Skype is a little piece of software that you can use to make free calls to other people on Skype worldwide and cheap calls to phones and mobiles.

• SkypeIn is your personal online number. Anyone can call you wherever you are in the world, and they only pay the standard local rate for the call. Available at £10 for 3 months or £35 for an annual membership.
• SkypeOut lets you make cheap international calls to phones and mobiles at local rates for a little Skype Credit.
• Skype Voicemail is the solution to never missing a call. Available at £3 for 3 months or £10 for an annual subscription.
• Skype Pro is a subscription package of our best products available from £1.50 per month.
• Skype Small Business Pack can slash companies’ communication costs and transform the way business is done. Only £68.
• 3 Skypephone is a stylish mobile phone that you can use to make free Skype-to-Skype calls. No computer needed. Only £49.99.
• Skype bundles are package deals comprising SkypeOut credit together with hardware accessories.
• Skype hardware accessories enhance the Skype user experience. A variety of webcams, headsets and phones are available.

Great news. They’ve just launched two fantastic new products - 3 Skypephone mobile and High Quality Video. 3 Skypephone is a mobile phone that allows you to make free Skype-to-Skype calls. This is currently only available in the UK.

A quarter of Skype calls already involve video. High Quality Video takes video calling to a new level. Two of the new High Quality Video webcams come bundled with a free headset, three hours of SkypeOut credit and free shipping. Bundle packages start from £69.99.

VoIP - Same Bat-Time, but it’s not the Same-Bat Channel!

Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the last few years, you’ve probably at least heard the word “VoIP” even if you didn’t understand what all the excitement is about.

VoIP stands for “Voice over Internet Protocol” and it’s going to change the way you think about making long distance phone calls.

Basically, VoIP technology turns analog audio signals (like the sounds you hear when talking on your regular telephone) into a digital signal (which is then transmitted over the Internet.)

So why is VoIP revolutionizing the industry? Because it means that by getting your hands on some of the free software that’s available right now, you can totally bypass your telephone company, and start making long distance phone calls for free!

Here’s what’s got the bats buzzing in the belfry: This revolutionary technology has the ability to totally change the phone system of the entire world! Maybe you’ve seen television commercials for one of the pioneers of VoIP - Vonage. Vonage brands itself as the “broadband telephone company”, and offers enticing perks to customers who switch to its service, like low-cost 800 numbers, very cheap international rates (fees are waived from the U.S. to Canada, and how about .03 cents a minute to call Paris?)

But Vonage isn’t the only company who is interested. AT&T is setting up VoIP calling in several areas of the U.S. and there are other major players on the scene as well, such as Skype, who is relying on viral advertising to get the word out.

One of the really interesting thing about VoIP is that there’s not just one way to make a call. There are actually three:

ATA - is the most commonly used VoIP method right now. Using the ATA (analog telephone adaptor), you connect your regular telephone to your computer or Internet connection. The ATA is an analog-to-digital converter and it takes the analog signal from your phone and converts it into digital data and transmits it over the Internet.

This is how Vonage does it, and AT&T ’s CallVantage will be doing it. The ATA is free with their services. And using an ATA is so simple that anyone can do it. Open the box, plug the cable from your phone into the ATA instead of the wall socket, and you’re set. Depending on your computer, and where you live, and what type of Internet connection you have, you might have to also install the software onto your computer, but even my grandmother knows how to do that these days.

IP Phones - They look just like the phones we’re used to. They have a handset, cradles and buttons. But an IP phones use an RJ-45 Ethernet connector instead of the standard RJ-11 phone connectors. They connect directly to your router and all the hardware and software is already built inside to handle your IP calls. Look for Wi-Fi IP phones to be available in the near future, which will allow you to make VoIP calls from any Wi-Fi spot. (Can you see the power of that? Just take your IP phone with you when you travel, and stop in at any Internet café, hotel or other location where you can use your Wi-Fi laptop, and you can “phone home” wherever home happens to be!

Computer-to-Computer. This is arguably the easiest way to use VoIP. Not only do you not have to pay for long distance calls, there are several companies that are offering free or low-cost software right now for you to make use of the VoIP technology. All you need is the software, a microphone, speakers a sound card and a broadband or cable DSL Internet connection, and your loved ones sound as if they’re in the next room. And, except for your normal monthly ISP fee, there is no charge for any computer-to-computer call…no matter how far. Holy ET, Batman!

