Monday, February 28, 2011

Tips For Using Skype For Business



Skype can be a very valuable tool for businesses today, especially businesses facing high communication costs. If you are tired of paying outrageous fees to manage your business' communications, you should certainly look into what this affordable communications network can do for you. The following tips for using Skype for business will help you get the most out of this service.

Tip 1- Utilize the free calling program currently being offered to all customers. Your business can make completely free calls from anywhere in the world to any other location in the world by using this communications network. To take advantage of this network, you simply need to have two users with a computer and an Internet connection.

By replacing all of your standard calls with Skype calls, you can drastically reduce the cost of your business communications. Companies that need to stay in constant contact with employees who are traveling around the world often benefit from this service the most, because they can literally save thousands of dollars by having their employees use this system rather than make calls from a cell phone or a landline.

Tip 2- Take advantage of the inexpensive calling rates offered by this company. Your employees can make extremely affordable calls from computers to landlines when using this network. In order to gain access to these ridiculously low rates, you just need to buy call credits. Once you buy call credits, you can talk for hours over long distances for as little as $10.

Once you start taking advantage of these ridiculously low call rates, you will be saving your company a great deal of money. You will no longer have to manage your communications use diligently as well, because your communications with employees around the world will only cost a few cents a minute at the most.

Tip 3- Utilize the additional features and capabilities of this computer software. Skype is much more than just a simple phone service. Along with providing free and incredibly affordable phone calls, users can also have virtual chats with other employees and they can create video conferences.

By taking advantage of these tips for using Skype for business, you will not only be saving your company money, but you will actually be increasing the productivity of your employees. The experience of being in a virtual office environment can seamlessly connect multiple offices that are situated in different parts of the world. Once you start incorporating these services into your daily operations, you will likely see an improvement in employee morale and you will see an improvement in employee productivity as well.

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Sunday, February 27, 2011

What Is VoIP And How Can You Benefit From Using It As Your Phone Service?



A lot of people don't know about VoIP. They very simply do not recognize what this phone service is all about. Traditional phone services have to charge you more because it costs them a lot of money to maintain and repair the phone lines that they utilize to bring service to their customers. With VoIP which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, your telephone service comes through your broadband or satellite broadband connection and this enables the companies that provide the VoIP service to do so for less.

Utilizing this kind of service can really save you money but that savings is really compounded if you make a lot of phone calls. VoIP service makes it possible for you to pay one low monthly fee and call anywhere at any time of the day or night for just one price. No stressing about how much the phone bill will be when it arrives or stressing about how many minutes you were on the phone. Every month your phone bill will be the same amount which makes it nice when you want to have the payments directly withdrawn from your bank account.

This kind of service also includes many extras that you pay for with standard telephone companies. Call waiting, call forwarding, caller id, as well as voice mail will also be included with your service at no additional charge. All the services that you are used to will all be included with your package and for just a little more per month you can have unlimited international calling as well.

The call quality with VoIP service is outstanding. Many fret about making the switch because they will be losing quality service however this form of service and all its extras serve most customers very well. The service is fast and reliable with amazing customer service in case you do run into any issue that you require help with. Their service representatives are generally available anytime of the day or night to help you resolve your problems swiftly.

Using your high speed connection to lessen your home phone bill is a great way to scale back in the existing economy. It's the fastest and most efficient way to stop paying exaggerated phone charges without sacrificing your home phone or the services that go along with it. Voice over ip is something that many people find is incredibly beneficial in the current economy.

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Saturday, February 26, 2011

It Is All About Cheap Calls - VOIP



As soon as you search the online world for free calling services, you will find a lot of them, there are so many cheap calling along with free calling services all over the world; landlines, calling cards, furthermore much more. After that why use VoIP to make free calls? What is the reason that people are now choosing VoIP? This is an interesting question and many people all over the world desire the answer to this one. Now by means of the advent of the internet the use of VoIP has increased.

Cheap calls enterprise product along with one of the leading cheap calls to India service is offering 100% free extra talk time as soon as you buy one of their packs, however is it still cheap? Consequently you should search for a cheap VoIP provider rather than a free one. Numerous providers are here who serve VoIP calls in very low costs as well. Next significant consideration is local furthermore international VoIP calls. Approximately every provider may serve very cheap local calls however you are not supposed to access cheaper global calls with the same provider.

In order to create a free VoIP call you will need an internet connection. There are a lot of service providers; however before you use their services you have to register through them. Formerly you have done so then download their software install it on your computer in addition to make sure your friends and family you are calling moreover have the same services and the similar software running on their computer. Cheap calls has been in business intended for last couple of years and have gained significant market especially in USA, on the other hand sometimes it boggles my mind that its owned by cheap calls.

This provider is offering extremely low prices as compared to other providers such as Local Phone or Rebel. Essentially, this VoIP service is based on Calling Card which enables user to save a rational amount on their international calls. Several providers cheat the users by means of hidden charges however this applies no such charges in order to provide cost effective services.

One of the majority affordable and free calling services is the VoIP, as told above that if you have the similar software after that the calls are free of cost. There are no huge amounts of calls that you need to pay just your internet connection bill along with nothing else. It is a golden chance for the callers who have their familiars in Indian Sub-continent. As a result, do not lose the chance along with start making the cheapest calls to above mentioned countries as well as other many countries.

Calling anytime is made simple and powered by the latest in VoIP technology making it reliable and meaning that you can connect not only from your mobile, but also from any landline or web browser. Using the latest technology to avail cheap international calls with your cell phone does not require WiFi, 3G or any other internet connection. For a limited time we are offering 50 cents worth of trial calls on signup - this is good for up to 30 minutes of long distance calls (depending on destination); click here.




Friday, February 25, 2011

Cheap International Calls Lower Your Budget



The most significant thing in some relationship is communication. Humans do not just communicate orally or physically, as is the case by means of most of the animals, they furthermore connect through radio waves and electronic means, such as internet technologies. Earlier, it was very hard to remain in touch by means of people living overseas due to the involvement of heavy along with expensive trunk calls and it frequently took lot of time. Privacy was as well a matter of concern as operator overheard the conversation however now various services are working to let you make use of Cheap International Calls.

Over the previous years, parts of my state have lost electricity due to ice storms along with other bad weather events, so for emergency purposes, I desire to keep the landline on. Given that I also have a prepaid cell phone, I dropped the long distance service of my landline. I resolute that a limited calling plan intended for the landline is cheaper than a basic plan. How so? I asked the landline business for a limited calling plan in place of the basic plan I'd had for a decade.

You need to conduct a research on different service providers who offer the international calling facilities. Take help of the internet as most of them clearly list out the costs involved. Also, review the various plans of each service provider along with compare them to get a better understanding which can ultimately help in better decision making procedure.

These calling cards complete both the needs of domestic calls along with international calls. On the other hand, there are separate international calling cards solely made for cheap international calls. People are not supposed to be anxious about the heavy bills as frequently this scheme allows you to make your calls cheaper along by means of the inclusion of various free offers of calling minutes.

It is also an adept voicemail service there is a transcription feature intended for voicemail along with you can even block voicemail spam. Every time a store or solicitor wants your phone number, you can give them the Google Voice number as an alternative of your landline number. I attempt to monitor my usage on the provider's website each month in case I need to purchase more minutes. It is actually pretty straightforward to load your phone by means of minutes via the phone company's website, making it pretty convenient as soon as you are on the road.

In the similar way, it does not include some extra infrastructure costs also rental charges thus, making it effective for people. Cheap International Calls are not a trouble these days and users can collect all the information about new methods of communication starting on various websites to select the best for them.

Calling anytime is made simple and powered by the latest in VoIP technology making it reliable and meaning that you can connect not only from your mobile, but also from any landline or web browser. Using the latest technology to avail cheap international calls with your cell phone does not require WiFi, 3G or any other internet connection. For a limited time we are offering 50 cents worth of trial calls on signup - this is good for up to 30 minutes of long distance calls (depending on destination); click here.




