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digg_url="http://voipguides.blogspot.com/2008/01/1-hour-of-free-calls-to-india.html";
Just when you thought Free Calls to India offers are almost over. We got some great tip from one of our visitor. Thanks to Nabeel for sharing with us a great way to make 1 hrs or even more free calls to india if you know how to crack it properly. Who's giving away this Offer? It's Rebtel. Don't rush to their site, its not on there :-) Its a secret offer in lieu of completing a survey about Rebtel Services. Once you complete the survey, they will issue you a code, which you need to apply in account and get free credits to call india totally free. Lets see how you can do this. 1) Go take the survey2) Did you get the code saying, Now you can make an hour of free Rebtel calls to India! How? Use this personal voucher code: 02630459928759XXXX. Just copy the code. Don't miss the code guys. 3) Now to go Rebtel4) click Add Credit5) enter voucher code, click redeemNow make free calls to India. Nabeel also reported that if you have multiple accounts, the same code should work good :-). So what are you waiting for Make Free Calls to India
Monday, March 31, 2008
Gizmo Project offering India Free Calls ?
(For full text with comments please click on the title)
digg_url="http://voipguides.blogspot.com/2008/01/gizmo-project-offering-india-free-calls.html";
It's been some time since we found something really good and FREE for India calls. Today, we are going to discuss about Gizmo Project. Back to back news on Gizmo guysGizmo Project is a popular VOIP service which offers 20 FREE minutes every week under its ALL FREE CALLS plan to over 30 countries. Our regular reader, Hardeep Singh has shared with us that Gizmo Project is now offering free calls to india. Now we did some investigation however got 2 contradicting evidences on this change. Hardeep found that India is included in the list of countries under the Free Calling plan. You can check the list here. This list indeed has India on its list, which should confirm that Gizmo Project offers free calls to india. However, take a look at their page on "All free calls plan". It doesn't have India on their list. We were not able to test the actual softphone to check whether India is included under the free calling plan or not. In order to test if India is included, You need to follow this guide.We would love to hear from you. Let us know what's cooking at Gizmo? Yeah and if you don't have Gizmo Project, it might be a good idea to download their latest built. You can use Gizmo on your PC, Mobile as Mobile VOIP or configure your Gizmo settings on your favorite VOIP ATA or SIP Phone.Edit: It's funny that till yesterday that page had India on the list. It suddenly disappeared from the list :-) To confirm that India was included on the list, I looked at Google cache of the page. Check the proof yourself.
digg_url="http://voipguides.blogspot.com/2008/01/gizmo-project-offering-india-free-calls.html";
It's been some time since we found something really good and FREE for India calls. Today, we are going to discuss about Gizmo Project. Back to back news on Gizmo guysGizmo Project is a popular VOIP service which offers 20 FREE minutes every week under its ALL FREE CALLS plan to over 30 countries. Our regular reader, Hardeep Singh has shared with us that Gizmo Project is now offering free calls to india. Now we did some investigation however got 2 contradicting evidences on this change. Hardeep found that India is included in the list of countries under the Free Calling plan. You can check the list here. This list indeed has India on its list, which should confirm that Gizmo Project offers free calls to india. However, take a look at their page on "All free calls plan". It doesn't have India on their list. We were not able to test the actual softphone to check whether India is included under the free calling plan or not. In order to test if India is included, You need to follow this guide.We would love to hear from you. Let us know what's cooking at Gizmo? Yeah and if you don't have Gizmo Project, it might be a good idea to download their latest built. You can use Gizmo on your PC, Mobile as Mobile VOIP or configure your Gizmo settings on your favorite VOIP ATA or SIP Phone.Edit: It's funny that till yesterday that page had India on the list. It suddenly disappeared from the list :-) To confirm that India was included on the list, I looked at Google cache of the page. Check the proof yourself.