And guess what? Chances are, you’ve already been using the VoIP technology without even being aware of it, any time you’ve made a long distance telephone call recently. Many of the major phone companies are already using VoIP technology to reduce their own bandwidth . It’s a simple matter of routing thousands of phone calls through a circuit switch and into an IP gateway. Once received on the other side of the gateway, the calls are decompressed, reassembled and routed back to a local circuit switch.

IP telephony is the wave of the future. It makes sense in terms of ROI, from both an economic and infrastructure point of view. It may take some time, but eventually all of the current circuit-switched networks that are in use today will be replaced by packet-switching technology. More and more businesses are already installing VoIP systems. And as the technology makes our way into our everyday language our lives, and our homes, it will continue to grow in popularity.

According to Forrester Research, they predict that nearly 5 million U.S. households will have VoIP phone service by the end of 2006. The two biggest advantages for home users so far are price and flexibility.

Currently, most VoIP phone companies offer plans similar to that of cell-phone companies - what are commonly called “minute-rate” plans for as little as $30 a month. And as with cell-phone plans, you can also get unlimited plans for around $79 a month. With the elimination of long-distances charges, unregulated charges, and all the freebies that come standard with your VoIP service, it can actually amount to a significant savings for you. For example, you may be paying extra for features like:
· Call waiting
· Three way calling
· Call forwarding
· Caller I.D.
· Repeat dial
· Last call return

With VoIP, they come standard. And then there are some advanced features that make VoIP something worth looking into. With some carriers, you can set up call-filtering options, and actually have some control over how calls from certain numbers are handled. For example, you can:
· Forward the call to a particular number
· Send the call directly to voicemail
· Give the caller a busy signal
· Play a “not in service” message
· Send the caller to a funny rejection hotline

With most VoIP services, you can also check your voice mail on the Internet, or attach messages to an email that is sent directly to your computer or handheld. (By the way, if you’re interested in any of these features, not all VoIP companies are created equal, so do a little shopping around first, because prices and services do vary).

The second benefit that makes VoIP so attractive for home and small business users is the flexibility. With VoIP you can make a call anywhere you can get broadband connectivity. Since the IP phones or ATAs broadcast information over the Internet, they can be administered by any provider. For business travelers, this means they can take their phone or ATA with them on the road, and never miss a home phone call!

By using a softphone, (which is client software that loads your VoIP service onto your desktop or laptop), you can make calls from your laptop anywhere in the broadband-connected world, with just a headset and microphone.

In a way, VoIP is just a “better mousetrap.” But it looks like it’s one mousetrap that’s here to stay.

Tags: VOIP

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services are significantly less expensive than the traditional telephone long distance packages. This is only one advantage of using VoIP. For a home business, this can provide more benefits if you know how to exploit it.

While there are other options, you can choose to use your regular home phone to take advantage of VoIP technology. This can be done by using a VoIP telephone adapter to connect your phone to the internet via a high speed modem. VoIP technology allows internet users with high speed (broadband) access to place telephone calls over the internet.

There are many VoIP service providers with whom one can sign up for a calling plan.

As VoIP rides on the internet technology, there are many features that are now possible as compared to the traditional phone. Many traditional phone features that come at an extra charge are also provided free with the basic calling plan.

1. Cheaper Than Traditional Phones
Using VoIP is a cheaper option if you make a lot of long distance and international calls. This is possible as the call uses the same internet facility as you do for your web access and email.

Upon signing up for a calling plan with a service provider, the VoIP telephone adapter will typically be provided free.

All calls between people using the same service provider are free regardless of location. This alone can provide significant savings if your business associates use the same service providers.

There are many features that come free with the calling plan. Some of these features are:
- call waiting
- caller ID
- three-way calling
- call forwarding
- last number redial
- speed dial
- voicemail

2. Allows Mobility
When travelling, you can take the VoIP adapter with you and instantly turn a phone anywhere in the world into your local phone. This will require a high speed internet connection.

This is possible as the VoIP adapter is specially coded with your VoIP phone number.

With the VoIP Physical Portability feature, you can still receive your customers’ phone calls while travelling on business matters, on holiday or moving home.

3. Establishing Business Offices At Multiple Locations
VoIP Virtual Numbers allow multiple inbound telephone access numbers in different cities. With this feature, it is possible to establish your business in multiple locations by creating a “Virtual Presence” using virtual numbers.

These virtual numbers can be routed to any number that you specify. If you lived in Chicago, you can have access numbers in New York, Houston and San Francisco all routing through to your number in Chicago.

