ZDNet UK


Skip to Main Content

  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Blogs
  4. Reviews
  5. Jobs
  6. Resources
  7. Community
  8. My ZDNet

 

ZDNet UK RSS Feeds


Office applications Toolkit

Voice over IP is finally coming into its own

Deb Shinder

Published: 04 Jun 2003 16:29 BST

  • Email
  • Trackback
  • Clip Link
  • Print friendly
  • Post Comment

VoIP services
Services, like software, run the gamut when it comes to cost. Free services, such as PhoneFree, which allows you to make free PC-to-PC audio or video calls, are geared toward consumers and often don't work behind a firewall.

There are a large number of companies offering business-grade VoIP services, such as ICG's VoicePipe. Another player, Vonage, offers both residential and small business plans with unlimited domestic long distance for $39.99 (£25) per month and low per-minute international rates. You will typically need special software and/or hardware, provided by the service provider, to use these services.

A VoIP service generally allows you to forego the steep upfront cost of investing in professional-grade software or hardware products, and since some services are available on a free trial basis, you can try them without risk. Using a service might be preferable if you don't have the onsite technical personnel to maintain hardware or troubleshoot software problems.

VoIP hardware devices
Hardware solutions tend to be the most costly way to implement VoIP, but they are often easier to configure than software solutions, and owning the hardware allows you more control than subscribing to an outside service. VoIP hardware devices generally include:


Some hardware devices may also require that special software be installed on the network (for example, many of Cisco's VoIP products require that Cisco's Call Manager software be installed). Many of the hardware devices are compatible with various VoIP services.

Tip
In addition to dedicated VoIP devices, some routers -- such as the Cisco 3600 series -- can be configured to transmit voice over the IP network.


Some devices do not require a computer on either end. For example, D-Link's i2eye video phone transmits both voice and video over a DSL or cable connection when you plug the device into a standard telephone and TV, using the H.323 standards (you need the same setup on both ends).

More improvements to come
Voice over IP is finally coming into its own. As transmission quality and reliability improve, managers should recognise the significant cost savings of using their Internet connections and IP-based LANs for voice communication instead of paying high Telco charges. The future promises more improvements, with newer, easier-to-use protocols such as SIP and wireless VoIP already gaining ground.

However, it's not easy to choose from all the VoIP solutions that are available -- and the situation promises to only get more difficult in the future as more and more software companies, hardware vendors, and service providers jump into the game.


More enterprise IT news in ZDNet UK's Tech Update Channel.

For a weekly round-up of the enterprise IT news, sign up for the Tech Update newsletter.

Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.

Next

Previous

1 2 3


  • Email
  • Trackback
  • Clip Link
  • Print friendlyPrint with Konica

Did you find this article useful?
229 out of 426 people found this useful



Company/Topic Alerts

Create a new alert from the list below:










Featured Talkback

In association with Intel
Why do so many (virtually all) software packages think that they are so important that they have to be started automatically every time the computer boots? What is the largest number of "speed access", "update check", "camera download" and whatever other background programs you have ever seen running? Of those, how many did you really need?

By: J.A. Watson

Read full story:
Annoying software: a rogues' gallery

Discussions

thinkfeeldo thinkfeeldo

I've said it before and I'll...

Wednesday 3 December 2008, 12:09 AM

8 comments
roger andre roger andre

Dinasours hanging on

Tuesday 2 December 2008, 11:01 PM

8 comments

Vista Upgrade Blog

OS Scratch Load Times

I reload the operating systems on my laptops quite frequently. On the Linux side, it is because I am trying various distributions, while on the Windows side it is more often because... More

3 comments

Wireless Networking - Linksys WRT350N...

Ok, this is driving me crazy. Why does this not work? I have a Linksys WRT350N Wireless-N router, and a laptop with an Intel 4965AGN Wireless Network Interface. When I am running... More

5 comments

Software Jihad part 2

I guess the point of my previous post (read rant if you want) was that Microsoft makes a lot of noise of "protecting" their IP but in reality they are only paying lip-service to it... More

3 comments