VoIP... What Is It?

VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. VoIP is also referred to as IP telephony. VoIP services convert your voice into bits and bytes that are transmitted over the Internet. A coder-decoder, or codec, converts your voice into a compressed digital form for transfer and then back into an uncompressed audio signal for replay. The transmission is done using the Internet’s packet switching capabilities, thus Voice Over Internet Protocol. This is the core of VoIP. VoIP is in essence, a family of technologies that enable voice communications using IP networks like the Internet.

VoIP Technology

VoIP technology uses the Internet's packet-switching capabilities to provide phone service. Existing phone systems are driven by a very reliable but rather inefficient method for connecting calls called circuit switching. Packet switching is much more efficient. It lets the network route the packets along the least congested and cheapest lines. It also frees up the two computers communicating with each other so that they can accept information from other computers, as well. If you require more in depth knowledge of VoIP, we have gathered some of the best VoIP reference material available for you to browse.

The most common VoIP solution is connecting through an analog telephone adapter (ATA) using an existing high-speed Internet connection. You just plug your phone into the adapter and make a VoIP phone call with your existing phone.

IP Phones are another solution. They simply plug right into your broadband modem or router. These IP phones also have the technology to use your wireless connection or any Wi-Fi hot spot available. This lets you use your phone anywhere there is a high-speed Internet connection, you do not have to keep your phone at home you can use it almost anywhere. Imagine driving to work, receiving a call on your cell phone from a client, and then continuing that call on the corporate Wi-Fi network as you walk into the front office, all without any interruption to your call-in-progress. The cell network will just "hand off" the call to your Wi-Fi network. Try that with a landline. In terms of price and flexibility, IP telephony just makes more sense. ViaTalk is practically giving away their IP phone service. They are offering one year free!

VoIP - Why Pay More?

The one thing that we cannot let happen is to let the cable companies monopolize the VoIP market. Does anybody remember what happened with AT&T? They monopolized the market, started charging enormous fees for relatively cheap service, and put all the little bells out of business. To top that off, the government stepped in and made them a regulated monopoly. What does that mean? It means the government gets a cut of the billions of dollars. They made billions of dollars by taking advantage of the monopoly that they created. We cannot let the same thing happen to digital telephone.

Before I switched to a VoIP plan, I was paying an average of fifty dollars a month for a land line. My last ViaTalk bill was twenty-two dollars and some change. That includes two lines and an 800 number. The cable company in my area wants to charge me $29.99 for digital phone with half the bells and whistles that the other VoIP companies offer for free. But I can get the other features from the cable company for an additional fee. See it is starting already.

The cable companies have a huge subscriber base so they think they can charge you more money. It makes no sense to pay what they want you to when there are other options available. You owe it to yourself to look into the smaller VoIP companies and not let one company create a monopoly. It is time for a VoIP Revolution!

VoIP - The Next Step

The big VoIP picture has changed considerably in the last few years. The easy availability of broadband access to the Internet, coupled with massive advancements in technology, makes VoIP service a viable alternative to traditional telephone. There is the one stipulation; you do need a broadband Internet connection to use the VoIP service. US broadband penetration among active Internet users has grown to 73.1% so if a person already has a broadband Internet connection, there should be no reason to pay the higher fees for a traditional landline phone service. The days of the traditional phone company seem to be numbered.

VoIP is slowly transforming the global communications environment. Instead of two separate notions of a global network (one for voice calling and one for Internet Protocol); a single converged network is arising, carrying both voice and data with the same networking protocol, IP. Progressively, corporations and household phone subscribers are switching their voice services from the old voice backbone to the new one, and next-generation, IP-based phone companies have rushed in to help them make the move.

The first generation of VoIP products and services ultimately failed because the technology was way ahead of itself. It started in an era of dial-up connections and VoIP needed more speed. Today's VoIP services offer several features and options not possible a few years ago. The voice quality is also much better, largely due to the delivery speed differences in high-speed Internet access versus dial-up service. VoIP service providers now have cost-efficient plans tailored to the needs of businesses and residential users. VoIP is on the way to mainstream – are you ready?

Why Choose ViaTalk?