With this feature, business addresses can be established in different cities and even countries. You can set up these virtual numbers based on the locations from where you expect to receive many phone calls. This could be your existent customers or your prospects.

Besides enhancing the image of your business, customers get the benefit of calling a local number which is less costly for them.

Most service providers who offer this feature charge about $5 per month for each additional access number. This makes it possible to establish business offices at multiple locations at a low cost.

4. Enhanced Voice Mail
Some service providers offer you the ability to receive voice mail messages as an email attachment. You can play them back as a sound file through your computer.

As a home business owner, you can also save these voice mails to your computer’s hard drive for future reference. You can also forward this to another person if follow up action is required.

5. Selecting A VoIP Service Provider
Your choice of the VoIP service provider and the calling plan depends on your unique needs.

Depending on your business needs, you can select calling plans for local/long distance or international calls. International calls can be made with local/long distance plans but at an additional per minute rate. International plans typically include USA local and long distance coverage.

Do not buy based on the number of features provided by the service provider. Decide on the features you require to manage your home business. Then match these against the features available.

According to independent surveys, most of the established VoIP carriers are about the same in terms of voice quality. Good customer service is also another criteria for selecting the service provider. You can read customer reviews on these aspects to help you choose the service provider.

There are service providers that include a “Money Back Guarantee”. Once you have initiated the service, check against your service quality criteria. If you are not happy with the results, then cancel the service and request for your money back. Make sure you do this within the “trial” period allocated.

If you are on a month-to-month plan, your service is automatically renewable each month, until you cancel the service. So, you have the option of canceling. Some annual plans allow you to cancel on a month-to-month basis, but may include other charges. Check out all these details before you sign up.

Tags: VOIP

Who would ever imagine that Graham Bell’s invention would one day be on computers networked all over the world. VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol as the name suggests, uses the Internet to call anyone of your friends in any part of the world.

What makes this technology appealing is the cost. VoIP is a cheap alternative to complex phone systems that you have never really fully understood. How many times have you looked at your phone bill and just shrugged off the number of calls charged to you. VoIP is a good alternative for small businesses and offices that want the most out of one kind of savings.

So what do you need to look out for when applying for a VoIP service especially for those who are not technologically savvy? Here are some helpful tips that you can consider when looking for a provider that offers a cheap but reliable service.

Compare the price range from various providers first. There is nothing like doing your preliminary homework. Make sure that you are choosing from trustworthy and tested providers.

Always look carefully into the inclusion of hidden charges and if there is a payment for termination of service and/or activation of service.

Ask if they offer e911 emergency service and find out how you can apply for the service.

Do not sign up for a provider that requires you to have an entirely new phone system. The reason for getting VoIP in the first place is to save some money.

Check online about the VoIP company background and business tenure. Check if they’ve had complaints about their service.

Try using service providers that have already established a mass appeal.

You should look closely at what you need for yourself and your family. If you are the kind of person that makes a lot of calls to other countries, then you should look for a package that offers really cheap international rates. If you get the bulk of your personal calls from just one city, look for a package that will provide you with your own phone number that people can call you with also at local rates.

When you have finished making your checklist and have looked into all the factors, you will suddenly realize that you managed to find the cheapest and most appropriate VoIP provider who can offer you the maximum number of services at the minimum rates that you want.

Tags: VOIP

Talk more, Pay less with Verizon VoiceWing - Internet broadband calling VERIZON
VoiceWing: Broadband calling starting at $19.95/mo for nationwide calling. Set-up fee is waived when you order online. Click here to learn more.

As more and more consumers learn about Voice over Internet Protocol phone services, they are trying to find a definitive answer to one burning question: Is this thing reliable enough to replace the Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) they grew up with and have built their lives around?

There are, in fact, a great many positive reasons to switch from POTS to VoIP:

1. It’s cheaper. Way cheaper. From about $9.95 for the most basic service (still far better than POTS) to $39.95 for residential; business plans usually run from $49.95-to-$99.95 and include a separate fax number.

2. The free VoIP “modem” is shipped to you in 5 to 10 days; buy it at a store for same-day service and the VoIP firm will reimburse or credit it against your bill.

3. “Extra” services widely standard: VoiceMail, Caller ID, Call Waiting, 3-Way Conferencing, Call Forward, Repeat Dialing, Call Block, unlimited calling (local and LD) - in short, virtually every option ever offered - for an additional fee - by any POTS company.