Ether VOIP Hack for Free Calls
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digg_url="http://voipguides.blogspot.com/2008/03/ether-voip-hack-for-free-calls.html";
We just heard over at the Tipsity forums about a new service which will let you make free calls to many countries including UAE. All thanks to Satphoneguy for finding this new service. The service is run by AT & T and its called Ether. However don't get misleaded by their homepage. Ether is actually a paid to talk service, where experts can charge people to talk to them. Like for example, I can setup a account on Ether with the following description.Listing Name: VOIP ExpertTags: Setting up VOIP phone, SIP networks, Telephony, VOIPPricing Plan: Free until "*"; $0.01 per minute; RepeatThat means I can help you setup your VOIP at your home or business. If you want to contact me, just dial my ether number 1-888-MY-ETHER ext. 02703XXX. So consider you live in Michigan, have a old sunrocket gizmo and want to hook up a SIP service with that. However you have little or no knowledge about SIP or VOIP, of course you have no clue how Sunrocket Gizmo can be unlocked. There you need some expert help, so you can contact me and I will charge you 0.01 cents per minute. Ether takes 15% commission. Now this is all what Ether told you right. Now here is the ultimate hack to convert this to a totally Free Calling Haven. Lets see how we do it. 1) Go to Ether and register.2) Add a phone number. currently Ether offers about 20 odd countries. No India sorrry. UAE is accepted which is extremely surprising. 3) While you add a number, rememeber to chose the option, Allow customers to start the call for free. The rate below will begin when you press *. Now this is the hack. Remember this.4) Now Ether will assign you a extension number like 1-888-MY-ETHER ext. 02703XXX.5) If someone wants to talk to you, give them this number, 1-888-MY-ETHER (1-888-69-38437) and ask them to enter your extension at the prompt. 6) your call will be connected but remember dont press *, coz that will trigger the billing :-)Talk as much as you want, its all FREE. The only worry is it's a USA number, however they are various ways to call USA number for Free. You can use Earthcaller, icall or Truphone to make calls to that Ether number.Satphoneguy has tested the service have successfully called up UK Mobile, Germany and USA. UK Mobile is never given away for FREE. This is a great opportunity to use Ether to make free calls. Let us know where you made Free calls with this Ultimate new way.
digg_url="http://voipguides.blogspot.com/2008/03/ether-voip-hack-for-free-calls.html";
We just heard over at the Tipsity forums about a new service which will let you make free calls to many countries including UAE. All thanks to Satphoneguy for finding this new service. The service is run by AT & T and its called Ether. However don't get misleaded by their homepage. Ether is actually a paid to talk service, where experts can charge people to talk to them. Like for example, I can setup a account on Ether with the following description.Listing Name: VOIP ExpertTags: Setting up VOIP phone, SIP networks, Telephony, VOIPPricing Plan: Free until "*"; $0.01 per minute; RepeatThat means I can help you setup your VOIP at your home or business. If you want to contact me, just dial my ether number 1-888-MY-ETHER ext. 02703XXX. So consider you live in Michigan, have a old sunrocket gizmo and want to hook up a SIP service with that. However you have little or no knowledge about SIP or VOIP, of course you have no clue how Sunrocket Gizmo can be unlocked. There you need some expert help, so you can contact me and I will charge you 0.01 cents per minute. Ether takes 15% commission. Now this is all what Ether told you right. Now here is the ultimate hack to convert this to a totally Free Calling Haven. Lets see how we do it. 1) Go to Ether and register.2) Add a phone number. currently Ether offers about 20 odd countries. No India sorrry. UAE is accepted which is extremely surprising. 3) While you add a number, rememeber to chose the option, Allow customers to start the call for free. The rate below will begin when you press *. Now this is the hack. Remember this.4) Now Ether will assign you a extension number like 1-888-MY-ETHER ext. 02703XXX.5) If someone wants to talk to you, give them this number, 1-888-MY-ETHER (1-888-69-38437) and ask them to enter your extension at the prompt. 6) your call will be connected but remember dont press *, coz that will trigger the billing :-)Talk as much as you want, its all FREE. The only worry is it's a USA number, however they are various ways to call USA number for Free. You can use Earthcaller, icall or Truphone to make calls to that Ether number.Satphoneguy has tested the service have successfully called up UK Mobile, Germany and USA. UK Mobile is never given away for FREE. This is a great opportunity to use Ether to make free calls. Let us know where you made Free calls with this Ultimate new way.
