VoIP Michael Laport Robin Heath “I truly believe that VoIP is the telecommunications wave of the future,” said Travis Mack, a VoIP customer of only a year.

Abstract Idea. Voice over Internet Protocol Internet calling –Making phone calls over broadband networks rather than traditional landlines or wireless networks. –Transition from analog messages to digital data moving across Internet framework. –Actually been in use for several years in long distance calling.

Standard Calling. Existing phone systems are driven by a very reliable but somewhat inefficient method for connecting calls called circuit switching. (1) Circuit switching is a very basic concept that has been used by telephone networks for more than 100 years. When a call is made between two parties, the connection is maintained for the duration of the call. (1)

Standard Calling. During a 10 minute phone call the circuit is open for 10 minutes. In the early phone system, up until 1960 or so, every call had to have a dedicated wire stretching from one end of the call to the other for the duration of the call. (1) Today's traditional phone network are somewhat more efficient. Your voice is digitized, and your voice along with thousands of others can be combined onto a single fiber optic cable for much of the journey. (1)

VoIP Calling. Data networks do not use circuit switching. Instead, data networks simply send and retrieve data as you need it. –And, instead of routing the data over a dedicated line, the data packets flow through a chaotic network along thousands of possible paths. This is called packet switching. (2)

Data-level VoIP. A codec converts the audio signal into a compressed transmission, then back into the audio signal at either end. Different protocols are used to connect different devices (such as IP phones, computers, or ATA’s) as to secure the collaboration of different networks.

Three Ways to VoIP. ATA (Analog Telephone Adaptor) –Converts a standard phone signal to digital so that VOIP will work. IP Phone –Specialized phones that comes ready for VOIP service. Instead of having the standard RJ-11 phone connectors, IP phones have an RJ- 45 Ethernet connector. (3) Computer to Computer –Easiest way to use VOIP. All you need is the software.

What is all the buzz about? VoIP. VOIP can offer all the services of normal phone services ( voice mail, call waiting, etc. ). –Plus More: notification for voice mail Keep current phone number, or choose any number available by your service provider Computer interface or normal phone, either work Portable service (VoIP adapter can travel with you) Merges service providers, lowers cost to you –Replaces traditional land line and long distance.

What makes VoIP so tantalizing? One network for communications No more long distance fees Perhaps the biggest advantages is the use of digital data opens avenues in the communications and entertainment markets.

The Hurdles for VoIP. Transition from a 100+ year old copper phone network to a budding broadband network causes some inadequacies. –Reliability Dependant on wall power Emergency 911 calls Network latency, packet loss, Computer systems resource drains Loss of packets –Number of phone jacks limited per service –Need broadband –Security

Skype. Basic Program can be downloaded for free. –Acts as a fancy chat program like AOL-IM. –Allows for chat, text, and voice between people who have Skype. Pay Services: –SkypeOut – Allows you to call non-Skype users including traditional phones and cell phones. –SkypeIn – Gives you a regular phone number so that people with traditional phones and cell phones can call. –Skype Voic – Gives Skype users a virtual answering machine similar to what most cell phones have. Skype is not a replacement for your ordinary telephone and can’t be used for emergency calling. (4) It does not support regular 911 service.

Local Service VoIP. Relatively Local Providers –Vonage –Comcast Local Providers NOT needed. –513 US Providers (5) –Local Providers give a local physical phone number. –Any provider can be used as you connect over the internet.

VoIP applications. The integration of different mediums into one communication device. More seamless than other methods.

Business VoIP. Virtual numbers for business –Save customers long distance fees. –Internal Operations; Sales force –to- developers, no long distance. Teleconferencing is an ease Cellular phone calling enabled by WiFi and WiMax

Business VoIP (Some Vonage offers). Outlook plug-in to call directly from a contact list Browser plug-in to call a number by selecting a number on any web page Business web page where customers can enter their phone number to initiate a call from your customer service department to them

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Any VoIP related Questions? Yes … I do Prepare to meet your doom, Griffin!