4. No charge for incoming calls from anywhere, unlike US cellular providers; same for outgoing “local” calls (depending on plan; some use a cellular-style monthly minutes package).

5. With VoIP, “local” in North America almost always includes both the US and Canada; some also include Western Europe, parts of Asia and parts of Latin America. For those countries not included free, international plans are available for far less than standard LD companies. Or you can make occasional calls without a plan for far lower per-minute charges than most LD plans. This generally applies - more or less in reverse - for VoIP services in Europe, Asia and elsewhere, as well.

6. No computer needed, just plug a standard phone cable from the VoIP box to your regular desktop phone or portable base station.

7. Activate every phone jack in the house - just plug the VoIP modem into any existing wall jack, after first disconnecting your house’s internal phone wiring from the POTS world at the phone box outside, probably on your front wall. This option generally is not available to apartment dwellers. Sorry.

8. Virtual Phone Numbers: For a low price (usually about $5), you can have a phone number in almost any area code, so friends or family can dial a local number that rings on your phone. You can’t use it for outgoing calls because it isn’t a “real” line.

9. Low-cost 800 Numbers: Want to make it free for a lot of callers without bankrupting you? Most VoIP providers offer cheap 800 numbers - free to the caller, fixed monthly rate for you (varies, but roughly $5 for the first 100 minutes each month, then 4.5-cents or so per minute beyond that).

10. Find Me: Some include a system that, if you don’t answer, will call three or more other numbers you designate, in sequence or simultaneously, then go to voicemail if you still don’t answer.

11. And this is THE KICKER: Take your home or office “phone” with you when you travel. Just pack the VoIP modem in your suitcase; on arrival, plug it into any high-speed Internet connection (hotel room, friend or relative’s house, airport, whatever) and, bingo, you can place and, more importantly, receive calls made to your regular phone number. And that is true anywhere in the world (with charges based on your home location). Go to Bora Bora and someone calling your home or office number in Des Moines will never know you’re not in Iowa when you answer; call someone and your usual Caller ID shows.

For every ying, of course, there must be a yang - so now for the downside:

1. If you have a cable Internet connection, your downline is 2 to 10 times faster than your upline. As a result, you may hear the other person clear as a bell and they may not hear you at all. This will lead to them hanging up on you (they don’t know you’re there) or demanding you “get off the speaker” or “hang up your cell and call me from a real phone”. And those are the polite ones.

The VoIP companies insist 256K up should be more than enough for a clear signal; that does not appear to be the case in actual use. There are ways to overcome this, if you get a knowledgeable VoIP support tech.

2. High-speed connections vary in quality based on a host of factors, from how many other users are sharing that cable line to how far it is from the nearest DSL booster node. Which means day-to-day, even call-to-call, VoIP quality is going to vary, as well - sometimes to wild extremes.

3. When no one is speaking, there is a “dead” silence that makes most people, accustomed to the slight “buzz” of a POTS signal, think the connection has been broken. If you don’t want to hear a constant “are you still there?”, explain this to everyone at the start of any conversation.

4. If you try to “activate” a new credit card by calling via VoIP, the computer at the other end may insist you are not calling from your home phone. “Why?” is an as-yet unanswered question from the VoIP providers.

5. Never, ever, let anyone put you on silent hold. If your VoIP service doesn’t hear something on that line for several minutes (how many seems to vary), it may simply disconnect you, apparently on the theory your phone is actually off the hook.

6. If your up-line signal is not strong enough, your call won’t go through, leading to an annoyingly frequent “Your call cannot be completed at this time” recording.

7. Occasionally, your VoIP will just stop working. The fix varies slightly by provider, but basically involves a lot of unplugging and replugging of VoIP modem, router, cable/DSL connection, in a specific sequence provided by the VoIP company.

8. Last - and by far worst: If your Internet connection goes down for any reason, you have no phone service. Anyone depending entirely on VoIP is strongly encouraged to keep a cellphone handy (keeping in mind you can set VoIP up to automatically call your cell if you don’t answer the VoIP line).

Bottom line: Commercial VoIP is a real telephone service, unlike computer-based “messengers” or even Skype (which clearly states it is not telephony); marks against, include no video (yet) and a lot of bugs yet to resolve. Still, at a savings of $30 to $100 a month, these problems aren’t so severe you can’t learn to live with them. It’s a bigger issue for your office, but add a cellphone to the mix for back-up and you may soon join the growing number of consumers who have gone all-VoIP, with no intention of ever going to POTS again.

Tags: VOIP