How to use Flashphone and Nonoh for free calls
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We discussed about Flashphone last week and how they restarted their "free calls" service. Unfortunately the service somehow never worked for anyone. We told Flasphone team about this bug and waiting for them to update us on this. In the mean time, Flashphone team has shared with us a video tutorial to use Flashphone with Nonoh to make free calls.Here is the video tutorial :The video unfortunately doesn't have audio enabled (only occasional). However its pretty much self-explanatory. To quickly summarise, I am putting down some key steps. 1) You need to register at Flashphone2) You need to then visit your Flashphone account Manager.3) Now Add Nonoh SIP account details. Nonoh SIP server: sip.nonoh.net. Use your Nonoh username and password.4) Once added, you would see a new SIP provider profile in account page.5) Now go back to flashphone homepage and login.6) Flash phone will launch. Enter your number and make calls. Note: Nonoh calling rates will apply. Please check nonoh fair usage policy if you exceed free calls limit.On a sidenote, you can achieve the same thing with Tringme and Gtalk2voip. Both works absolutely similar to Flashphone. In gtalk2voip, you can even set dialing pattern for each country. Hope you enjoy the Flashphone Tutorial. If you have any suggestions, Please drop under comments. Flashphone team visit VOIP Guide often and should be more than happy to implement some of them.
We discussed about Flashphone last week and how they restarted their "free calls" service. Unfortunately the service somehow never worked for anyone. We told Flasphone team about this bug and waiting for them to update us on this. In the mean time, Flashphone team has shared with us a video tutorial to use Flashphone with Nonoh to make free calls.Here is the video tutorial :The video unfortunately doesn't have audio enabled (only occasional). However its pretty much self-explanatory. To quickly summarise, I am putting down some key steps. 1) You need to register at Flashphone2) You need to then visit your Flashphone account Manager.3) Now Add Nonoh SIP account details. Nonoh SIP server: sip.nonoh.net. Use your Nonoh username and password.4) Once added, you would see a new SIP provider profile in account page.5) Now go back to flashphone homepage and login.6) Flash phone will launch. Enter your number and make calls. Note: Nonoh calling rates will apply. Please check nonoh fair usage policy if you exceed free calls limit.On a sidenote, you can achieve the same thing with Tringme and Gtalk2voip. Both works absolutely similar to Flashphone. In gtalk2voip, you can even set dialing pattern for each country. Hope you enjoy the Flashphone Tutorial. If you have any suggestions, Please drop under comments. Flashphone team visit VOIP Guide often and should be more than happy to implement some of them.
CallEasy offer cheap long distance calls
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VOIP and Long distance calling market is currently experiencing massive competition and rate cuts. Of course, its a good news for consumers. Today, we look at a new provider offering almost 3 cents per minute to india. Thanks to Ramesh Kumar from Bangkok. A quick plug before we start, this is the first article we received for 5000 minutes giveway competition. If you haven't already participated, we suggest you try your luck. CallEasy (Ramesh says its a new betamax service) is a new International Long Distance Service which offers extremely cheap calling rates to many countries including India. However we highly doubt that Calleasy is a Betamax product. There are a few big mismatches between CallEasy and other betamax services. You can notice CallEasy has a contact page, which also has a way to contact their customer service, a rare feat for Betamax :-)Moving on, CallEasy offers Phone to Phone and Web calling services. They currently do not offer any VOIP softphone to download. Phone to Phone services work via their access numbers in United Kingdom, Austria, Spain, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and Switzerland. Lets see how you can use CallEasy via access number.1)You need to register at Calleasy. Enter your mobile or landline number which you would use to make international calls.2)Call the local acces number for your country from your home number or mobile phone which was registered with calleasy and wait for the voice prompt.3)You can now enter any (international) number you want, and CallEasy connects your call (always use the international format for your calls, for instance 0044201234567 for a UK call).You can alternatively use their WebCall features, however each webcall has a connection fee of 5 cents per minute. CallEasy offers some cheap long distance call rates to many countries including india at 3.11 cents per minutes. Tringme offers around 3.99 per minute. These are the only cheapest options to call india at the moment.You can try Calleasy from as low as $5.
