What Are the Different Implementations of VoIP?

Many people hear the commercials, the prices, or the company's names, and yet if you ask, "who is the top VoIP provider in your area", most people are still confused on what Voip is. You can be told that VoIP is Voice Over Internet protocol, although that does not mean much to anyone. If you mention Vonage, Comcast digital voice, or the new Magic Jack, most people can tell you that they are phone companies, they can also tell you how much cheaper they are than company's like AT&T or Bellsouth. VoIP is how companies like Vonage and Magic Jack work. They send your voice over an Internet signal to a normal landline. The only real difference between companies like Vonage, Magic Jack and Comcast Digital voice, is the way they install their services in your home. They operate all the same way; however, Comcast uses a secure Internet instead of a public one. In theory someone could listen to your calls on a public VoIP system, although it is very unlikely.

While VoIP is not new, implementation of VoIP in a person's home is rare. For example while all jacks in the home can still work off VoIP, you are actually back feeding the signal to them from inside, instead of running a line from the outside in. VoIP also is making it more difficult for local phone companies to stay competitive. Local phone companies have spent billions of dollars updating all their networks to fiber optics, a system that runs widely of light. The phone companies then have to pass this cost on to its customers. Unfortunately for them and lucky for you VoIP companies don't have the same cost, and can offer you home phone service for a fraction of the cost. The negative side to VoIP is if you don't have an Internet signal or if your router loses packets, your phone stops working.

In conclusion VoIP stands to revitalize phone service; the sound quality of VoIP is often superior to that of a traditional landline. Security later on could start being a bigger issue for VoIP companies, although at this time there is not much need. VoIP initial hook up in your home is also easy enough that the majority of VoIP companies send out the equipment for the customers to install themselves. VoIP doesn't require a constant Internet connection so you don't have to be concerned with losing phone service; most Internet providers today keep a constant connection to their customers.