Thursday, February 24, 2011

The Problem With Telecoms - How Hosted Voice Can Be As Effective and Cost Efficient As Email



Most companies take email for granted these days and it seems to have overtaken the telephone as a method of contact in many spheres. A number of business executives count on it to communicate with the outside world because dipping into your inbox wherever you are in the world is convenient to say the least. Whether people download messages when at a client's premises, log on via wi-fi at a cafe or hotel, use airport computers or access their inbox on a smartphone, emailing is a sure fire way to keep in touch whilst on the move.

Apart from trying to establish which number to try - the head or local office, a mobile or the person's home phone - on some occasions email is not entirely suitable, for example, when an answer is required urgently or for those who have to drive a lot. We may sometimes wonder how we ever coped before email but the answer is simple, we picked up the phone, and let's be honest, a written dialogue can never replace a good old fashioned conversation. Securing a new customer and building or maintaining an existing relationship is so much easier with a friendly discussion, but there are problems with the way telecoms works too; it's not as flexible, or as cheap, as email. When you email someone it is the individual you are emailing, not the device, but when telephoning, you may have to ring multiple devices to locate the person - this is also the problem with telecoms.

However, services hosted in the internet cloud, remove the need for any expensive software or hardware as it replaces the need for complex internal systems and the upfront and maintenance costs associated with traditional in-house PBX. Fixed monthly fees, for unlimited usage are available from some providers and this helps businesses manage their telecoms costs easily and effectively, eliminating spiralling costs of overseas calls and those to other areas in the UK and overseas.

Certain specialist services, revolutionary in the telecoms world, allow calls to be routed to landlines, mobiles and computers, anywhere in the world, dynamically as if it were just to another office extension. The real beauty of a few of these innovative systems is that calls can be programmed to route several devices at once, making sure the person is the destination of the call. In addition, those presets can be predetermined on the type of call, the day and time of call. Through the very same principles, calls can not only ring and be forwarded to the correct person but they can also be blocked, allowing businesses to get rid of those time wasting cold calls that everybody gets annoyed with.

So it's not just email everybody takes for granted, it is telecoms too. However, because telephone communication has not truly advanced since the birth of mobile handsets - until now - it is all too easy to forgive and forget about those aspects of telecommunications that actually hinder effective business, as well as the prices businesses are forced to pay because phones lines are a must have. Telecommunications can be as effective and cost efficient as email if you use an innovative hosted voice service.

Natterbox is a pioneering call management solutions company which aims to revolutionise the telecommunications industry with its innovative, impactful ideas, all at a low, fixed cost. It offers a host of vital hosted voice services for small 'one man' start-ups to large multi-national enterprises, each created and enhanced to make life easier and more cost-efficient for the user.




Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The Pros of an Internet Home Phone Service



Do you have access to high speed Internet services? To be precise, do you currently own a broadband Internet service? If you do have access to such a facility then you are a step closer to using the same for inexpensive VoIP service. This has nothing to do with communication services like Skype for which you definitely need a computer, a microphone headset, speakers and a separate microphone (if the head set does not have the same attached). This technology has the ability to connect your regular telephone set with the Internet and you will have your own VoIP phone service ready. This definitely will low your telephone bill by a huge amount.

Digital Phone Service

An Internet phone service is known by many names. It has been called VoIP, broadband phone and more recently, the same service has been referred to as the Digital Phone Service. If you have ever wondered how the cable providers are able to provide the same home phone service at such low rates then this is the answer. They use the same VoIP service in order to provide the service at low cost. Even with this, you do not necessarily need to take the service from the cable operator. You can order a standalone VoIP at a much lower price than that given by these cable companies.

The cost of home phone service

A VoIP service is kind of a pre-paid phone plan. The consumer has to pay in advance to get the service activated. You might even need to buy a VoIP phone router in order to get the system working. The cost of router will depend on your service provider. They might charge you a bit or give it free. Certain VoIP service providers offer packages with unlimited local and international calls for as low as $20 or less per month. If you are convinced about getting the service then you have the option to pay $200 upfront and enjoy the facility all year round. Just think about the amount of money saved in telephone bills. Nothing else to pay for except the usual telephone government taxes that amount o around $3-5.

Quality of Home phone service

The call quality of a VoIP service will depend on the Internet facility you use. Using a high speed broadband facility is key to getting better quality calls. In general, the call quality of VoIP service is better than the traditional phone service since individuals or organizations using this technology use high speed Internet service. Using the internet phone means getting a communication tool at one third the price you pay for a traditional phone. So why are you paying an arm and leg for something that can be acquired for way less.

Feature comparison

A home phone service in general provides more features as part of the standard package as compared to the traditional telephone. Landline telephone companies will often charge you for extra calling features like caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, and others. If calling features come with your landline plan, you will normally get two or three at the most. On the other hand with VoIP you can get anywhere from ten to twenty or even more calling features at no extra cost.

Aziz is the Online Marketing Manager of Axvoice, USA. Axvoice home phone service offers an outstanding service to its customers, both nationally and globally. Sign up with Axvoice home phone service today to make unlimited calls to Friend and Family living anywhere in the world.




Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Calling Overseas - Call Overseas and Save Money



There are a variety of methods intended for making cheap overseas phone calls. Several of these can be used from several locations in the world at the similar time as others have limited availability. It has never been easier or more convenient to call overseas from several locations in the world. Before now, most of you have settled on your wireless phone as the best way to keep in touch through family, work and others at home at the same time as you are traveling around the U.S., Canada or nearby areas. Your phone works all over, and rates are reasonable. Overseas calls, though, you face considerably higher prices unless you make special arrangements.

Armed by means of special access numbers, you can route your calls in the course of an intermediary to garner cheap rates. Essentially, you hire on through a special service that provides you through a telephone number local to you. You would call the phone number, enter a special access code provided to you furthermore then dial the country code and telephone number of the party you are trying to reach.

Rates keep dropping due to increased competition in addition to the continued development of new, innovative technology. Cheap calls can be made from any country in the world today. Except you have not ever visited Europe, you previously know the answer: Hotels there routinely gouge you for making international calls from your room phone. Many hotels even charge for incoming cheap calls and my experience has been that the more upscale the hotel, the bigger the gouge.

Using your computer as your phone appliance is possible too. Moreover called voice over internet protocol otherwise VoIP, you use your computer to dial the number. You just need a speaker set as well as a microphone as well as internet access, if at all possible a high speed connection. Of course, you would have to create an account through the intermediary phone service as well as download a special dialer to place the calls for you.

There is an assortment of products for making cheap calls from most developed countries other than some developing countries continue with their attempts to block new innovations similar to PC-to-Phone, Callback and VoIP service. They do this so they can continue to collect high tariffs on calls made through their state controlled monopoly phone companies. But cheap calls can even be made from these countries using clever methods.

Calling anytime is made simple and powered by the latest in VoIP technology making it reliable and meaning that you can connect not only from your mobile, but also from any landline or web browser. Using the latest technology to avail cheap calls with your cell phone does not require WiFi, 3G or any other internet connection. For a limited time we are offering 50 cents worth of trial calls on signup - this is good for up to 30 minutes of long distance calls (depending on destination); click here.




Monday, February 21, 2011

The Many Faces of the VoIP Business Phone Systems



Many people have heard the term "VoIP," though they're not entirely sure what it is. As it becomes more and more popular, however, that will most likely change drastically. VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a way to take analog audio signals and transform them into digital data that can be sent via the Internet. This means that VoIP can be used to place calls online that would normally be made with a regular copper-wire phone -- by which you can completely bypass the involvement of the phone company. Suffice it to say, VoIP has the capacity to completely revolutionize the way businesses communicate with each other. More and more businesses are starting to recognize this and are subsequently adopting VoIP business phone systems in favor of copper-wire systems.