ViaTalk provides the most cost effective, complete VoIP broadband phone service package available to United States residential and business customers. Their unparalleled 24/7 technical support team coupled with a state of the art fiber optic network ensures you that you will have the highest available quality of service. They are also a privately owned, multi-million dollar, debt-free corporation.

ViaTalk is debt-free so they have the ability to do things like this:
ViaTalk Successfully Porting Thousands of SunRocket Subscribers - Leading VoIP company steps up to support customers left in wake of SunRocket’s demise
ViaTalk, a leading national private provider of internet phone service announced today that they are successfully porting thousands of former SunRocket subscribers in the wake of that company’s abrupt decision to close its doors.

“In the past 48 hours our U.S.-based customer service team has signed up thousands of SunRocket subscribers and has answered thousands of inquiries on the phone and via our online Live Sales Chat,” said Brendan Brader, ViaTalk CEO. “In order to meet the needs of these stranded customers, we have substantially increased our network capacity and have increased our call center staffing. Also, to assist former SunRocket customers, we are currently offering a contract buyout in the form of six months of service credit as well as free ground shipping of equipment.”

If ViaTalk can help stranded customers like that, imagine the support you will get as a customer!

Recommended VoIP Service Providers:

Phone Power has a great deal going on right now. They are offering their unlimited VoIP calling plan for $14.95 a month or prepay for a year and get the second year free which adds up to only $8.83 per month for VoIP service. More Details.

ViaTalk provides the most cost effective , complete VoIP broadband phone service package available to United States residential and business customers. More Details.

Packet8 is another recommended VoIP service provider. They deliver a solid service VoIP solution and they are offering to discount $24.99 automatically if you sign up for a VoIP plan! Click here for more details.

Lingo World Max VoIP Internet phone provider offers unlimited calls in the US and 70 other countries for $23.95. They have a deal going on right now that gives you the first month free. Lingo also offers a 30-day money back guarantee and free equipment. Lingo was awarded the Wired Magazine Editors pick for VoIP services. Lingo is backed by Primus, one of the largest telecom companies with over one billion dollars in revenue. One low price. Lots of great features - That's Lingo! For a limited time you can Get 80% off your first month of service with Activation, Equipment and shipping fees waived.  Try the Lingo Digital Phone Service for almost Free! Read more about the Lingo digital phone service.

VoIP.com offers you superior digital voice quality and reliability for $19.95 a month plus a free month of VoIP service. VoIP also offers a no hassle money back guarantee if for some reason you do not like their VoIP service. More Details.

Skype is the leader in true free VoIP calling and have made major advancements in the technology.  The “true” free VoIP service institutes free calling from your computer to another Skype user using your computer speakers and microphone.  The Skype technology has advanced from PC to PC calling.  The service now enables other people to call you using their mobile phones and landline phones.  For a fee called Skype Credits, you can also use Skype to call using your traditional phone.  Skype is also available for your mobile phone anywhere there is a WiFi connection known as VoWiFi.  They recently added the iPhone to the list of phones to utilize the VoIP technology.  Read more about the Skype Technology. 

The Nextiva VoIP Business Phone Service - If you are looking to upgrade your old PBX business phone system, the Nextiva Connect 360 digital phone solution is one that is definitely worth looking into.  If you are just a small business, chances are it won’t be small for long.  The Nextiva Connect 360 can handle your growth and it is quite affordable.  So drop your local phone company like a bad habit.  All they do is charge you more money for the same features you get free from Nextiva.  Read more about the Nextiva VoIP business phone solutions.  

OnSIP's VoIP Business service was built for one or multi-office locations with an average of 5-50 employees.  OnSIP offers a hosted PBX service that never charges per-user fees; users can add or remove users as needed. Their hosted PBX allows calls to be routed based on customized rules which are easily set up through the web portal.  This system allows users to leverage services such as voicemail, auto-attendant, and extension dialing that can be easily added or removed.  Virtual PBX phone numbers are available throughout the US 48 States and they can seamlessly port your number from your current provider.  Get more information about the OnSIP affordable VoIP service for small businesses and home offices. 

Click here for a more in depth article about VoIP.