VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a great new technology that allows you to make and receive telephone calls over the Internet, as you will see in this tutorial.  It can also be referred to as an Internet Phone.  It enables you to make telephone calls over a broadband Internet connection, (usually a DSL or cable connection), instead of your regular telephone service.  You can connect to regular telephone numbers locally or in other parts of the US or Canada, usually all for one low price, eliminating long distance fees.  In addition, you will usually have low international calling rates to other countries.  The savings can be substantial, with most fees and taxes levied by traditional telephone carriers being non-existent.  A requirement for a VoIP connection is a high speed internet connection, such as cable, DSL, or even wireless, as long as their bandwidth meets the minimum requirements for the VoIP provider you choose.

---

 

How does VoIP work?

First, voice is converted by an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter), from an analog signal to a digital signal. It is then sent over the Internet to a location that will be close to the destination.  Then it will be converted back to an analog signal for the remaining distance over a traditional circuit switch (PSTN).  Your call can be received by traditional telephones worldwide, as well as other VoIP users.  Since your voice is changed to digital (so that it can travel over the Internet), other great features such as voice messages to email, call forwarding, logs of incoming and outgoing calls, caller ID, etc., can be included in your basic calling plan all for one low price. Many of these special features are great for the small business person who relies on their phone service to be more a information center rather than just a telephone.  

---

 

What are the benefits of VoIP?

First and foremost a lot more for less money, including features that will make your communications state of the art.  Usually, a VoIP provider will allow unlimited calls in the continental US and Canada all for one low monthly fee.  In addition, added features such as Voice Mail, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, a web based control panel, Voicemail received as Email, Advanced Call Forwarding features, etc., are added at no additional cost.  Plus, International rates are a lot less than traditional telephone companies.  You are not limited to just a certain local's numbers, but can even choose one from another state.  In addition, you can add virtual numbers from other areas that will ring in on your primary number.  So, the benefits are:

• Lower monthly telephone bills.

• Many additional features, all included in your one monthly flat rate.

• Lower prices on International calling.

• Virtual numbers, that ring in on a primary number and can be picked from other areas, even other states.

• Portability, or the ability to take your phone service with you.

Certain people are going to benefit more greatly from VoIP than others.  Entrepreneurs and small businesses are such great candidates for VoIP that it would be hard to present an argument against getting a VoIP service.  It's not just the unlimited long distance calls (US and Canadian) that are the primary motivation, it is also all the advanced features that are part of many provider's service.  Getting a state of the art communications system, one that up until now would cost several hundreds of dollars a month with a large initial outlay, for under fifty dollars a month is incredible (and with very little upfront cost). 

Adding a VoIP line or two can greatly add to a small business's communications features, save money and increase revenue.  Consider adding a line, as a partial solution, keeping a regular copper line, especially if you fax heavily or use DSL (see our tutorials for more information about these two suggestions).  Look into the features that will benefit your business plan, they may be more than you expected.

 

 

What are the requirements to getting VoIP?

You will need a broadband Internet connection, such as DSL or cable, T1 or wireless.  In most cases you will need an "always on" type of connection with a bandwidth of at least 128kbps on both upload and download for a single VoIP voice connection (an uncompressed voice connection will use approximately 90kpbs on both the upload and download.  There are connections using a compressed voice "codec" that will use less.)

---

 

Are there any drawbacks to VoIP?

There are considerations that you must take into account, as VoIP, like all things, has it's limitations .  A few to consider are:

• VoIP is dependant on your broadband Internet connection and the quality of the voice connection will vary greatly depending on the quality of your ISP's service.  Since Internet connections have become more stable, and have far more capacity than just a few years ago, this vaiable has improved significantly, but there are exceptions and our tutorials will help you identify problems that may exist with your Internet connection.

• Faxing over VoIP is not the most ideal medium, so if you are a heavy fax user, such as an attorney, mortgage broker, or appraiser, then you may want to keep at least one traditional phone line for faxing.  In some cases, faxes may all fail when tried over VoIP.  There are suggestions we present that may help make you faxing over VoIP success better, but "must have dependable faxers", need to keep an alternative telephone line for faxing.

• Some services, such as some Alarm systems, Tivo, credit card machines, and dial-up modems may not work over a VoIP line.

• 911 services; although they are currently being mandated for VoIP providers, are not yet fully developed.  Most providers offer E911 service and you will want to make sure yours does and your number is tied correctly for your physical address.

• VoIP is new technology and although it is getting better and better, there can be occasional quality issues.  But, we are here to help give you the knowledge you need to make a better connection.

 

 

Stuck without a sales plan and need to get your VoIP sales back into gear. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Try VoIP Marketeer, a true VoIP sales plan.  Let them be your always available sales guide.

 

A simple easy to navigate site with lots of step by step directions and how-tos, that will put your sales back into the action.  learn more