The roots of VoIP has been in the works since the mid-1970s, but it didn't start becoming prolific until about 2004. Since then it's expanded greatly, and offers several different methods of use:

-IP phones, which look like regular phone with handsets, cradles and buttons, use Ethernet cables rather than a phone connector, and connect right into the Internet router. This is a commonly-used VoiP procedure in business phone systems.

-ATA, or Analog Telephone Adaptor, is another very common VoIP method. An "analog-to-digial" converter, it connects regular phones to computers and/or Internet networks, and converts phone signals into digital data that can be sent online. Some ATAs come with configuration-based installation software, but most are simply "plug-and-play."

-Computer-to-Computer (also known as a "softphone") is the easiest and most convenient to use. All you need is the software, speakers and a microphone, a sound card and Internet connection -- and, of course, a computer -- and you're good to go. Softphones are also great because you probably won't have to pay for calls -- even long-distance ones.

While there are many advantages to using VoIP -- cost-effectiveness being one of, if not the biggest -- there are disadvantages as well:

-VoIP relies on wall power, and so if the power goes out, the phone system does as well.

-There's no way to locate a person by their IP address, which would make many 911 calls, specifically the ones in which the caller is unable to divulge his or her location or speak at all, moot, creating unnecessary dangerous situations.

-It's rare, but because the Internet is involved, VoIP systems could be infected with online worms and viruses.

-Individual computers and how well they function -- or don't function -- can affect the quality of a call. If the person on one end of a call has a slower Internet speed than the person on the other end, the call could break up or be delayed.

These are all issues that are being worked on, so that eventually VoIP can replace traditional business phone systems.

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Sunday, February 20, 2011

How to Make Cheap Calls to and From India During the Commonwealth Games Using VoIP



The Commonwealth Games are finally underway in the vibrant city of New Delhi, with all eyes go to India for this year's games. In only the second time that the games have come to Asia (Kuala Lumpur was the first in 1998), the games finally arrive in India for the first time. Home to 14 million people, thousands of travelling fans from around the globe, flock to see their nations stars go for gold.

With all the problems the games have been facing, England supporters may find comfort in calling home to their families...or would they. The cost of making an international call from India to England or vice versa can be extortionate, and turn an amazing trip to see the games turn into a financial nightmare. Not to mention uploading pictures or videos to the web or their favourite social networking site could far surpass the ticket price for the games themselves.

The solution

There is however means to ease the financial worry and indeed control the cost of contacting home. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a much cheaper alternative allowing customers to call home with a feeling of security over their finances. VoIP brings together the net and a normal voice call together, and is rapidly becoming the replacement means of communication for many businesses and homes. This exciting new technology is rapidly advancing into one of the easiest, fastest and most importantly, the cheapest means of communication abroad.

Rather than use a regular landline, VoIP utilizes a broadband connection, meaning that the data is transported in a much cheaper way. And the great thing is, this can be done with a regular Wi-Fi handset, a PC or even a conventional phone. For fans of looking to get in touch with home, this could be an essential tool in staying in control of their phone bill while abroad. And what makes this so appealing, is a home phone, a broadband connection and the software or adapter. It's that simple. No engineer is needed, so it's simply a case of setting it up and away you go.

Still sounds complicated? Well in terms of making calls abroad, you make them in the exact same way as you do with a normal phone, no need to learn new methods or techniques. You don't even need to have two of these packages, as the person receiving the call can receive the calls from a normal landline or mobile device, meaning the standard way of calling but with a cheaper twist.

Utilising this new software, the cheapest method of all (it's actually free) is through PC to PC communication VoIP calls. This means free calls from one PC to another can be done simply by using a normal microphone and speakers acting as the phone, and a broadband connection as the line. However, there are limitations to this method, through both persons needing to be online in order to make the call. Also, you are then static at the computer and so can limit the user in this way. Add the fact that by doing this, the calls to normal landlines and mobiles then actually are charged by the minute.

The best way of using this technology, is to sign up to VoIP provider that can provide much more secure, high quality and ultimately cheaper means of making VoIP calls. This is especially the case if regular calls are made to India for the games, as this will be a lot cheaper than paying per VoIP call every single time.

The great thing is that right now there are some very good offers on this technology. A leading VoIP provider is currently doing an offer for cheap calls to India at a very good price of £18.99 per month allowing you to make unlimited calls to both landline and mobile phones. It's clear as to why VoIP technology is on the rise, with demand for their services seeing a significant increase. This has the potential of saving customers hundreds of pounds, rather than eating into their phone bills and is a must for the avid fan wanting to report home.

VoIP is often has a number of different meanings. It actually stands for 'Voice over IP', which in turn is short for 'Voice over Internet Protocol'. VoIP services mean users can make cheap phone calls either via your computer or through a regular phone handset. IP telephony or VoIP calls tend to be cheaper as they use the infrastructure you've already got in place to make and receive your calls.




Saturday, February 19, 2011

Best Phone Service



A brand new age in telecommunications is emerging, the digital revolution. Cell phones are already digital and home telephones are in the process of switching from analog to digital. What this means in its most basic form is that home phones will no longer run over telephone wires (analog), they will all soon operate over the Internet (digital). Some companies are currently providing this digital phone service. It is termed Voice Over Internet Protocol, or VOIP. Over the next couple of years all American homes will use this technology.

Due to this advancement now is the opportune moment to seriously consider using a video phone as your home telephone. Here are a few reasons why. For an exhaustive article on the full benefits of these new phones please refer to my free report below.

Internet video phones operate using digital phone service technology, meaning they run over the Internet just as traditional phones do. However, they offer the missing element of sight. Many of us are using the Internet for video purposes already. For a video phone this same concept is applied to the telephone service, providing you with video capabilities, just as your laptop does, only its attached to your home telephone.

The great part to all of this is that the cost for VOIP video phone service is the same or less than what most Americans pay currently for very basic telephone service. It won't drain your pocket! In fact, it could actually save you money every single month! For this fact these are worth taking a closer look at.

On top of this the very best video phones come loaded with a plethora of standard features, most of which you could never obtain with a regular cordless phone simply because they lack the superior technology. So video phones give you many features at no extra charge, low monthly service fees, and high quality video capabilities so you can see the person you are talking to.

Imagine the peace of mind an Internet video phone can give you. Now when you check in on your elderly parents or your children you don't have to guess at their well being. You have the ability to see for yourself! Now you don't have to fly across the country to see your sister's new baby. You can see her on the phone, in real time movement and high definition. Now the kids can see daddy every day while he's on assignment in the Middle East. Neither he nor they need miss out on anything during his year long absence.

A home video phone offers the perfect solution to countless real life scenarios, and it won't break the bank! For an in depth look at the ins and outs of these incredible devices please click below. My report is packed with helpful and insightful information to assist you in your video phone journey. Please click here for instant access to my FREE report.

Rick Phares is a telecommunications expert. He helps people stay connected to their loved ones and business associates around the world using breakthrough technology, all while saving them money at the same time. To learn more visit http://www.worldcomm.co/blog




Friday, February 18, 2011

VoIP Must Overcome Challenges Associated With The 7 Communications System Layers



VoIP systems and networking systems are often alike as these technologies originate from legacy circuit-based telephone infrastructure. These communications systems have protocols and layers that govern their implementation. Among these specifications is the Open Systems Interconnection standard developed in 1984, which contains the OSI Reference Model defining the various stages that data must pass through when travelling from one device to another device over a network.