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VOIP and Long distance calling market is currently experiencing massive competition and rate cuts. Of course, its a good news for consumers. Today, we look at a new provider offering almost 3 cents per minute to india. Thanks to Ramesh Kumar from Bangkok. A quick plug before we start, this is the first article we received for 5000 minutes giveway competition. If you haven't already participated, we suggest you try your luck. CallEasy (Ramesh says its a new betamax service) is a new International Long Distance Service which offers extremely cheap calling rates to many countries including India. However we highly doubt that Calleasy is a Betamax product. There are a few big mismatches between CallEasy and other betamax services. You can notice CallEasy has a contact page, which also has a way to contact their customer service, a rare feat for Betamax :-)Moving on, CallEasy offers Phone to Phone and Web calling services. They currently do not offer any VOIP softphone to download. Phone to Phone services work via their access numbers in United Kingdom, Austria, Spain, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and Switzerland. Lets see how you can use CallEasy via access number.1)You need to register at Calleasy. Enter your mobile or landline number which you would use to make international calls.2)Call the local acces number for your country from your home number or mobile phone which was registered with calleasy and wait for the voice prompt.3)You can now enter any (international) number you want, and CallEasy connects your call (always use the international format for your calls, for instance 0044201234567 for a UK call).You can alternatively use their WebCall features, however each webcall has a connection fee of 5 cents per minute. CallEasy offers some cheap long distance call rates to many countries including india at 3.11 cents per minutes. Tringme offers around 3.99 per minute. These are the only cheapest options to call india at the moment.You can try Calleasy from as low as $5.
Ring Branch PBX system makes US calling virtually free
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We discuss about an existing service called RingBranch in February. It wasn't even launched when we found them. However now they seem to have found a great new way to make USA calling totally free.If you have been using Grandcentral, you would love RingBranch. Ring Branch is actually a PBX auto attendant service, one of its kinds. You might compare Grandcentral with RingBranch but i would qualify RingBranch as an extension of Grandcentral with more power features available totally FREE with RingBranch.Allen from RingBranch has shared a great story with us. Its actually an workaround. We are extremely happy to see mainstream companies are using workarounds to provide FREE service to consumers :-)Lets move on. did you hear about Gizmo5's backdoor dialing method. If not read that post. Gizmo 5 basically offers free phone calls through backdoor dialing which currently covers about 11% of USA phones, so technically you can call these phones for free from anywhere in the world. However what about the rest of the 89% people? Thank god we have Ring Branch for the rescue. You can use ring Branch's number for Gizmo5 and PBX it to your number which is eligible for backdoor dialing. I suppose its confusing so lets look at an example. Thanks to allen for putting up this explanation.1) Assume Jack here in the US wants to receive a Backdoor call on his mobile phone from his cousin Ivan in Turkey.2) Assume Jack's mobile number is 713-555-1212 (just a sample number, please don't call lol)3) From Gizmo5, Ivan places the call to Jack's mobile at 01017135551212 (note the 0101 prefix which is necessary to place a Backdoor call).4) Upon making the call, Ivan is notified that the number he is trying to call is not available for free calling at this time. Darn it. But wait, we can help!5) Jack signs up for RingBranch and is given a RingBranch phone number such as 678-717-0000 (just a sample number). From within RingBranch, Jack designates that all calls to his RingBranch number should ring through to his mobile phone.6) Ivan now calls Jack on his RingBranch number at 01016787170000. And, moments later, Jack's mobile phone rings and he and Ivan are connected. The call to Jack that was previously ineligible for Backdoor dialing is now eligilble, allowing free calling from Ivan in Turkey to Jack in the US.Bingo! you just discoved a legal way to call almost any phone in the USA from free from anywhere in the world. All in all, great idea by Ring Branch and we strongly suggest you give Ring Branch a try. We are confident you would be hooked to their great free pbx service.
