What is Voice over IP? For those of you puzzled by the buzz word these last few years, Voice over IP or VoIP is the ability to place phone calls over the Internet, usually through your computer either to another computer or to a land line.
There are many providers both free and some will cost you. I have used Gizmo’s for a few years to make my computer to computer calls for free around the world. I can also call land lines anywhere at a very cheap rate, currently one cent in the US and a little more elsewhere. Another system is Skype which offers almost everything Gizmo does.
There are also systems that support IP Telephone handsets. They resemble telephone sets but use your Internet connection. The most famous is Vonage although I am still not sold on the product, my friends have reported too many quirks.
Finally, it is important to note that Verizon and most Telcos have been rumored to using VoIP for years which they deny. However, more services have sprouted over the years such as the fifty dollars a month all you can call which I believe now is less. Do your research and save money on your calls, especially for businesses.
For more information, please go and read Tom’s Networking FAQ.
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