The OSI Reference Model layers

The seven layers - arranged for easier understanding on a two-set, top-down arrangement with each layer relying on the layer beneath for support while giving support to the layer on top of it - with their corresponding functions are the following:

Application Set

  • Layer 7: Application - allows application to interact with the network for transferring files, opening web pages and other network-related tasks
  • Layer 6: Presentation - takes the input data from the Application layer and formats this into a type that can be decoded by other layers
  • Layer 5: Session - establishes connection with the receiving device, maintains the connection, and terminates the connection after the task is completed

Transport Set

  • Layer 4: Transport - maintains data flow control from various applications and ensures error checking and recovery of data between the devices
  • Layer 3: Network - determines the path the data will take and handles logical addressing and error synchronization to ensure that the data is correctly sent
  • Layer 2: Data - assigns the physical addressing protocol to the data, and defines the network type and sequencing of packets
  • Layer 1: Physical - defines the physical characteristics of the network such as connections, voltage levels and timing at the level of the actual hardware

The layers in a VoIP environment

Voice calls inevitably pass through the OSI layers even before the introduction of VoIP. The only difference is that users now have to contend with the various problems that may arise in VoIP calls, whereas these issues were the exclusive domain of telephone companies before. In short, users must now be concerned with call quality problems, packet routing, bandwidth allocation, and physical problems of the hardware and cables.

The roles of the layers in a VoIP setting and the possible problems that may be encountered in VoIP calls are the following:

  • First Layer - electrical shorts in the cables and failure in any of the equipment along the way may generate static, latency and line noise in the Physical layer
  • Second Layer - since a mere cursory check of the packets is done here, only minimal latency, jitter and packet loss is introduced in the Data layer
  • Third Layer - the Network layer has routers that may introduce latency, jitter and packet loss as well as distortion in signals, resulting in volume discrepancies
  • Fourth Layer - in the Transport layer, packet loss and jitter are likely to occur in sending of datagrams via User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and sending/receiving of media (voice) in Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP), resulting in robotic voices
  • Fifth Layer - VoIP calls are started with the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) in the Session layer, but it's Secession Description Protocol (SDP) together with RTP in the previous layer that are the workhorses that do most of the processing of the voice component in the transmission, and hence, they are susceptible to most latency and jitter
  • Sixth Layer - the Presentation layer is where data is encrypted/decrypted and audio encoded/decoded using VoIP codecs and has inherent latency due to the delays in the conversions that must take place
  • Seventh Layer - the Application layer is where the conversion of packets into sound occurs, which may introduce additive noise such as those from background noises or subtractive noise resulting from lost packets

In VoIP systems, it appears that latency or delay is the most persistent issue that affects call quality and it can be introduced at any of the layers. Thus, designers and architects of VoIP systems for businesses must use this information to address and minimize future problems.

Saiju is an IP communications and business software expert. He enjoys promoting VoIP and recommends finding great hosted PBX and SIP providers for a fantastic experience with this emerging technology.




Thursday, February 17, 2011

Internet VoIP - A Perfect Start Up Business Communications Solution



When you start up a small business, the first thing that you want to concentrate on is your communications. Without them, your company will not be able to function. You have options on the market today but several of these options can be pretty costly. Saving money when you first start your small business is very important in making sure that you get off the ground. One option for your communications that has been growing in popularity is Internet VoIP. This type of phone solution has been around for a while, but it has not been too reliable until recently.

With the advances in technology, Internet VoIP communications have become very flexible, reliable, and a great solution for small businesses to save a lot of money. Many start-up small businesses are choosing a hosted Internet VOIP solution for a number of reasons. One main benefit of this type of system is the fact that it is easy to understand and use. While VoIP systems that need a lot of hardware to be installed and programmed, hosted solutions remain relatively simple due to the fact that the provider handles so many of the technical details of setting up and maintaining the system. Many telecom systems instructions might as well be written in another language and businesses have to hire phone techs in order to help with the simplest of problems. With the hosted VoIP solution, just about anyone can understand its tools as well as how to use them.

Internet VoIP uses the Internet to send and receive calls. Those calls are going to piggyback on the Internet connection that the business will need to establish anyways. This saves the business from having to install phone and fax lines as well. This is a very cost effective option for a small business which needs to watch every cent they spend. The VoIP service provider that you choose will also be able to handle the maintenance or any problems that you have so there is no need to hire extra employees in order to take care of the phone system.

The Internet VoIP solution also has the benefit of being very flexible. This type of system is hosted by the provider you are using for your system. Most hosts have online control panels that allow the user to set up their own preferences. Some flexible features include forwarding calls to another phone number, such as a cell phone, when out of the office and connecting multiple offices under one Internet VoIP phone system by placing the hosted VoIP phones in each separate location. As your business grows, a hosted VoIP solution can easily grow with you. It is easy to add phones and extensions to an existing set up or remove one if necessary as well.

Another great benefit of the Internet VoIP solution is the fact that it will boost up the productivity for your small business. It will allow the business to save money on their communications so that they can spend this extra money on marketing, supplies, or employees whom they may need. This type of system will also allow you to access your business phone line through any Internet connection. So whether you are in the office or not, you will be able to use your phone system when needed. All phone system usage can be monitored so you can keep track of call volume and how those calls are handled.

This system is an all around win -win situation for a start up small business. Click Internet VoIP to learn more about using it in your business. Or for a no obligation, no pressure consultation on whether Internet VoIP is right for you visit http://www.VoIPConsultant.com today.




Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Preparing Your Internet for a VoIP Phone System



VoIP naturally crosses paths with Ethernet systems, the computer networking standard primarily designed for local area networks (LAN). We may not be aware of it but the VoIP telephones we use in the office or the VoIP-enabled Blackberry phone we use on-the-go rely on some form of an Ethernet system somewhere to send and receive voice calls.

What is the Ethernet?

In its most basic and easily understandable form, Ethernet is the system most often used to connect computers that are relatively close to each other such as desktop PCs in offices or computer terminals in libraries. This proximity of the linked computers is the defining characteristic of the LAN architecture, which is different from linked computer systems in separate and distant locations in Wide Area Network (WAN) architectures, as seen in bank ATMs.

The basic Ethernet setup involves a single cable shared by all the computers or terminals (called nodes), in a topology that enables all the devices connected to the system to communicate with each other. Each device has a unique identifier in its 48-bit Media Access Control (MAC) address, which enables it to send and receive transmissions. The Ethernet setup allows the addition or removal of any device, without affecting other connected devices.

Voice calls in VoIP systems are turned into data packets and hence, can be transmitted through the same shared cable in the Ethernet system. The VoIP transmission may be just within the local area network (such as in IP-PBX setup with local lines) or to a computer softphone, VoIP phone, or landline outside the LAN. If the LAN traffic travels from the Ethernet to other networks or over the Internet, the data packets are repackaged and tagged at each gateway edge device as VoIP packets until they reached their destination.

Advantages and challenges of VoIP in Ethernet systems

In businesses already provisioned with sufficient LAN bandwidth and speeds, it is simply a matter of installing software in desktop PCs, or procuring some hardware (VoIP phone, IP-PBX systems) to set up working VoIP lines. This is possible since Ethernet has improved from the original 10 Mbit/s to a 1 Gbit/s implementation that can easily accommodate the Quality-of-Service requirements of VoIP.

The convergence in communications allows companies to eliminate the waste inherent in circuit-switched telephone systems. Companies may also save on monthly subscription fees, charges for long-distance calls and add-on services, and maintenance fees.

However, if the currently available bandwidth and speed of the broadband connection is inadequate, it may require additional costs to replace the current setup. Legacy coaxial cables used in antiquated systems (Ethernet was standardized in the 1980s) must be replaced with fiber optic cables, and newer networking standards such as spanning-tree and mesh protocols must be adopted to minimize widespread system failures.

Another advantage of Ethernet is the ability to expand into wireless technology like WiFi to bring connectivity to a new level. WiFi is essentially wireless Ethernet with universal presence, and it only necessitates adding VoIP-compatible wireless access points to enable voice calls in the system. WiFi operates in an unlicensed spectrum, but there is possibility of hampered connectivity due to the limited range of wireless devices.

