Things to know about VoIP Phones
February 20, 2010
As technology grows day by day, new innovations are filling the market. VoIP phone is the latest innovation in phone industry which has become popular among the people as it offers tremendous benefits than other traditional phones. If you are a person, who wants to utilize the latest technology in everything and lead your life simple, read the article further which may offer useful information about VoIP Phones.
Some buying tips
Numerous models of VoIP phones are available in market. But the problem is that you may not have an idea to choose a right one. Here we are giving some useful tips for the same.
• Choice of Display
Display of VoIP phones come in a variety of sizes like large, small and medium. If you expect more than that, you can get it. Display measurement varies from 100 to 100s pixels wide. You can get distinct heights of display starts from 20 to 200 pixels tall. Select a size which fulfils your needs.
• Requirement of phone lines
These phones are designed to support more than one phone lines. Need of the number of phone lines must be decided first. If you a fast moving executive who is always chased by more persons to talk with, it’s advisable to choose a VoIP handset which support 4 or 6 phone lines. On the other hand, if you are a person who rarely attends business calls, then you may choose a VoIP phone with limited phone lines compatibility.
• Expectation towards call quality
If you are in need of HD level call quality in your set, choose a VoIP which allows this option. This HD level call quality offers much better clarity of voice on the other side. Before a decade you might have spend huge amount for getting this HD call quality in any phones. There is no huge difference in prices between HD and non-HD phones nowadays.
• Need of Backlit LCD
Backlit LCD display is an advantageous feature which adds impressive look.
• Headset Support
People hate to keep phones in hand talking. Therefore VoIP phones have been made with headset compatibility which allows attending hands-free calls.
• Overall compatibilities
Apart from above explained features, some additional qualities are also offered in premium model VoIP phones. Some of them are 3-way calling, speakerphone and call waiting. XHTML supported micro browsers are integrated in very latest models. If you are strict in need of specific features, check whether they are listed on the data sheet of the VoIP phone that you have chosen. Take required time for evaluating each and every feature, and then make a final selection of right VoIP phone.
Things to know about VoIP Softphones
February 19, 2010
A VoIP softphone is not a visible instrument and it is a piece of software required for placing calls from a PC to a phone over the internet. Unique benefit of these phones is that it allows users to access their VoIP service from any computer with high speed. Apart from that, you can save on your traditional telephone service as calls made by these Softphones are very cheap. Though you are in travel, you can use softphones by having a laptop.
Basic Options
It is possible to store your phone numbers even in online. Therefore you can utilize those phone numbers wherever you logon. These Softphones come with caller ID display. Some of them have many buttons to store phone numbers that you use frequently. You need to use your mouse or number keys in keyboard for accessing its keypad. It comes with ‘Off Hook’ button. Plenty of contact numbers can be stored in its phone books.
Phonebook
Some premium softphones come with sophisticated phone books. There you can store fax and work numbers separately with web addresses and personal information. Believe it or not, certain softphones have come with the ability to interface with existing address book software. This is essential for exporting or importing phone numbers between applications.
Stylish Interface and Skin customization
“Look and feel” of the phone interface has made wide difference. You can view the interface on the screen (similar to MS Word Dialogue Box) which is stylish and sleek. Even skins of those displays can be altered from plenty of interfaces. Not all VoIP providers allow you to use a softphone. If you want to have it, you need to download. Before that, you need to search what are all the available Softphones from your VoIP provider. Choose a softphone which is possible to be optimized by your VoIP provider. Then only your provider can support you at the time of facing problems if any while you use softphones.
Other Type of softphones
Certain softphones have appearance like your traditional telephone-type handset or headset. You can connect it to your PC using USB port. You may not see a display or keypad in this type. But it needs software to function and to handle VoIP protocols in PC. Check out softphone options offered to you from your VoIP service provider before making payment.
How to use VoIP with your mobile phone
August 7, 2009
The advancements in the technology and developments in mobile phones gave us the opportunity to stay connected with our loved ones living in other countries. They offered various plans including free night calls, and weekend calls. One of the main drawbacks faced by the mobile phones is the poor reception which resulted in the abrupt termination of the ongoing calls. However, with the latest VoIP technology you could make long distanced calls at low costs. There are a number of VoIP options before you which includes combining VoIP technology in your mobile phones. This service facilitates convenient operation, quality service and affordable call rates.
Three modes of VoIP service
ATA, IP phone, and computer-to-computer are the three different modes at which VoIP services are available. These services are commonly used and can be accessed from your home computer. Analogue telephone adapter or ATA allows you to connect the regular home telephone to your computer for using VoIP service by converting the analogue sound bits into digital data.
