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If you are looking for plain talk about what makes Internet phone service a good idea, you’ve come to the right place. I hope this will make it easier for you to make an informed decision on switching to high-speed Internet phone service.

Let’s start with some definitions

Very often you’ll see Internet phone service referred to by an acronym: VoIP. What this stands for is “voice over Internet protocol.

“Protocol” is another word for “rules. ” So Internet protocols are the rules and technologies that make the Internet possible. It’s a collection of all the rules that everyone follows so that equipment from one vendor is able to communicate just fine with equipment from another vendor.

Simply put, Inernet protocol (IP) rules require that the message must be broken down into smaller packets; then each packet takes the fastest route it can find to get to its final destination. At the destination, all the pieces are put back together in the proper order. What this means is that the system is a whole lot more cost-effective — and there is lots of room for future growth.

Here’s how Internet protocol makes Internet phone service possible

In the old days, you were connected to the person you’re talking to buy a copper wire. Your conversation with this other person took up the entire wire — nobody else could use it. This is not very efficient. And as demand for phone service went up, capacity could not keep up with the demand. The phone companies literally could not string enough copper wire fast enough.

The solution? Send the voice messaging using Internet protocols — VoIP.

The corporations saw that it would be a good idea to try to get new customers for the networks they already owned; they could offer them high-speed Internet phone service that saved money on local and long-distance calls. Obviously, it wasn’t long before the local and regional phone companies began to provide this to their customers.

So that’s how it works.

Now let’s see if we can answer some questions that will help you make an informed decision about whether Internet phone services are for you.

Here’s how you can take advantage of Internet phone service

You have many options to choose from. One way is to bundle your Internet phone along with your Internet service and your cable TV. When looking at all that you spend on these separate services, you might find that you can save significant money; just make sure the bundling is offered in your area.

You can also contact your existing phone company to see if they offer Internet phone services.

A third option is to go with an independent Internet phone service company. There are many vendors out there, e.g., Skype, Packet8, and ViOP.com. And these are just a few of the popular Internet phone services out there. Be careful, however, because there’s been a shakeout in the market. Vonage and SunRocket are two companies that recently suffered setbacks and there may be more before the shakeout ends and consolidation takes over.

Will you need a special phone line?

Not necessarily; however you do need to have a cable or DSL Internet feed. And unless you opt to go with a PC-to-PC or PC-to-phone plan, you will need to have an adapter to sit between your phone and the Internet connection. After you have finished with that, you’re finished with the hardware side of the equation.

Conclusion

Hopefully we’ve answered some of the most urgent questions that you may have had about Internet phone service. So don’t wait — check out your local cable and phone companies to see who is offering this exciting new service; then make an informed decision as to whether it is right for you.
© 2007 Ara Rubyan. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 License. You have permission to use it if you include the resource information below.

For more info on Internet Phone Service, visit Ara Rubyan’s VoIP Solution.

Ara Rubyan is not a part of the VoIP industry, nor does he sell VoIP services, nor does he pretend to be a guru of any kind. Instead, he is like you: a consumer, a business owner, and someone who has been researching the industry so that he could make an informed decision about the best VoIP service for his needs. Now, he’s put all his research (so far) in one convenient location and he’s sharing it with you, no strings attached.