Saiju is an IP communications and business software expert. He enjoys recommending VoIP for business and finding great hosted IP PBX systems and SIP service provider solutions




Tuesday, February 15, 2011

VoIP Reviews for Small Business Phone Systems



VoIP reviews for small business phone systems is a guide to help you decide what's right for your business and how you can tap into new technology to save money, gain control and increase efficiency.

No matter where you travel you can't get away from hearing about VoIP, it's all around us. As businesses struggle to survive, let's look at how technology and VoIP can help.

Many companies are moving away from traditional T1/PRI's and moving to SIP trunks. In the past T1/PRI's have been somewhat expensive to utilize. They offer some advanced features over POTS lines such as caller ID included, direct inbound numbers, reduced per minute cost and faster call processing. The down side is that you can only order them as a full 24 channel circuit. They come with a high monthly charge just to have the circuit in place, which is mileage sensitive, directly relating to pricing. So an organization needs to be able to justify a large amount of traffic to offset the large monthly access fee.

With IP trunking coming into play it offers even more features at a "buy as you need" model. Some features include: automatically redirecting calls if your equipment should fail or you lose power, the ability go log onto the web and take control over ringing, forwarding, overflow management along with other user-friendly features. Most companies will see an immediate reduction in cost moving from a voice T1 to SIP trunks.

A constant battle with voice T1's are reliability: how often they go down and for how long. SIP gives the control to redirect or to have the intelligence to automatically redirect the call somewhere else.

So far we've been discussing VoIP solutions to enhance your current phone system. With a "hosted" phone system you still get all of the benefits we just discussed plus a lot more. It still uses the same SIP or VoIP technology to deliver the lines but your phone system is no longer your responsibility to maintain. You're basically paying to use cutting edge technology at a very affordable monthly cost.

All of these solutions can immediately affect the bottom line. In addition, technology creatively implemented can offer growth capabilities, increased efficiencies and productivity, an opportunity boost customer service along with enhancements in many other areas.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to VoIP for business phones systems. As each business is unique and has different needs, business VoIP has many unique applications to help. To find a qualified dealer to further help you through the process, try http://www.ideacom-nj.com

For more solutions to help your business save money or to maximize your growth, go to http://www.ideacom-nj.com




Monday, February 14, 2011

Introduction to VoIP For Small Business Use



Businesses need a lot of flexibility and this includes the ability to upgrade their infrastructure quickly depending on the speed at which the company grows. This is specially true of the phone and communication systems which will have to accommodate more users, new ways of communicating and different communication hierarchies.

Traditional phone systems tend to be static in nature. PBX systems have always been difficult, cumbersome and expensive to upgrade. In addition, they're not flexible and don't integrate into other systems. Till now, small businesses haven't had a choice and were forced to take whatever they were offered. But with the introduction of VoIP systems, all that is about to change.

How VoIP helps small businesses

Cost is one major factor which small businesses can use to their advantage. Unlike other firms, businesses which are limited in size don't have ready access to capital and VoIP plays into this situation nicely by combining the Internet and telephone systems so that you don't need a dedicated line for the latter any more. The calls to US phones are remarkably cheap and VoIP really shines when it comes to calling International locations.

Not only do you save on your expensive monthly phone bills, you also save on talk time.

Flexibility is the second big advantage of VoIP. VoIP systems are based on the IP framework - the same as the Internet. This means that there's no limit to how much it can be configured and adapted to suit your needs. Tasks such as conferencing, extension dialing, voice mail configuration, and adding new devices to a single number can be done easily and through a graphical interface which anyone can use.

In addition, the programmable nature of VoIP allows it to integrate with your existing systems so that your accounts department and personnel department can tie into it without any problems. New features can be added by programmers if there's an exposed API.

The final benefit of VoIP for a small business is scalability. As your business grows, there will be hardly any disruption to your work flow. No need to configure systems anew and apart from getting the additional office phones, there are barely a few more expenses. No need to upgrade your PBX to accommodate new users!

The benefits of VoIP are clearly attractive and businesses would do well to take a close look at it for their operations. There are many VoIP vendors and each has their own unique set of features. Do your research well before you decide to take the plunge.

Bhagwad is an expert consultant on Mobile Business VoIP. He also specializes in Business VoIP PBX systems.




Sunday, February 13, 2011

Video Phone Communication With a Bonus Phone Feature



You will love video phone communication for the holidays! They are simple to use and of course you can join in and see the action. But let me, also tell you an exciting feature about video phone communication that will make the holidays even more special.

Simple to use: Connecting video phone communication is as simple as 1, 2, and 3. First you plug it into an outlet. Second you plug it into your router for high-speed internet access. Third you let it register and then start using it. Connecting to a big screen television or another external device is not complicated. You will need a composite video and audio cable to plug into the back of the phone in the out ports and the other ends are plugged into the television or other external device into the video and audio in ports. Then you need to pick the options menu and choose external display. Not a difficult task to do. If you want a users' guide one can usually be obtained online if it didn't come with your phone. Downloading one is becoming more of a practice these days than being sent one.

Join in on the action: Seeing each other face to face with video phone communications is exciting. Of course you can, also use your wireless handset for regular calling. A primary account holder for this low-cost digital phone service can get a family plan phone for a friend or love one or they can sign up for their own service and get their own phone. Family plan phones can only call other phones with this service providers' service. Now everyone can see each other any time and especially during the holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Bonus! Take a picture: Imagine on Christmas morning you are watching your grandchildren from miles away unwrapping the presents you sent them. Not just watching but laughing and talking with them. They open your gift; a big smile comes across their face and you snap a picture of them with your phone and save it in the phone's digital picture frame. Closest thing to actually being there isn't it? Later you can copy that picture onto a USB and print it out on a computer and also, copy other pictures from a USB onto your phone for the digital picture frame.

How can anyone not want to enjoy video phone communication that can do so much and is so simple to use? Quality time with your friends and family is such a priority these days. This type of communication is just shy of a real hug! The holidays are near, don't hesitate and don't miss out on the fun and happiness it brings!

The author, Carol Platt, is a telecommunication comsultant for modern technology. She advises consumers on new technology to help them fulfill their needs. To find out more you can go to The Telecom Report. To learn more about modern technologies that are available to the home consumer visit The Video Connection.




Saturday, February 12, 2011

Importance of VoIP Phone System



Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone system is the latest technology that enables making of telephone calls using the Internet. VoIP is adding new dimensions and altering business communications in a big way. Succinctly stated, VoIP converts analog voice signals into digital data packets to facilitate two-way transmission of conversations in real time using the Internet.

The importance of VoIP phone system lies in its functionality, multiple features and several other advantages including cost-savings. Apart from the standard features like caller ID and call forwarding, VoIP has distinct features such as web mobility, managing of voice mail and facility for conference calls.

When traveling to whichever part of the world, you continue to use of your same number which ensures you do not miss out on any valuable business call and this feature endows VoIP the much-needed portability status.

Besides VoIP has a host of features to uplift the quality of business communications leading to increased productivity - speed dialing, find-me-follow-me, do not disturb, call transfer, toll-free numbers, caller ID blocking, multi-ring facility, distinctive ringing, enhanced voicemail, area code selection, anonymous call block - the list is truly endless.

VoIP systems offer business houses the technological infrastructure eminently required in today's global marketplace. Businesses are taking advantage of VoIP and its important features like unified communications to videoconferencing and data sharing to build rapport with business associates and clients around the world.

The VoIP technology utilizes the Internet to transmit voice data for telecommunication purposes and that is the reason why thousands of business companies are clamoring to have VoIP phone systems for their communication needs. VoIP technology perhaps needs some further refinement as the common complaints are an increase in dropped calls and poorer voice quality.