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We discuss about an existing service called RingBranch in February. It wasn't even launched when we found them. However now they seem to have found a great new way to make USA calling totally free.If you have been using Grandcentral, you would love RingBranch. Ring Branch is actually a PBX auto attendant service, one of its kinds. You might compare Grandcentral with RingBranch but i would qualify RingBranch as an extension of Grandcentral with more power features available totally FREE with RingBranch.Allen from RingBranch has shared a great story with us. Its actually an workaround. We are extremely happy to see mainstream companies are using workarounds to provide FREE service to consumers :-)Lets move on. did you hear about Gizmo5's backdoor dialing method. If not read that post. Gizmo 5 basically offers free phone calls through backdoor dialing which currently covers about 11% of USA phones, so technically you can call these phones for free from anywhere in the world. However what about the rest of the 89% people? Thank god we have Ring Branch for the rescue. You can use ring Branch's number for Gizmo5 and PBX it to your number which is eligible for backdoor dialing. I suppose its confusing so lets look at an example. Thanks to allen for putting up this explanation.1) Assume Jack here in the US wants to receive a Backdoor call on his mobile phone from his cousin Ivan in Turkey.2) Assume Jack's mobile number is 713-555-1212 (just a sample number, please don't call lol)3) From Gizmo5, Ivan places the call to Jack's mobile at 01017135551212 (note the 0101 prefix which is necessary to place a Backdoor call).4) Upon making the call, Ivan is notified that the number he is trying to call is not available for free calling at this time. Darn it. But wait, we can help!5) Jack signs up for RingBranch and is given a RingBranch phone number such as 678-717-0000 (just a sample number). From within RingBranch, Jack designates that all calls to his RingBranch number should ring through to his mobile phone.6) Ivan now calls Jack on his RingBranch number at 01016787170000. And, moments later, Jack's mobile phone rings and he and Ivan are connected. The call to Jack that was previously ineligible for Backdoor dialing is now eligilble, allowing free calling from Ivan in Turkey to Jack in the US.Bingo! you just discoved a legal way to call almost any phone in the USA from free from anywhere in the world. All in all, great idea by Ring Branch and we strongly suggest you give Ring Branch a try. We are confident you would be hooked to their great free pbx service.
Mind Caller VOIP offers Free Voice Calling Broadcast
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We have seen many interesting VOIP startups this year however this one is kinda one-off VOIP service. Thanks to Rohin adalja for sending over this article for the 5000 minutes giveaway competition. The contest is really heating up with over 50 people contesting for Free Phone Card giveway. I am still to see some action in the VOIP Guide Video Tutorial contest.Moving on, the service we are discussing today is called Mind Caller. Don't go by the name, its actually a free calling service for USA and Canada. The business model is however a bit confusing. They mention that they offer free calls to anyone in USA and canada however its actually a conference bridge for Voice Broadcast. You can anonymously send Voice Broadcast to n number of people in USA and Canada all at once. You don't have to talk to 10 people or hold a conference call. Just record your message, put the recipient number and enter your email address and send. Bingo! Your voice broadcast will be sent to receipients mobile number as Voicemail ( we guessed that).One of the things primarily lack in Mind Caller is the information to explain how do they operate is lacking. Why did they say they offer free calls to USA/Canada? When i sent that voice broadcast, can I talk to the recipient for free? These questions remains unanswered. MindCaller can be easily categorised as VOIP 2.0 startup without any serious business model. I hope mindcaller guys read this and post some followup answers to my questions.
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We have seen many interesting VOIP startups this year however this one is kinda one-off VOIP service. Thanks to Rohin adalja for sending over this article for the 5000 minutes giveaway competition. The contest is really heating up with over 50 people contesting for Free Phone Card giveway. I am still to see some action in the VOIP Guide Video Tutorial contest.Moving on, the service we are discussing today is called Mind Caller. Don't go by the name, its actually a free calling service for USA and Canada. The business model is however a bit confusing. They mention that they offer free calls to anyone in USA and canada however its actually a conference bridge for Voice Broadcast. You can anonymously send Voice Broadcast to n number of people in USA and Canada all at once. You don't have to talk to 10 people or hold a conference call. Just record your message, put the recipient number and enter your email address and send. Bingo! Your voice broadcast will be sent to receipients mobile number as Voicemail ( we guessed that).One of the things primarily lack in Mind Caller is the information to explain how do they operate is lacking. Why did they say they offer free calls to USA/Canada? When i sent that voice broadcast, can I talk to the recipient for free? These questions remains unanswered. MindCaller can be easily categorised as VOIP 2.0 startup without any serious business model. I hope mindcaller guys read this and post some followup answers to my questions.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
How VoIP / Internet Voice Works
VoIP services convert your voice into a digital signal that travels over the Internet. If you are calling a regular phone number, the signal is converted to a regular telephone signal before it reaches the destination. VoIP can allow you to make a call directly from a computer, a special VoIP phone, or a traditional phone connected to a special adapter. In addition, wireless "hot spots" in locations such as airports, parks, and cafes allow you to connect to the Internet and may enable you to use VoIP service wirelessly.
