Does anyone have first hand experience using the newer VoIP technology? I have used it quite a bit - usually in the Yahoo VoIP freebie system and I have used a few first generatoin VoIP's (PhoneFree) that are usually half duplex. I hate AT&T and SBC and have a clean broadband connection that is very reliable (and a cell phone to back it up). Is the new generation of VoIP very reliable? Thanks!
I apologize if I miss the mark but I assume you are talking about for home use on a high speed DSL or Cable type connection? I have extensive experience with the high dollar VoIP (Cisco, Nortel) and some experience with consumer based. But here goes: Lingo and Vonage both have provided reliable connectivity and fair QOS predicated on the connection. In a crisis mode I stapled up some connectivity for the folks in Afghanistan and Iraq using Vonage over a High speed satellite ISP until we could replace with some more robust systems. Worked pretty well. Many commercial LECs can provide a centrex IP that will work with DSL (same central office normally). The biggest concern with using VoIP in your home is the lack of E911 reliability due to either the user not inputting the information to the provider or the connection being down to the high speed access. If you are familiar with SIP or 323 standards then you can see that without a guaranteed QOS you will fall victim to the ISP. I did get my provider to prioritize my line because of the VoIP foibles. You may also be following the issues with the FCC regarding the regulation of this service. So far they have determined it is not covered by the telecom rules but things may change. To answer your last question VoIP technology is solid but the service only as good as your connectivity. Great topic though. Regards,
Whoa! Someone knows his stuff! So, what is the bottom line? Should I dump my old twisted pair for VoIP telephone - or should I wait?
Bottom line: I would keep your line for safety issues at your house. If you make a lot of overseas calls you could easily save the cost of Lingo or Vonage per month as an additional service. VoIP is great for teleworkers, folks who travel, students in dorms, stuff of that nature but ISPs are not as reliable as your telephone company at this point. I still have a regular telephone for the safety issues, but the technology is sound. If VoIP becomes a regulated service the reliability factor would have to be addressed but your costs would increased. If you want to just play with the technology I think one of these folks will let you quit the service after trying it. https://www.lingo.com/guWeb/ http://www.vonage.com/ One office application that you might like: Nortel and others have client software that you can run on a computer (laptop) and use a USB audio device as a microphone. The dial pad comes up on your screen and you can make calls from any high speed connection using the service provided and number assigned from your corporate PBX. Especially cool if you travel and stay at motels with high speed access. In a similar fashion if you drag the interface that Lingo or Vonage, et al provide with you, your number goes where you go. For really fun stuff there are wireless IP phones that roam hotspots and tunnel back to a central office. But I drift.... Keep your telephone, you'll be safer. Thanks for the diversion...
A few months ago I switched to Vonage VoIP and love it. Before I was using BellSouth but finally got tired of their outrageous plans , prices, and taxes on top of that. Now I'm paying on $15 dollars a month for 500 minutes worth of calls anywhere in the US and Canada. If I wanted unlimited calls, it would only be $25. That includes voice mail, 3 way calling, call waiting, caller ID, and some other features. Calling to Japan or the UK is about .03 a minute. With the voice mail, I can check it normally with my phone, or online. I get an email whenever someone leaves me a message. Another cool feature (which I haven't tried yet) is softphone. Basically you have access to your phone anywhere in the world where you have a broadband connection and your laptop. You can be travelling, stop at an internet cafe, and make a call as if you were calling from home. Much cheaper than using roaming on a cell phone. Only downsides are: If you don't have power and/or an internet connection, you can't use the phone. This was a problem when the hurricanes hit down here. If you want to use a phone in more than one room, you are going to have to get a VoIP adapter for each phone, and run LAN cable from your router to each room in the house. Quality wise, its been great. I would even say it is better than my old BellSouth/ATT line quality. I also haven't received a single telemarkting call or junk fax. When I was on Bellsouth I would get about 2 a day...and I was on the national do not call list! I would say dump your phone and go broadband.
the softphone is a nice feature and similar technology is used for some interactive online classes by using netmeeting or some other variant for the connectivity via the internet. You can also use a wireless router rather than run wire if you want, or alternatively get the adapter that supports a standard telephone jack and you can use a conventional cordless phone. There is at least one other downside: Did you enable your 911 service or do you worry about this need? Keep in mind the VoIP does not go through the PSTN (although it can) from your local LEC so the emergency services won't know where to go unless you provide this info to Vonage. It also doesn't work if the broadband is down. BellSouth is one on the providers that can give you VoIP from many of their central offices and run this over their DSL which would negate some of the downsides. I don't know if they have started offering this service to residential users or not. I would guess not at this point. I am surprised that more folks haven't jumped in to provide information. I thought we had a bunch of folks pursuing technical degrees or working in technical fields on the board.
Great information in your post, but there is a much easier way to do this. As long as the phone wiring in the house is isolated from the Phone Company's wiring, you can run a regular phone line from the VOIP adapter to any of the phone jacks in your house. At that point, all the other phone outlets will be live and usable. I've known two people who have done exactly this. The best place to be sure your house is isolated from the Phone Company's lines is at the Network Intface Device. This is the grey plastic housing on the outside of the house. As to going VOIP only, I think others have it exactly right in suggesting lack of 911 capability is the biggest issue. If you carry a Cell phone every where this may be acceptable. Just realize others will not know your phones have no 911 ability.
Thanks for the info FED. I can see that you are well-versed at the subject matter. Technology is an interesting thing. You can be a master at semiconductors, yet know little about Telco. The Telco that I know is pre-70's stuff (step switches, crossbar switches, etc - some of the earlier ESS - some bare minimum Nortel DMS info). It is rare, if not impossible, to find someone that understands all technology (too many facets and specialties). I think for now I am going to stick to my twist pair until Comcast can guarantee a QOS. I am not worried about 911 - I have Fremont's finest direct number programmed into my cell phone. Cheers