Big corporations hitherto had an unfair advantage over small businesses and that situation has ceased to be with the emergence of VoIP. Small and medium-sized businesses are now availing all the benefits of VoIP technology and VoIP service providers are also doing their bit to reach out to the small and mid-sized businesses and offering them cost-effective solutions.

VoIP is enabling small and mid-sized business houses to capitalize on its many advantages - lower overhead costs, improved customer relationship management, better rapport with clients, speedier exchange of information, more effective collaboration among employees, business associates and customers.

Apart from businesses, the VOIP has ideal applications in many back office agencies that have principal offices in other countries, call centers, import/export houses and other offices that have multiple locations across the world.

With the demand for VoIP steadily increasing, the VoIP service providers are no doubt having a field day. But for your business to avail of all the numerous benefits VoIP offers, it is critically important that you have a reliable broadband connection and more importantly, you tie up with the right VoIP service provider who is reputed and dependable and capable of understanding the specific communication needs of your business.

To get more information about VoIP Phone System as well as finding more information about 800 Numbers.




Friday, February 11, 2011

VoIP to Improve With Broadband Investment



The British government has announced that they will continue plans to invest in the countries broadband infrastructure. Many will think of this as good news, amongst them VoIP providers and users.

High speed broadband can dramatically improve the quality of VoIP. The better and faster a broadband signal is, the better the quality of VoIP will be. The general improvement over the years in broadband connections is one of the main reasons why the quality of VoIP has improved. The technology itself has got better but improving broadband has been a major factor.

VoIP is a type of communications technology where instead of travelling over a telephone line the signal travels over the broadband connection. Therefore a better broadband signal results in a clearer VoIP signal.

The British government has vowed to continue the planned investment in the improvement of broadband over the next few years. With the recent comprehensive spending review many expected them to cancel the plans, or at least cut back on the amount being spent. This was not the case though. This £530 million investment will mean around 2 million homes in rural areas will gain access to faster broadband by 2015. The cost is high, something that some may question at a time of cutbacks. The money is not coming directly from taxes though. £300 million is coming from television licence money, with the other £230 million coming from the under spend on the switchover from analogue to digital television.

The aim is for Britain to have the best superfast broadband in Europe and it is being seen by supporters as an investment in the economy. It has been claimed it will result in an improvement in information and communications technology and could improve business productivity. It is hoped that it will lead to more business opportunities, especially within the telecommunications industry, and therefore job creation and growth in the economy.

The government investment is good news for those who wish to use VoIP, both those using home VoIP and business VoIP. Some who are currently unable to use VoIP due to the lack of adequate broadband may in future be able to use this technology. Others, who due to a poor broadband connection are unable to use VoIP to a high standard now, should see an improvement in the quality of their VoIP calls. VoIP still has a reputation amongst many of being of poor quality (although this is somewhat inaccurate with the top providers) but with these improvements in broadband this could be a thing of the past.

Andrew Marshall (c)

Interoute One is the Business VoIP service from Interoute.




Thursday, February 10, 2011

Martin Toha and His Voice Over IP Empire



Voice Over IP is a relatively new substitute to the 100-year old traditional phone companies. The usual method of communicating on the telephone needs a link from one unit to a different unit by the use of a elaborate application of cables or via satellites. Voice Over IP (aka VOIP) is a current scheme that allows you to use telephone systems, commonly more inexpensively, by working with high speed internet, a computer, and a microphone. Mr. Martin Toha saw the capabilities in this product, and initiated his empire with a simple telephony switch that he bought and leased to a colleague.

Once it was finished being exercised, Mr. Toha started off testing with distinctive options to get offer low-cost telephone program through this fresh advanced area. He started VOIP.com with a straightforward mission of offering low cost phone program with superior excellence.

The most arduous piece of the approach was not the specialized points, but rather the customer product arm of VOIP.com. From the beginning, consumers would call and object that the call quality was poor or that some international calls were not connecting, and cancelling by reason of these matters. The solutions to the technical matters were uncomplicated when the initial couple of months of business. Yet, controlling customer care was an additional concern completely that needed to be attended to as rapidly as possible. Several call centers were used; ultimately, a distinctive call center services was utilized.

Various call centers both in the US and off shore were used in the past, but there were merits and drawbacks to each supplier. The efficiency of each was centered on how many callers called in, how long the call up took, and how many callers called back within 72 hours. Incidentally, the best option he found was to have a work from home staff who handled calls from a laptop computer. All of these contractors are paid based on how long they are conversing to consumers, which varies from $200-$500 per week, and they are all in the US.

A further side of this VOIP.com is the development end. VOIP.com has a crew of ten designers, situated throughout the globe who make the program to increase call clearness and product. By having both his development teams and his customer program groups contracted, Martin Toha is able to keep the expense small, driving the financial savings to the customer. By remarkable project management, and the capacity to think on his feet, Mr. Toha has been in position to resolve the circumstances that had first given him a rocky start; and form a impressive organization based around the promising area of Voice Over IP solutions.




Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Install World Class Communication Infrastructure Today!



In the business oriented world we inhabit today, communicating with the various parties involved in all aspects of our work is of paramount importance. Therefore, an effective corporate communication infrastructure becomes one of the biggest assets an organization can have. Having an efficient infrastructure in an exponentially developing area like Calgary Canada is even more necessary than in other parts of the country. So, every businessman must try to identify a firm which specializes in this field of work, to whom he can entrust the communication infrastructure requirements of his company.

Typically, an organization involved in rendering products and services pertaining to communication infrastructure provide structured cabling services in Calgary, Canada. Leading firms, undertake projects that involve installing telephony and security / surveillance systems. These services offered by prominent companies rendering VOIP phone system in Calgary, Canada are top notch and deliver high performance for long durations of time. It is always advisable to hire reputed firms which provide professional services that address your communication infrastructure needs in the most efficient and effective manner.

The organizations offering structured cabling services in Calgary, Canada are engaged in installing networking cables in the premises of their clients. Each organization has differing structured cabling requirements, and it is very important to have sound knowledge about the client's business' demands. Depending upon the communication infrastructure requirements of the clients, a good cabling expert designs a network of cables that can cater to all aspects of their businesses. All well known organizations of this field provide exceptional cables, which they source from reliable firms, and hold expertise in installing, de-installing and maintaining the whole network of cables.

Some of the latest networking cables are listed below:

• Cat 3 Cabling
• Cat 5 Cabling
• Cat 5e Cabling
• Cat 6 Cabling
• Cat 6e Cabling
• Fiber Optics Cabling
• Coax Cabling

Almost all conversations are done using telephones these days, and it is very important to have a state of the art VOIP phone system in Calgary, Canada for the growth of a business. Major organizations engaged in installing internet based telephony infrastructure are proficient in installing SIP Trunking systems, which is a cost effective IP telephone feature that operates on PBX & SIP-enabled IP telephone hardware. Even conventional phones & VOIP phone system in Calgary, Canada are installed with ease by all premier firms. The leaders of this field of work advise using Hosted PBX systems, which do not require the hardware to be installed on the facility of the clients, as service which was earlier rendered to large enterprises only.

Keeping much knowledge in computer industry specially in telephony,data-networking,security,hardware devices,website development and SEO services, Sarah has been a part of sahar services for a while now that deals with structured cabling, VOIP phone system Calgary Canada, SEO services and also provides security cameras for security purposes in Calgary Canada.




Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Martin Toha and the Future of Communications



Mr. Martin Toha is a brilliant marketing guru with a wide range of services and products. Meanwhile, he continues to keep costs low for his customers, and employs many in the United States. How does he maintain an ethical business model, while still giving his customers the best quality of service for their money?

It is all in the project management. He is able to develop software with a team of 10 developers, but also offers great customer service. The customer service end of the business was not originally so great. Many different customer service call centers were used, but in the end, Mr. Toha found that through the use of his own call center software and customer service contractors throughout the United States, he was able to keep his customer service representatives busy and reduce the number of dissatisfied customers.