Internet protocol or IP are telephones exclusively designed to be used with VoIP service. It looks similar to any standard phones and the only difference is in the wiring making it VoIP compatible. Cordless IP phones are made available which offers flexibility in use.
Computer-to-computer VoIP is another mode wherein the service is attained by installing software offered by the provider. Long distance calls can me made through the computer and you can talk over the microphone which is hooked up to the machine. These different services excel in their own ways but only the mobile phones offers portability and enhanced flexibility to use. This is the very reason why VoIP mobile phones are gaining popularity.
VoIP cell phones a budget alternative
Portability is one factor which makes VoIP mobile phone exceptional. Apart from that it facilitates low cost communication. Paying a little, you could get more benefits out of this service. You can reap the benefits of features like free domestic calls, international calls at low rates, Caller ID, Call Waiting, 3-way Calling and more to list. This is in addition to the current monthly ISP charge, however when you add the monthly ISP charge and VoIP charges you get a figure less than the cost incurred by a traditional telephone service.
How does it works
VoIP mobile services offered by the provider charges a monthly fee other than the per-minute fee. VoIP mobile service is not suitable for people who use their mobile phones occasionally for making calls and who doesn’t use up or exceeds his allotted plan minutes. VoIP mobile phones are ideal for people using their mobile phones quiet often to make international calls and those who exceed their plan minutes. You might experience the drop in your service if the Internet connection is prone to outages.
VoIP is both affordable and portable. With the improvements in technologies, VoIP services will become very reliable and all the more affordable. Keep an eye of your mobile phone usage and if you exceed the bill quiet often then switching to a VoIP service plan is advisable. VoIP services are in its growing stages and there is much to be discovered.
Hosted PBX phone system with VoIP features
July 28, 2009
You can communicate between business associates and clients from any remote areas with the hosted PBX phone system which offers VoIP features, that too by using a single number. You can cut short on the telephone expenses as well.
The plus points
Multiple telephone connections are not required for a hosted PBX phone system with VoIP features. This comes as a major advantage. Another benefit of using this system is that you can make long distance calls at relatively low rates. On top of that you can actually carry out data and voice communication from a single network which will again cut the related expenses.
Options such as auto attendant, find me follow me call forwarding, fax to email, caller identity, voice mail, fax, call waiting, music on hold and many other features which you find in a expensive telephone systems.
Communicate with style
Extended customer support can be offered by these systems. The calls are received by auto attendant with recorded salutation messages. Options like dial by name, dial by extension are offered to its callers and then calls are directed to appropriate locations selected by the caller, in accordance to the numbers.
Every call can be attended with various supportive features. Find me follow me call forwarding feature enables the user to redirect the calls to alternative numbers if the calls are left unanswered. Callers can also leave messages. With these superior VoIP features you could enhance your credibility among the priced customers.
Affordable
Expensive PBX equipments need not be purchased in order to set up hosted PBX - business VoIP features. These are kept at the service provider’s location and through hosted server using high speed Internet connection or telephone network PBX services are provided. Since these PBX services are shared by many they can be used at affordable rates.
VoIP Gateways
July 26, 2009
VoIP equipment which utilises VoIP technology for the conversion of analogue voice streams to digital voice packets is known as VoIP gateways. Traditional telephones and PBX systems with Ethernet based networks and TDM networks (PSTN) are the Voice over IP gateways interfaces. With this the company can IP enable a legacy PBX system, existing telephone lines could be connected to a new VoIP system and at the same time calls can be made through PSTN by using VoIP phone system.
A number of VoIP gateways are available which include Analogue Voice over Internet Protocol Gateways and Digital VoIP Gateways.
Analogue Voice over Internet Protocol Gateways
Two different configurations, FXS and FXO are used by Analogue VoIP gateways. FXS Gateways are used for the connection between traditional telephones and VoIP system. In this case the FXS ports are used to plug traditional telephones and at the same time the gateways Ethernet port is used for the connection of the network. On the other hand FXO gateways are utilised for connecting VoIP system to POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) lines. FXO ports are used to plug POTS lines and in the same way gateway’s Ethernet port connects it to the network.
A number of configurations are seen in Analogue IP gateways. They range from 4 ports to 48 ports. You can even find combo analogue VoIP gateways with FXS and FXO ports.
Digital VoIP Gateways
T1, E1, J1 and BRI are the four different configurations used by Digital Voice over IP gateways.
T1 Gateways are used in North America, E1 Gateways are used in Europe, J1 Gateways are used in Japan and BRI gateways are used with ISDN service. Various configurations from a single channel to 32 channels are found in Digital IP gateways. Digital IP gateways come in combo that is T1/E1 or T1/E1/J1 configurations.
