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All About VoIP |
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| Yikes,
another acronym! You might like this one, though, because it can
save you money – a lot of money, in fact. VoIP stands for
Voice over Internet Protocol, and it lets you use your internet
connection instead of your phone to call people. That means free
access anywhere in the world – no more long distance charges! That’s enough information for many people, and use of VoIP services is on the rise. Some people are even getting rid of their home phones completely. Why pay for telephone line rentals and charges when you can use your internet service instead? And you can even see the person you’re talking to – all for the price of a cheap webcam. But wait, there’s a catch. Several, actually. Not all VoIP is free. While it’s true that you can use a VoIP service like Skype to call anywhere in the world, it’s only free if the person you’re calling is also using Skype. If you need to call a land line or cell phone, charges apply. In fact, most VoIP providers don’t offer free service – instead, they charge monthly rates. But let’s suppose you choose a provider like Skype, and you get most of your family, friends, and business associates to sign up for Skype identities as well. For those rare times that you need to call someone who doesn’t use Skype, the fees are affordable. It’s all clear sailing, right? Well… yes and no. Depending on where the land line or cell phone is, the cost per minute can indeed be quite reasonable. Or not. Read the rate sheet carefully - some fees are over $1 per minute. But really, that’s just number-crunching. You can easily figure out the best deal for you with a bit of research on the internet. Here’s the most critical flaw with VoIP services, though: Emergency calling. Not all providers are hooked into the 911 system; for example, Skype is not. They clearly state on their website: “Skype is not a replacement for your ordinary telephone and can't be used for emergency calling.” So, back to the providers who charge a monthly fee: some of them specifically say they offer 911 services. Some don’t mention it at all – check the fine print. But the problem is that if your internet service is down, you can’t call 911 even if you’ve paid for the service. Also, because VoIP service isn’t tied to an address like a land line, you must remember to update your records if you move. In a recent case, parents called 911 through their VoIP system, and were connected through a 911 operator. Unfortunately, their current address wasn’t on file, and an ambulance was dispatched to their old address 3 provinces away. The subsequent delay cost the life of a child. A tragic, isolated case, certainly. But it underscores the need to be cautious about a wholesale switch from phone to VoIP. So the bottom line is: if you regularly make long-distance calls, VoIP can save you a bundle of money. And you can have the enjoyment of talking to (and seeing) loved ones as often as you want, for as long as you want. But be cautious about making a complete switch – the cost could be more than you bargained for. By: Diane Henders, Bright Ideas Personalized Learning Inc. For more information or computer training services, please call Bright Ideas Personalized Learning at (403) 269-2347. |
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