It all started when Martin Toha bought a telephony switch and leased it to a friend. After it was used for a time, he was able to experiment using different software services to improve the VOIP service for many clients. The technical aspect of this business was the easy part. He contracted with 10 different developers and began working with them to build both the software and the hardware to offer VOIP home telephone service. After another competitor, RocketSun went out of business, VOIP.com was fielding over 3000 calls per day, with potential customers wishing to switch to VOIP.com.

There were, of course, some bad apples in the bunch. He had caught some of his customer service agents performing unscrupulous acts with the information they were privy to. After a revitalization of the business, Mr. Toha was able to find the least effective customer service agents and hire better ones throughout the United States. He was able to find out what was going on, and monitoring the support calls. He did this with his own call center software that calculated call-back ratios, see who was and who wasn't picking up the phone when calls came in, and see who was able to deliver the best support.

Certainly, not only is Martin Toha a brilliant marketing personality, but he also is great with the technical end of the emerging field of Voice over IP technology. It is pioneers in the industry such as Mr. Toha that create a great interface of customer care and cutting edge technology to deliver great services to his customers.




Monday, February 7, 2011

Household Telephones - Available With Several New Aspects Now



The popularity of telephones is not a hidden fact now. As least, from past fifty years, these communication devices are becoming popular among the people across the world. With the advancement in technologies, several new forms of the telephones have been developed. For instance, we have the mobile phone in hands in the recent times.

But the arrival of mobile phones did not reduce the importance of home phones. There are a large number of people who still rely on conventional fixed line telephones for hassle-free connectivity. But, still we see a lot of difference among the home phones of a few years ago and the phones of today. These days, the instruments of these fixed line phones are available with a number of high-tech features which were unavailable in the past.

A large number of these communication gadgets are available with the caller ID facility. Up to some years back, this facility was available up to limited phones. But, now we can see this facility in the gadgets of a large number of people across UK as well as across the world. Apart, a plenty of home phones can be seen with conference facility also. With the help of this facility, more than two people can talk to each other at a time on phone.

VoIP is one of the latest technologies which are available in many household telephones of today. VoIP means Voice over Internet Protocols and it is the technology, through which users can transfer their voice over internet and talk to people across the globe at very low cost. But, it is not necessary today to get connected with internet on computer in order to make VoIP calls. Several VoIP telephones on phones with VoIP technology are available in the market, with the help of which you can get connected to your loved ones via this technology similarly as in case of regular telephony. Moreover, text messaging feature can also be seen many of the home phones of today, which was unavailable in the past.

The cordless phones are one of the most liked types of home phones in the present scenario. These gadgets facilitate the users to talk freely in any position, like walking in the room, lying on the bed etc., like they do in case of mobile phones. These cordless devices come with some specific range.

It is for sure that the household telephones are as popular today as they were in the past and they are available with several new aspects now. These phones can be obtained with ease form several internet portals these days.

Dennis Jaylon is a renowned business writer who has years of experience in writing technical reviews, product descriptions and product feature analysis of technical gizmos like cordless phones, home phones, Telephones.




Sunday, February 6, 2011

VOIP Technology - Call the World



VOIP technology has been available for a number of years but as the speed of internet communication increases so does the performance and features from VOIP services. Let's discuss some features and details.

VOIP technology enables traditional long distance phone communication to occur through an Internet connection. In this way it is possible to make and receive long distance calls and pay significantly less than what would otherwise be required through traditional long distance services.

The introduction and development of these services has made a significant difference in how we communicate with each other. There are many services available to the consumer and businesses which utilize VOIP technology. One of the largest VOIP carriers for the consumer is Vonage. They offer unlimited long distance services for under $20 per month.

Services like Vonage use a converter which attaches to a high speed Internet line. This converter is able take a traditional phone signal and send it back and forth over the Internet. These kinds of services typically include a great many enhanced features like voice mail, caller id, call waiting, etc. The voice mail functionality is particularly useful as it often can be integrated with other Internet functions like voice mail.

If a message is left for you, it can send you an email with the sound file of the message attached. In this way you may not even have to log in to retrieve the message. Another great feature of VOIP technology is the ability to make and receive calls virtually throughout the world for little to no cost.

In fact if you travel overseas and take your converter with you, it is possible to establish a "local" phone number wherever you travel to. In other words if you travel to Hong Kong, you can bring your VOIP converter with you. If you connect it to the Internet you can make and receive calls. If your converter is configured with a US based area code, as far as anyone knows who might receive a call from you, it will indicate that you are calling from your local number and not across the globe.

These kinds of features are very useful for overseas based calls centers since many customers do not want to receive a call from an overseas number nor do they want to feel that they are speaking to overseas based support personnel. There are many other advantages of this technology but just a small sampling of the key features are significant.

"And now I would like to invite you to see more invaluable information on VOIP technology at http://www.needforvoip.com.

From Craig Thornburrow - A writer, small business owner and big fan of VOIP technology"




Saturday, February 5, 2011

Dialing Internationally - Worst Excuses Not to Call Your Family Abroad



Whether you look forward to calling your family abroad or they're simply nagging you to keep in touch on a regular basis, international calling is an activity no internationally-travelled individual can avoid. Sure there's email and those oh so quick and convenient text exchanges but email conversations can be time consuming and texting internationally can be expensive.

Talk is Cheap

The old English idiom that it's easier to talk about doing something than actually do it doesn't have to just be a cliché. Dialing internationally applies. You'll call abroad when you have time, or perhaps when you're obligated to or maybe when you feel lonely. Maybe it's just faster to send a quick email and then not reply to further incoming messages. Maybe your family can wait? Perhaps you're low on cash and don't want to spend money to call your loved ones? Or you're waiting for them to call you so that you don't have to pay? Sound familiar?

Top Worst Excuses for Not Dialing Internationally

1. It's too expensive - Making international calls can be expensive, particularly if you don't have an international calling plan in place with your landline or mobile phone operator. Calls from the UK to Bangladesh, for example, can cost 46p per minute from a BT landline and over £1 per minute from a mobile. Solution - Sign up with an international calling service. You can actually call Bangladesh from the UK for 2.7p per minute.

2. Email is fine - Email is fine but email exchanges can be time consuming and let's face it, your loved ones want to hear your voice. Solution - Just call. After all, your grandma might not be on email.

3. I can't be bothered to research international calling plans - There are too many choices out there. Solution - Choose the company you think will provide the best quality calls and customer service.

4. I don't have time - I have a very busy life and am rarely at home. Solution - Talk while you walk. Dialing internationally from your mobile phone is easy and cheap if you have the right service.

5. Cheap calling cards take too much effort to use. Solution - Find a PIN-free service.

If you're looking to make cheap international calls to Bangladesh, India or Pakistan you should look for an international call provider that offers cheap local rates.




Friday, February 4, 2011

What Does the Best Landline Plan Include?



Throw out your old land line phones and old phone plans. We are in the age of information and its time your home phones catch up. No more paying high, priced phone bills and long distance. How is it that we have to pay more now, then we did 20 years ago but we still have the same crappy home phones and the same plans?

Look into digital phone service. Find a phone service provider that offers the best technology in VOIP service, VOIP telephones and VOIP adapters to meet all your needs.

What is VOIP?

VOIP- Voice over internet phone

With VOIP you will get crystal clear voice and shake your head that you have been paying all that money for a land based line all these years. Save Hundreds of dollars a year with VOIP plans. You should look for a plan that includes:

Unlimited calls inbound and out in the USA and Canada
Easy to get started and switch plans so that you can start saving money today
Keep your existing phone number or if you would like you can choose to get a new one
Get low international rates starting a 1 cent per minute
Caller ID
Call forwarding
Call return
Do not disturb
Anonymous call block
Call waiting
Call transfer
3-way calling

and much more.