Adv & Disadv
What Are Some Advantages of VoIP?
Some VoIP services offer features and services that are not available with a traditional phone, or are available but only for an additional fee. You may also be able to avoid paying for both a broadband connection and a traditional telephone line.
What Are Some disadvantages of VoIP?
If you're considering replacing your traditional telephone service with VoIP, there are some possible differences:
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Some VoIP services don't work during power outages and the service provider may not offer backup power.
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Not all VoIP services connect directly to emergency services through 9-1-1. For additional information, see www.voip911.gov.
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VoIP providers may or may not offer directory assistance/white page listings.
If I have VoIP service, who can I call?
If I have VoIP service, who can I call?
Depending upon your service, you might be limited only to other subscribers to the service, or you may be able to call anyone who has a telephone number - including local, long distance, mobile, and international numbers. If you are calling someone who has a regular analog phone, that person does not need any special equipment to talk to you. Some VoIP services may allow you to speak with more than one person at a time.
Depending upon your service, you might be limited only to other subscribers to the service, or you may be able to call anyone who has a telephone number - including local, long distance, mobile, and international numbers. If you are calling someone who has a regular analog phone, that person does not need any special equipment to talk to you. Some VoIP services may allow you to speak with more than one person at a time.
Is there a difference between making a Local Call and a Long Distance Call?
Some VoIP providers offer their services for free, normally only for calls to other subscribers to the service. Your VoIP provider may permit you to select an area code different from the area in which you live. It also means that people who call you may incur long distance charges depending on their area code and service.
Some VoIP providers charge for a long distance call to a number outside your calling area, similar to existing, traditional wireline telephone service. Other VoIP providers permit you to call anywhere at a flat rate for a fixed number of minutes.
What Kind of Equipment Do I Need?
A broadband (high speed Internet) connection is required. This can be through a cable modem, or high speed services such as DSL or a local area network. A computer, adaptor, or specialized phone is required. Some VoIP services only work over your computer or a special VoIP phone, while other services allow you to use a traditional phone connected to a VoIP adapter. If you use your computer, you will need some software and an inexpensive microphone. Special VoIP phones plug directly into your broadband connection and operate largely like a traditional telephone. If you use a telephone with a VoIP adapter, you'll be able to dial just as you always have, and the service provider may also provide a dial tone.
How to hook up VoIP?
to hook up VoIP?
-Call Forwarding (up to 3 numbers-follow me)
-Call Waiting
-Call Blocking
-Call Return
-Enhanced Voicemail (receive voicemail traditional way and by email)
-Private Number, if you would like
-Auto Call Back
-Speed Dialing
-Caller ID
-Personal Control Panel (call log, fax, billing info, call fwd, etc.)
-E-Faxing (receive faxes to your email without even having a fax machine)
-Unlimited Calling Local, Long Distance, and Canada
-3-Way Conferencing
-7 digit dialing with your area code
-Take your VoIP box with you anywhere in the world and receive phone calls just like if you were home!!
-Free calls to all other NexBoom customers - worldwide!
VoWLAN
VoWLAN- (Voice over Wireless LAN) is the use of a wireless broadband network for the purpose of voice conversation. It’s just like VoIP but over a Wi-Fi network. VoWLAN can be conducted over any internet accessible device, including a Laptop, PDA or the new VoWLAN units which look and function like Cell Phone / Mobile Phone. VoWLAN's major advantages to consumers are cheaper local and international calls, free calls to other VoWLAN units and a simplified integrated billing of both phone and Internet service providers.
