Voice over IP (VoIP) and internet telephony are two phrases that we have been hearing a lot of late. But what is it? And why is it attracting so much attention?
Over the next week or two we will be taking an in-depth look at VoIP, finding out how to get up and running with it, and discussing the advantages and disadvantages.
So, what is Voice over IP? Simply, it is using a broadband connection to make phone calls. Instead of routing calls via a normal landline, Voice over IP enables users to route calls over the internet rather than through a traditional telecoms network. We’ll come back to a fuller explanation later, for the moment, like the internal combustion engine, let’s accept that it works and that’s all we need to know for now.
The major selling point for VoIP is that it enables free phone calls to other users anywhere in the world and low cost calls to landlines, international numbers and mobiles. Potential savings for businesses are huge.
Now this may sound a bit too good to be true, but it is. Not so long ago, your author was involved in a three-way Skype conference call that linked the Western Isles, Edinburgh and Wellington, New Zealand. Sound quality was as clear as a standard analogue voice call. And the good part was that it wasn’t costing any of us a penny, which definitely felt a bit weird.
The minimum requirements to get started with internet voice calls are a broadband connection and a touch tone phone, or a broadband connection and a microphone headset. As we will see, the reason for this is that there are two ways to go with VoIP.
The first method is to sign up with a telecoms company such as Vonage or BT Communicator and pay a fixed monthly subscription ranging from £8 to £20 depending on service levels and features. You continue to use your normal landline handset; the only change is the company carrying your phone calls. (In practice, most people will require to continue paying BT service charges in order to receive their broadband service.)
Secondly, there is VoIP using a PC-based service such as the free download, Skype. For this, you will need a microphone headset or a microphone and speakers, though this latter option isn’t practical if you share an office or don’t want to be overheard. For about £30, it’s possible to purchase a Skype-compatible handset that plugs into a spare USB socket.
Mac users, meanwhile, are supported by carrier-based services such as Vonage and the latest version of Skype is designed to run on both Intel- and PowerPC-based Mac computers.
As the definition of free has been somewhat elasticised lately, what does free phone calls over the internet actually mean?
In this instance, it means placing a call to a fellow user of the same service. This could be a trading partner in the UK, a client in the States or your aunty in Australia. And most PC-based internet telephony software now also supports video phone calls, ideal for seeing those far-flung relatives or customers in the ‘flesh’.
Calls over the net to landlines, international numbers and mobiles are significantly cheaper too than using a standard analogue service. Internationals calls start from around 1p per minute, with calls to mobiles at peak times 15p or less per minute and low rate or unmetered calls to landlines.
Choosing which type of VoIP to choose is dependent upon your intended use and the pros and cons of each service type. As a very rough rule of thumb, people who intend only using the service during office hours may prefer a PC-based option, especially if they wish maximum flexibility and need, in any case, to retain a BT phone for their broadband connection.
Others may prefer a carrier-based VoIP service as this allows the service to be used 24 x 7 without the need to switch on a computer. You will, however, be issued with a new phone number and normally have to pay a monthly subscription to have your old number forwarded.
When pondering a switch from analogue voice to the digital world of VoIP, it should be pointed out there are a couple of issues to consider. Chief among these is the possibility of loss of service when your broadband connection goes down or there’s a power cut. Because of this, VoIP service providers cannot – and explicitly do not - guarantee access for 999 calls.
Opinion, meanwhile, is divided over the security of VoIP phone calls, either from being hacked or as a back door entry to users’ computers. Certainly, PC-based software does require ports to be opened, presenting a potential weak spot. But, as the industry points out, VoIP from a security point of view is as safe as the network it sits on and represents no greater a risk than any other activity we do online today.
If you need help weighing up the pros and cons of each type of internet telephony service, see this guide below:
| |
PROS |
CONS |
Carrier-based VoIP
e.g. Vonage |
No need to turn on computer |
Needs an Ethernet router. USB modems are unsuitable |
| |
Free calls to other service users anywhere in the world |
New telephone number |
| |
Fixed monthly subscription for UK landline calls |
Doesn’t support 999 calls |
| |
Low cost calls to international numbers and mobiles |
Set up fee. Takes around 5 working days to activate |
| |
Can be used with a normal phone handset |
Softphone for PC/laptops are extra |
| |
|
|
| |
PROS |
CONS |
PC-based VoIP
e.g. Skype |
USB modem compatible |
Needs computer to be switched on |
| |
Free calls to other Skype users |
Requires microphone headset or Skype-compatible handset |
| |
Free download, no set up fee |
Doesn’t support 999 calls |
| |
Low cost calls to UK landlines, international numbers and mobiles |
|
| |
Supports instant messaging and video-conferencing |
|
| |
Username not a number |
|
