Vonage VOIP

So what exactly is VoIP?
VoIP is short for Voice over Internet Protocol (also called IP Telephony, Internet telephony, and digital phone). In its simplest explanation, VoIP is a technology that allows you to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection rather than a regular (analog) phone line. A VoIP routes voice conversations over the Internet or other IP-based network through a general-purpose packet-switched network, instead of a traditional dedicated, circuit-switched voice transmission line.

• Incoming phone calls can be automatically routed to a VoIP phone, regardless of where it is connected to the network. A VoIP phone can be taken on a trip, and as long as it is connected to the internet, incoming calls can be received.
• Call center agents using VoIP phones can work from anywhere with a sufficiently fast Internet connection.
• VoIP phones can be integrated with other services available over the Internet, such as video conversations, message or data file exchange in parallel with the conversation, audio conferencing, managing address books and the online availability of others to interested parties.

• Subscribers of VoIP can make and receive local phone calls regardless of their location. For example, if a user has a Los Angeles phone number and is traveling in Japan - when someone calls the phone number, it will ring in Japan. Conversely, if a call is made from Japan to Los Angeles, it will be treated as a local call. Note there must be a connection to the Internet to make any of this possible.
• Users of instant-messaging based VoIP services like Skype or Yahoo! IM can also travel anywhere in the world and make and receive phone calls.

Disadvantages of VoIP
Like any fairly new technology, VoIP does have its share of drawbacks, here are a few worth noting:

• Implementation challenges such as dealing with latency and jitter issues, as well as firewalls and NATs can make VoIP less consistent that traditional connections.
• Broadband Internet access is required for VoIP - this can be inconvenient for those who have a DSL connection which requires a phone line, as they would have to pay for VoIP in addition to both a basic phone and broadband internet access. Note: Cable Internet users can use VoIP without a phone line.
• Reliability may also be an issue, as VoIP connections are not supported by back-up generators like conventional telephones. In the event of a power failure, VoIP connections will shut down as with the rest of electronics devices.
• Other issues are being dealt with as new technologies are implemented into VoIP connections.

Despite its small problems, VoIP connections are still climbing atop the telephone service industry as businesses and homes alike are starting to take advantage of the convenience and options offered by VoIP. Big VoIP providers such as Vonage and Verizon are starting to make VoIP accessible and affordable for the masses. It's only a matter of time before VoIP connections run alongside every high speed internet connection.