Although VoWLAN and 3G have certain feature similarities, VoWLAN is different in the sense that it uses a wireless internet network (typically on 802.11x) rather than a Cell Phone network. Both VoWLAN and 3G are used in different ways.
For example, a company with fixed warehouses or locations would take advantage of their existing Wi-Fi network and use VoIP - (VoWLAN) for employees to communicate each other.
Non-VoWLAN Solution: Another example would be a company that has mobile workers very much like the FedEx delivery person or the CocaCola delivery driver who delivers goods to a store. These workers need to take advantage of 3G type services whereby a cellular company (such like Cingular, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint/Nextel) provide data access between the handheld device (Cell Phone / Mobile Phone) and the companies back-end network.
Mobile VoIP
Mobile VoIP - (Mobile Voice over Internet Protocol) is the application of voice over IP technology to mobile devices (PDA, Pocket PC or Smartphone).
Mobile VoIP requires a mobile handset that supports, at minimum, high speed IP communications. Most commonly this is using Voice over Wi-Fi or VoWiFi, but the same protocols typically SIP or Jabber can be used over any broadband IP-capable wireless network connection such as the various 3G standards, EVDO rev A. (which is synchronously high speed - both high speed up and down), HSDPA or potentially WiMax.
Mobile VoIP will require a compromise between economy and mobility. For example, Voice over Wi-Fi offers free service but is only available within the coverage area of the Wi-Fi Access Point. High speed services from mobile operators using EVDO rev A. or HSPDA with probably have better audio quality and capabilities for metropolitan-wide coverage including fast handoffs from mobile base station to another, yet it will cost more than the typical Wi-Fi based VoIP service.
Mobile VoIP will become an important service in the coming years as device manufacturers exploit more powerful processors and less costly memory to meet the users' needs for ever-more power in your pocket. Smartphone in mid-2006 are capable of sending and receiving email, browse the web and in some cases watch TV.
The challenge for the mobile operator industry is to deliver the benefits and innovations of IP without losing control of the network service. Users like the Internet to be free and high speed without extra charges for visiting specific sites versus other sites. Delivering mobile VoIP is a service that challenges the most valuable service in the telecommunications industry – Voice. The opportunities, threatens and pace of innovation in the global communications industry.
There are three main technologies used for mobile VoIP:
- UMA - The Unlicensed Mobile Access Generic Access Network, designed to allow VoIP to run over the GSM cellular backbone
- SIP - The standard used by most VoIP services, and now being implemented on mobile handsets
- Skype Protocol - a proprietary modified version of Jabber
Mobile VoIP took a significant step forward in the summer of 2006 when Nokia included not only a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) stack but a VoIP client in their new E-series dual-mode WiFi handsets (E60, E61, E70). Theses E-series handsets are intended for business users, but Nokia have announced they will release a consumer handset, the N80 Internet edition, in November 2006.
Motorola Mobile Devices and Sony Ericsson have also announced their intention to support VoIP in the future.
Skype are offering their service as a beta trial on certain Windows Mobile devices, and are developing for the Symbian platform.
The Voice on the Net Coalition
The Voice on the Net or VON Coalition is the voice for Internet voice innovation and the policy framework that enables it. The coalition believes that Americans are fundamentally better off with a generally hands off regulatory approach to Internet and Internet based services like VoIP. Since its inception, the VON Coalition has consistently advocated that federal and state regulators maintain current policies of refraining from extending legacy regulations to Internet services, including VoIP. The coalition consists of leading VoIP companies, on the cutting edge of developing and delivering voice innovations over Internet and includes Acceris, AccessLine, AT&T, BMX, BT Americas, CallSmart, Convedia, Covad, Earthlink, IceNet, iBasis, Intel, Intrado, Level 3, MCI, Microsoft, MobilePro, Multi-Link, New Global Telecom, PointOne, Pulver.com, Skype, T-Mobile USA, Teleglobe, Texas Instruments, USA Datanet, VocalData, and Voiceglo. More information about the VON Coalition including how to join can be obtained at the following website: http://www.von.org
Government regulation and public policy will have detrimental impact on our industry unless we influence its direction. Unfortunately, most VON companies don't have the resources or know-how to influence elected representatives and government agencies. Since founded in 1996 by Jeff Pulver, the VON Coalition has established an influential position with policymakers positively impacting regulatory direction and educating members on strategic business issues.
