Making Internet Phone Calls (VoIP) - Ten Tip Guide
More than one in ten adults in Britain are currently taking advantage of the benefits of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), with the highest use in the nation’s capital – 20% of adults living in London now use the online service.
VoIP is proving popular with internet users for many reasons, but perhaps the biggest is its cost effectiveness, as national and international calls can be made at reduced rates, and in some instances, may even be free.
Here is our guide on Voice over Internet Protocol, and ten things you should know about making internet phone calls.
1. What is VoIP, and how does it work?
In its simplest sense, VoIP means using the internet to make phone calls. You can make very cheap, or even free calls using a VoIP provider such as Vonage.
VoIP phone calls are made over your existing broadband connection and not through your regular phone line (or network) like most traditional phone companies
such as BT or TalkTalk. By taking ordinary analogue signals and turning them into digital signals, it allows you to ring people using your broadband connection.
There are 3 different ways you can use VoIP:
Plugging a traditional home phone into a VoIP adapter to make calls in the same way as a traditional landline like with Vonage.
A headphone and microphone headset via an interface, like MSN Messenger between two computers - calls made in this way are completely free.
A headset plugged into a PC to connect to someone else who is using a normal landline or mobile.
2. What equipment will I need?
With option 1, you can use a traditional Dect or digital home phone, all you need to buy is a VoIP adaptor which you get free when you sign up to Vonage.
VoIP phones look and behave exactly like traditional handsets. Both the phone and the adaptor allow you to make and receive calls in the same way as regular home phones.
If you’re going for option two or three, all you need is a headset and microphone that you plug into the back of your computer (the pink and the green jacks either at the back or the front of your PC). These can cost from anything between £5 and £20.
You will also need to download an instant messenger. Try Skype, Google Talk, MSN Messenger or Yahoo. Then you (and your friends) will need to register and get an account. Simply add each other to your contact lists, request a “voice conversation,” plug in your microphone and headset, and you’re ready to chat.
3. Will I get a new number or can I keep my old one?
You can choose to keep your existing number, or receive a new number. You have the ability to choose the phone number you want – allowing you to opt for a local dialling code.
With Vonage you can choose to keep your existing number. It will simply take a minimum of 20 working days to transfer your old number over, until which you can make and receive calls using the number you are provided with when you first sign up.
4. What will VoIP cost me?
Once you have purchased your headset or phone, you need to decide which call plan is right for you.
For example, Vonage allows you to make unlimited calls either to the UK and/or abroad, all for a low-cost, set monthly fee. They currently have 6 call plans to choose from; V-Plan UK offers unlimited anytime calls to UK landlines, while V-Plan US and V-Plan 2 through to V-Plan 5 offer unlimited calls to up to 45 countries including the UK. Visit www.vonage.co.uk for more information.
VoIP calls can also be completely free. If you know what time your friends will be online you can make your calls PC to PC and you won’t have to pay a penny.
5. How does it compare to using a standard landline?
The main advantage of using VoIP is the cost. All calls to VoIP users are free and landline calls are usually free also, if not lower than other service providers’.
In addition, you do not pay a monthly line rental which makes it the perfect option if you want to set up a second line for you kids or business. You can also make three-way calls – which is great if you have friends in different parts of the world.
Most VoIP providers also offer more sophisticated features such as call waiting and caller ID so you don’t lose the benefits of your traditional phone line.
6. Potential drawbacks
Early users suffered with poor quality connections, echoes and delays however most of these issues have been resolved. Despite this the quality of your call can be affected by your bandwidth, so if you have an ADSL line with a contention ratio of 50:1, your connection might not be as good during peak times.
Also your broadband needs to be switched on in order to make calls, increasing your electricity usage and the chance of your network being infiltrated. It is worth noting that if you’re experiencing broadband connection problems you may have difficulty making calls.
7. VoIP in an emergency
Following a consultation by Ofcom in July last year and subsequent research, it was announced that as of this September, 2008, all VoIP services that allow users to make national calls must also provide access to emergency services numbers 999 and 112.
Because you need electricity to make VoIP calls, as your broadband connection must be on, it is recommended you keep your traditional landline phone in the event of an emergency.
8. Can I use my PC whilst making a VoIP call?
Yes you can. You can surf the internet whilst talking with VoIP. You can even make calls with a VoIP phone when you computer is switched off, as the connection is live all the time.
9. Should I bin my landline?
Unfortunately, most of you can’t since you still need your traditional line for your broadband. However, if you have cable, it’s worth comparing the cost of the calls you make against the costs of a VoIP provider.
Even if you can’t get rid of your landline, VoIP is ideal as a second phone line especially if your kids are always hogging the line or you run your business from home and want a separate number. Not only that, international calls are predominantly cheaper if not free through VoIP, so if you make regular calls abroad it could save you money.
In the USA, where you can purchase a pure broadband connection without a phone line or having to pay line rental (known as a naked DSL) VoIP is a much better option. However in the UK Ofcom has decided that it is up to service providers if, and when, they want to offer naked DSL in the UK without a cable connection.
10. The future
If you choose to opt for a VoIP package, then you’ll be joining a growing band of devotees. According to Ofcom, there are an estimated 500,000 active users of VoIP in the UK, a number forecast to grow further over the next few years. Industry analysts have predicted that by the end of 2008, there will be about three million computer-to-computer VoIP users.
Why are you plugging Vonage who are one of the more expensive providers? You can get a equally high quality service for a lot less from providers such as Telappliant (voiptalk.co.uk). eg: for £5.99pm, you don't just get free calls to the UK, but to Europe, USA, Australia - 27 countries for the price of 1 country from Vonage.
You have promoted Vonage a bit in this article. I would advise anybody to checkout their cancellation policy and also to read some of the rather off-putting reviews out there on the web from customers who have had "difficulty" getting a fair service from Vonage. Is this site sponsored by Vonage?
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