Most People are Aware of the Potential of VoIP to Save Money on Phone Calls

I do a lot of snooping around the question and answer sites like Yahoo Answers to find out what questions people are asking about broadband phone service. Even with all the advertising and television commercials, it seems, people have heard about VoIP, but still do not know what exactly it is, and how or if it can be useful. Most people are aware of the potential of VoIP to save money, phone calls, but do not know of the many different ways to use it.

What is VoIP?

The term VoIP is the acronym for Voice Over Internet Protocol. Some say as a word, voyp, while others, including myself, say as it is written, Vee-OH-I-pee. VoIP is a protocol that converts voice signals into digital format that can be transmitted over the Internet. Keep in mind that VoIP is not a service. It means to convert voice signals to the relaying voice messages over the Internet to use format. In all respects it is a technical term. I felt the need to clarify that, because most people believe that it is the service. But the VoIP to work you need a broadband Internet connection such as DSL or cable.

Using VoIP to the customer

To use VoIP with your computer you can use for free download client with built-in microphone or a headset or computer speakers and microphone. Most people have heard of Skype, a very popular VoIP client that lets you make free calls from your computer to other computers or Skype users. MSN or Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo Messenger, do the same thing: when you use Yahoo and MSN voice calls using VoIP. You can also make use of these services to mobile phones or landline phones, but usually for a fee. In general, only computer users calls are free.

Although the call using a VoIP client or cheap or free, it has its drawbacks, one of the largest, not everyone has Skype, MSN or Yahoo Messenger. Your contact information should be logged on to call them or call them for you. It is possible to get a phone number on your client, so that people can call from your home phone or cell phone, but it is not free, and you'll be on your computer if you want to take the call. Even if you have the voice or messages offline, it still cost you something.

Using VoIP, broadband phone service

You can use VoIP to make and receive phone calls around the world, just as you would with a landline phone. To do this, you will need a broadband Internet connection such as cable or DSL broadband phone service provider like Vonage or Packet8 phone and broadband router, you can connect a regular phone or a special broadband phone.

If you are using a router, you can connect only one phone in it. This creates a problem for people who need other phones connected to the line of the house. Solution is expandable base broadband phone. Expandable base broadband phones voip router is built into the phone, or base, can connect to many wireless phones throughout the home, eliminating the need for multiple outlets.