VoIP - A Cheaper, Easier Way to Call Anyone Anywhere

With the cost of living constantly on the rise, cutting down on some basic needs can go a long way. One such staple need is the need for communication- in this case, the use of telephones. With a local phone call, average rates can range from $0.9 to $1per minute. With international phone calls, it's significantly higher. Yes, there is always email, texting, and other forms of communication, but we can't deny the fact that hearing a person's voice on the phone beats reading hundreds of text messages and punching ten or so buttons just to reply with a sentence or two. So what can an average person do to save money without sacrificing the quality and convenience of a simple phone call? The answer is, Voice over Internet Protocol, also known as VOIP.

Voice over Internet Protocol, although it sounds complicated, is pretty simple. It's just like a normal phone call, but in this case, instead of using the telephone line, you will be using the Internet as your phone line. Some examples would be Magic Jack, Comcast and Skype. Consequently, there are different kinds of VoIP services. Magic Jack allows users to call both users and non-users of the product. This means, you can call a landline telephone with the use of the Magic Jack device, and you can also call a VoIP "telephone" through the device. Skype on the other hand, will only allow the user to call others who are Skype users as well.

Fact: Most VoIP services are free. It all sounds too good to be true doesn't it? This is because the cost of maintaining VoIP services is virtually minimal. First, it converts the user's voice into digital signals that travel through the Internet. This signal would be converted into what signal it needs to be. For example, the user decides to call a landline phone from his or her computer. The VoIP service will then convert the signal into a regular phone signal, so it's as if you're calling from a regular phone number. If you're lucky you can even make a phone without the hassles of modems and wires and such- if your phone or laptop is WiFi ready and you're at a hotspot, then you can make use of the VoIP services wirelessly.

To avail of VoIP services, there are just a few basic requirements. First, a broadband (or a high speed Internet) connection that can be via a cable modem or DSL, or a local area network should be available. Second, a computer, specialized phone or an adaptor is needed. The device should be compatible with the VoIP service, because some services are only compatible with a VoIP phone, or only compatible with computers.

Since most VoIP services are free, it doesn't really matter if you call locally or if it's a long distance call, just as long as you meet all the requirements that the VoIP service requires. Some providers allow the user to select an area code different from the area from which the phone call originated from. However, some providers still charge for their services, and hence the rule still applies: charges depend on the area code and services incurred by the user. There would be a flat rate, much similar to the normal phone line, but significantly cheaper and more efficient.

Although VoIP is essentially a cheaper and better alternative than the normal phone line, there are still disadvantages in using VoIP. If there are power outages, the Internet would not be available, hence the services of the provider will also be unavailable. This is a very significant disadvantage because if there were to be an emergency, a person could always use the phone line even if there is a power outage. But if the person only relied on VoIP services, then it would clearly be a hassle. All in all, VoIP is a good alternative to the normal phone lines, but it would be wise not to rely solely on it.

Tina L. Douglas is a well established author on the topic of voip service.

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