Voice Over Internet Protocol VoIP^?

Brief Overview

This new version of “phone calls” seeks to one day substitute the conventional phone system by making communication possible via high-speed Internet (Broadband) (FCC, 2006 & Valdes, 2007).

What is it?

Technology (i.e. adaptor, special phone, computer software see below) that takes callers’ “analog audio signals” (sounds you hear when talking on a phone) turns them into digital information to transmit over the Internet (Valdes, 2007).

What Does it Look Like?

Courtesy of Federal Communication Commission (2006, October 30)

Medium Types

• Adaptor An Analog Telephone Adaptor (ATA) connects a regular phone to a computer. Its job is to transform the traditional phone's "analog audio signals" into digital data prior to sending these out over Broadband (Valdes, 2007).

• Special Phone Internet Protocol (IP) Phones are ordinary looking phones with a “RJ-45 Ethernet Connector” which hooks up into a standard router (the RJ-11 phone jack). They come equipped with the appropriate hardware and software to make IP calls possible over Broadband (Valdes, 2007).

• Computer Ideal medium for VoIP^? communication, requires Broadband internet service (i.e. cable, DSL), and free or low-cost software such as microphone, speakers, and sound card to place calls (Valdes, 2007).

VoIP Advantages

• Technology Compatibility- those you call don’t need to have VoIP^? technology to call you or receive your call (FCC, 2006).

• Reasons to Bypass Telephone Company… Familiarity- service like a regular phone line (i.e. 3-way calling) without fees (FCC, 2006).

• Calls can be free…when subscribers call other subscribers with some providers (FCC, 2006).

• Why pay for Internet & phone service? Just pay for the high-speed Internet service (Broadband) (FCC, 2006)!

• Software is Inexpensive or Free! Microphones and speakers are relatively low cost. Internet Software can be easily downloaded for free in less then 5 minutes (Valdes, 2007)!

• VoIP^? service areas and accesability is increasing! Wireless Hot Spots, public spaces where wireless Internet is available, facilitate usage outside of your home (FCC, 2006)!

• VoIP^? Calls use about 1/3 of the time and half of the space (minutes/kbps) that regular calls use, since they use “Internet packet switching” instead of “circuit-switched network”. Less time used, less kbps cost = 3 - 4 more calls (Valdes, 2007)!

VoIP Disadvantages

• It is a relatively new technology, which means there are many kinks to work out.

• Must have Internet access! Who and what percent of the population has access to it? How reliable is it (service interruptions)?

• For some VoIp^? software, a computer must be on to have access to Internet (FCC, 2006).

• No service in a power outage! Unlike our current phones (cordless) that run on "phantom power", they receive power from their wall connection, VoIP^? technology is power dependent (Valdes, 2007).

• It is not really free! Similar to regular phone lines, long distant phone calls carry a fee and one has the option of signing up for a package with a fixed number of minutes for a flat rate (FCC, 2006)!

• Unfamiliar 911 service access: Need to check with provider to know how 911 calls are accessed and handled. It more than likely, that the 911 service providers will ask the VoIP^? caller to identify his/her exact address during an emergency since his/her IP-address phone number lacks "geographic information" like a regular phone line (NANP: North American Numbering Plan) automatically does (Valdes, 2007)! No FCC (Federal Communications Commission) regulation exists to regulate this (Valdes, 2007).

• Other service disruptions: Without a regular phone line, services that require one (T.V. services, home security systems) are not possible (Valdes, 2007).

• VoIP^? inherits computer and Internet limits. Service can crash with your computer. VoIP^? software is susceptible to viruses, hacking, and worms while the Internet line can have transmission errors and disruptions that cause distorted and garble conversations (Valdes, 2007).

• It will take 10 years to build the info-structure necessary to support this technology and for communication businesses to make the switch completely (Valdes, 2007).

• Is the switch necessary? Internet is used for other purposes (i.e. e-mail), while phone lines and wireless phones monopolize the phone call industry mainly because they are reliable and mobile, respectively.

For more information see:

Federal Communication Commission. (2006, October 30). Voice Over Internet Protocol. Retrieved February 22, 2007 from http://www.fcc.gove/viop/

Valdes, Robert. (2007, May 09). How VoIP^? Works . Retrieved February 22, 2007 from http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ip-telephony.htm

-- KarinaMorales - 16 Feb 2007 JennaGriffin - 27 Feb 2007
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