See Launch: New Industry Coalition Seeks Policies to Allow Promise of VoIP press release
See VON Whitepaper: Unleashing the Full Promise and Potential of Internet Voice Communication at: http://www.von.org/usr_files/Whitepaper%20Final.pdf
See VON Coalition Release on FCC efforts to achieve the right regulatory framework for VoIP at: http://www.von.org/usr_files/IP%20Services%20NPRM.pdf
Intercepting VoIP Calls
Introduction
VOIP is an acronym for Voice Over Internet Protocol, or in more common terms phone service over the Internet.
If you have a reasonable quality Internet connection you can get phone service delivered through your Internet connection instead of from your local phone company.
Some people use VOIP in addition to their traditional phone service, since VOIP service providers usually offer lower rates than traditional phone companies, but sometimes doesn't offer 911 service, phone directory listings, 411 service, or other common phone services. While many VoIP providers offer these services, consistent industry-wide means of offering these are still developing.
If you have a reasonable quality Internet connection you can get phone service delivered through your Internet connection instead of from your local phone company.
Some people use VOIP in addition to their traditional phone service, since VOIP service providers usually offer lower rates than traditional phone companies, but sometimes doesn't offer 911 service, phone directory listings, 411 service, or other common phone services. While many VoIP providers offer these services, consistent industry-wide means of offering these are still developing.
How does VOIP work?
A way is required to turn analog phone signals into digital signals that can be sent over the Internet.
This function can either be included into the phone itself (See: VOIP Phones) or in a separate box like an ATA .
This function can either be included into the phone itself (See: VOIP Phones) or in a separate box like an ATA .
VOIP Using an ATA
Ordinary Phone ---- ATA ---- Ethernet ---- Router ---- Internet ---- VOIP Service Provider
VOIP using an IP Phone
IP Phone ----- Ethernet ----- Router ---- Internet ---- VOIP Service Provider
VOIP connecting directly
It is also possible to bypass a VOIP Service Provider and directly connect to another VOIP user. However, if the VOIP devices are behind NAT routers, there may be problems with approach.
IP Phone ----- Ethernet ----- Router ---- Internet ---- Router ---- Ethernet ---- IP Phone
IP Phone ----- Ethernet ----- Router ---- Internet ---- Router ---- Ethernet ---- IP Phone
Applications using VOIP
Traditional telephony applications, such as outbound call center applications and inbound IVR applications, normally can be run on VOIP.
Lower Cost
In general phone service via VOIP costs less than equivalent service from traditional sources. This is largely a function of traditional phone services either being monopolies or government entities. There are also some cost savings due to using a single network to carry voice and data. This is especially true when users have existing under-utilized network capacity that they can use for VOIP without any additional costs.
In the most extreme case, users see VOIP phone calls (even international) as FREE. While there is a cost for their Internet service, using VOIP over this service may not involve any extra charges, so the users view the calls as free. There are a number of services that have sprung up to facilitate this type of "free" VOIP call. Examples are: Free World Dialup and Skype for a more complete list see: VOIP Service Providers
In the most extreme case, users see VOIP phone calls (even international) as FREE. While there is a cost for their Internet service, using VOIP over this service may not involve any extra charges, so the users view the calls as free. There are a number of services that have sprung up to facilitate this type of "free" VOIP call. Examples are: Free World Dialup and Skype for a more complete list see: VOIP Service Providers
Increased Functionality
VOIP makes easy some things that are difficult to impossible with traditional phone networks.
- Incoming phone calls are automatically routed to your VOIP phone where ever you plug it into the network. Take your VOIP phone with you on a trip, and anywhere you connect it to the Internet, you can receive your incoming calls.
- Call center agents using VOIP phones can easily work from anywhere with a good Internet connection.
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