Anyone use any of the VOIP out there?

Question

Can you give me pros and cons to using them?

Answer 1

I have friends in the USA, who are using the voip service which is operated by the telephone company I use here in the UK, and they say it is fantastic, especially as some of them have video phones, and it is said that a picture paints a hundred words.

I am hoping that the service will be here soon, but I have seen the quality of it in the US, and it is excellent, plus the fact that all calls using it in the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico and Hawaii are free.

If you would like to know more then email me and I will give you a web site address where you can get all the info.

Answer 2

Pros:

Save lots of money...

When it works, people love it...

Cons:

It works... or it doesn't.

Some people hate it.... because they have lots of problems...

VoIP uses the Internet to transport your voice.  So, you need all the usual Internet equipment, such as Internet Modem, Router, ATA (analog telephone adapter).  Some people have technical problems with their systems setup and configurations and thus, don't like all the hassles...

Me....  I like all that technical stuff, and fix my own problems so I don't have to waste hours on the phone trying to talk to a customer service rep that speaks half-English/half-something else language I don't understand...

I use InPhonex and CallCentric as my VoIP providers (links through my profile)

If you want to save lots of money on phone calling services, And, like fiddling with high-tech gadgets.... go for it.  

But, if you have a low tolerance for tech problems.... or, get an uneasy feeling in your stomach not knowing if your 911 call will get through or not..... you may not be ready, just yet, for the uncertainties of VoIP....

All that said, I use InPhonex as my primary VoIp provider (link through my profile).

InPhonex Liteline only costs $7.95/month.

I am very satisfied with InPhonex service.

P.S.

Vonage, Packet8, InPhonex, MagicJack, Skype and EchoLink are all VoIP.  They are not "protocols", they are services.  Vonage, Packet8, MagicJack, InPhonex are all SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) based VoIP services.

Skype uses a proprietary protocol and has not publicly announced what protocols they use to transport VoIP signals.

But, in reality, the protocol is irrelevant in relation to the voice quality of service.  The CODEC used to Encode and Decode the VoiP signals determines the voice quality, for the most part (and Internet quality).  And, most VoIP services use same or similar codecs, depending on the bandwidth they want to optimize their services for.  The protocols and Codecs used by a VoIP service have very little to do with "how good a service provider is"... it is just the technology they choose to use.  Your hardware equipment, and the Internet, will determine your VoiP quality more than the VoIP service provider you choose...

Answer 3

I use Packet8 for my main home-phone, I get 40 counties free with my service! I use it for 5 years now...

I also use the MagicJack since last year, I take it with me while traveling...!

I still use skype for the rest of the world, everyone in the world uses skype....!

for my younger family and friend I use voice.yahoo.com with the web-cam.....so we can see each other...lots of fun!!

you will  love it or hate it........it will work fine, or you will have lots of problems......nothing in between....!

Answer 4

hello you ok ?

i have 2 voip phone numbers here that i use quite frequently.

but the reason i use voip is because its cheaper and also a lot clearer too about 98% of the time.

weather conditions can affect voip services very dramatically sometimes.

the cons with voip are that if you experience a power cut then you cant exactly use it.

you can get round this problem by purchasing an uninterruptable power supply but they can be expensive.

iam going to post you a few links below so you can see how my voip is configured if your curious.

everything is also configured through my network that i personally built myself 6 months ago.

http://www.freespeech.co.uk/

http://www.yealink.com/skypemate/prodeta...

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/pa...

there is also a program called skypemate thats very usefull as well and effectively aids voip performance if configured correctly too.

the usb telbox and the phone iam using work very well together and produce excellent results too.

the voip phone company iam a member of has an easy setup routine and all you need is to credit your account with £5.00.

this voip service will only work in the uk and ireland.

i suggest you give voip a try you might like it a lot.

theres also the im services like yahoo and windows live offering voip services too.

you dont have to signup with a certain company the choice is yours just do some research and you will see a service your interested in like i did.

good luck and happy computing everyone.

bluetooth wizard1[christopher.]

Answer 5

There is a Vonage and Skype Killer out there called magic Jack,

You pay $39.95 for the USB device plug your regular house phone into it and make calls free in the US and Canada and very cheap for other countries.

There is no monthly charges like vonage or the other VOIP plans. the Second year and every year after you pay only $19 anually .. yes I said annually.

I bought one at http://www.Kingdirect.com and it works beautifully and the sound quality is just like my regular phone I cant tell the difference. that your best bet.

The only draw back is if you shut down your system (router and all) the phone goes out too. But its that way with all Voip companies.

They counter this by having the calls that come in the route to another phone like your cell phone.

BTW, you get all the other free stuff too .. caller id, call waiting, voice mail, call forwarding, follow me calling, and a free phone number any where in the US and canada .. how can anyone beat that ? amazing

Answer 6

it depens on what protocal you r using...skyp....vonage...or yahoo voice chat.  i  personaly use voip  ....voice over internet protocall ..for a program called  ..echolink..  where ham radio operators all over the world connect there radios and towers to pc and transmit voice  thousands of miles away for just general chat ....or emergecy use for ..red cross...f.e.m.a.   or emergency comms for  police and fire  in a disaster area  those are the pros the con  is that when dealing with a viop you have to choose what u want to do with it  and if it is going to do what you want   not everone  uses it      good luck