementing 911
is not easy. Vonage runs its own emergency telephone number service, which requires that subscribers provide the residential address to Vonage.