Not only can you save big with VOIP plans but you can also choose to get video phones. Keep in personal touch with family and friends who you don't get to see very often. Have grandkids? Feel like you never get to see them much? Problem solved with VOIP video phones.

You can now look at the person you are talking to while you're on the phone with them. Don't let any more time pass by as you pay your outdated over priced phone bills and miss seeing the people you love most.

Head over today and switch your plan to VOIP and check out the amazing video phones that will keep you in touch with all your loved ones.

To take a look at the best VoIP service head to http://www.Sawyershop.com and take a look at Voice Connect

Email me anytime at Sawyer75@comcast.net

You may also call me anytime at 574-596-2951 to talk to me in person




Thursday, February 3, 2011

VoIP Billing Software - For Better Efficiency



With the advancement in telecommunications at a rapid rate, VoIP has become a popular and efficient alternative to regular telephone lines. Improvements in VoIP in terms of voice quality, which is as good as PSTN and greater use of the internet in business is the reason behind the popularity of VoIP. Also, the cost factor is a major contributor as VoIP is very cheap as compared to regular telephone rates. The quick increase in the number of users creates a need for a robust billing management system that can be used for billing hundreds of wholesale VoIP carriers that provide their services to innumerable sellers. It is a complicated process and manual billing can take sizeable amount of time leaving the organization with less time to focus on its core functions. Hence it calls for a software that can keep a track on the billing efficiently and accurately, despite the complexities. The requirements of wholesale VoIP providers are usually common, however they may also differ in some aspects from one to the other, hence the software must also offer customization when needed. What are the desirable features in wholesale VoIP billing software?

The wholesale software should provide a complete billing system and include comprehensive reports on route quality, traffic trends, screens, queries, profit and loss and many other business metrics. It should be highly available, scalable, reliable and secure. It should allow interoperability within a range of switching platforms. Also it should ensure that every call is tracked i.e. accuracy is of utmost importance in billing. Compatibility with all kinds of CDR formats like soft switches, VoIP gateways and SIP based switches is important. Customized CDR billing provides the exact amount of tariff to be charged, adding the profit of the service provider thereby making it very simple for the service provider. Other important features include Advanced Analytics, support of complex business arrangements, Role based access, CRM Portal and so on. Security of the software to prevent tampering with the data is yet another aspect to be taken care of, which can be insured by advanced features of access and authentication. Finally ease in use through a user friendly interface and navigation makes for a perfect VoIP billing software.

VoIP billing software is a far advanced method of billing than manual billing. While manual billing can take a long time, on the other hand VOIP billing can perform the same functions more efficiently and accurately in a much lesser span of time. In all it can save approximately 80% of the time spent on billing. That means a considerable amount of time can be saved and this can be utilized for the more important functions of the organization like increasing the profitability in return. Besides, the probability of errors is reduced to a great extent, which in turn means satisfied customers which consists of wholesale VoIP service providers.

With the growing use of VoIP, there are more companies offering VoIP billing software. Choosing a software that fulfills your business requirements and includes efficient tracking of calls, comprehensive reporting on both technical and business metrics that lets you have complete data and can be customized to your needs is crucial for your business as well as for providing satisfactory services to your customers.

This article has been written by an expert working for V Switch, a reputed company providing billing software for VoIP softswitch and VoIP billing.




Wednesday, February 2, 2011

VoIP Billing Software - Make Billing Simple and Cost Effective



VoIP has become an important tool of communication especially in big corporations and could potentially replace normal telephone lines. The advantage of VoIP is that it is cost efficient over the regular PSTN. It finds use on a large scale in a corporate setting, where communication is essential right from the top to the bottom of the managerial structure. It has had a strong effect on the communication sector and has the potential to be used more widely. As a result of the growing popularity of VoIP, there are many wholesale service providers that provide VoIP services to the telecommunication companies. However, it is not an easy task for them to manage the billing for the large number of resellers.

Since the basic process is different from the regular telephone, the billing system of VoIP is different from the regular billing. Hence, wholesalers need efficient billing software for managing the records of the telecommunication companies. It helps wholesalers to manage the large volume of traffic conveniently. Well-designed software keeping in mind the complexities of the VoIP switching and the problems of the service providers can save up to 80% of the time spent in manual billing. It is understandable how crucial it is for wholesalers to save this precious time and utilize it on something more productive. Advanced features like real time CDRs, advanced analytic skills, comprehensive reporting on traffic and routing and so on make for a perfect billing software. Moreover, it can be customized keeping in view the specific needs of the wholesale VoIP operator.

It helps to maintain the bills accurately. Also, it is a reliable and secure system, with user-friendly interface and navigation and has a comprehensive system of access and authentication to prevent any malicious use. These features make it far better than manual billing. Inaccurate billing may mean losing out on customers and revenue. It can help to keep billing records for a long time period. Overall, good billing software should be easy to install, operate and customize and at the same time be accurate, reliable, scalable and fully comply with standards and devices. By using billing software, wholesale service carriers can save a huge part of the cost that they incurred earlier on manual billing and delivery. Not only the cost factor, but also the billing can be done much faster and sent electronically. It reduces most of the work and the company can pay more attention to the core business operations that is sales and improving on the services.

With the revolution in information technology and its effects on communication, companies are adopting new modes of communication. Many companies are already using and the rest are turning to VoIP for all kinds of business communication and that means there is a growing need for accurate billing of the increasing users of VoIP. There are companies developing and providing VoIP billing software to meet this demand for wholesale service providers. Choosing a VoIP billing software that suits your business needs and gives excellent performance would be a crucial step in the direction of simplifying the manual job of billing and better focusing on the important business functions.

This article has been written by an expert, working for vSwitch, a reputed company that develops wholesale voip switch, VoIP billing and billing software.




Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Video Phone and Traditional Phone Features



Traditional with Modern Technology:
The video phone may seem beyond your old-fashioned ideas of a telephone but it has all the traditional calling features plus more benefits and advantages that you don't get from a regular phone or from non-digital phone service. Let's explore the features available with a video phone.

Voicemail:
When a caller needs to leave a message they can leave an audio voice message on the video phone. You can retrieve it from that phone or any phone or computer. You don't have to be home to check your messages anymore.

Caller ID:
Caller ID is a standard feature on this phone. You can see the number of the caller calling in. This is a way to monitor your phone calls you wish to answer.

Call Forwarding has several options:
You can forward un-answered incoming calls or any calls to another phone number automatically and while you are talking on the phone you can forward calls to an alternative number of your choice. Call blasting is setting your incoming calls to ring multiple phone numbers at the same time so you can answer the call from any phone location.

Audio Conferencing:
You can have a three-way audio conversation simply by pressing the conference key and dialing the third-party and pressing the conference key again. You can, also bring in the third call from a caller on hold.

Call Return/Last Number Redial:
A phone number that was last called in or called out from the phone can be automatically dialed with call-return even if you did not answer the number called in.

Call Waiting:
Call waiting allows you to not miss a call coming in. You can alternate between the two calls with a push of a button.

Speed Dial:
You can customize phone numbers you call by assigning a single-digit number to phone to those numbers. Eight speed dial numbers can be set up.

Conclusion and More Benefits:
All of these are traditional features included on the video phone. You won't be missing the old-fashioned features while using modern technology. There is a video phone that will be able to video and audio conference call in the near future. Other modern features include taking pictures and enhanced video clarity for sharper images. Also, stereo sound quality has replaced mono sound. The phone can be set up for digital photo frame when not in use. Also, it can be connected to a larger screen and to a cordless phone set. Besides saving money on digital phone service the video phone offers so much more. You should explore this phone and set yourself free from worrying about old-fashioned ideas.

The author, Carol Platt, is a telecommunication consultant for modern technology. She advises consumers on new technology to help them fulfill their needs. To find out more you can go to The Telecom Report. To learn more about modern technologies that are available to the home consumer visit The Video Connection.