| The buzz surrounding Voice over IP technology | | | | |
| has been growing for quite some | | | | If I am buying the hardware, is it locked to |
| | | | your service or can I use it with other |
| time, but only recently has the notion of | | | | |
| ditching standard telephone service grown | | | | SIP service providers? |
| | | | |
| so compelling that companies like Skype can | | | | Do you offer a "Bring Your Own Device" |
| claim over 215 million downloads of | | | | calling plan? |
| | | | |
| its product. In this article, we'll explore | | | | Does the plan include a virtual phone number |
| the current offerings and help you make | | | | so anyone can call me? |
| | | | |
| wise choices while embarking on the VoIP | | | | Are all incoming calls free? |
| path.Let's start with vocabulary. The most | | | | |
| important and oft-repeated acronym you | | | | Can I receive incoming SIP calls by number |
| | | | and/or URLs?Make sure you understand any |
| must learn and understand in regards to | | | | contracts, fees, calling rates or |
| Voice over IP is SIP. SIP stands for Session | | | | restrictions before |
| | | | |
| | | | agreeing to service. There are numerous |
| Initiation Protocol, a well-established, | | | | service providers offering free and paid |
| open-standard protocol that is the glue to | | | | |
| | | | services. With a little bit of research, |
| the VoIP world. It allows a vast array of | | | | you'll find something ideal for your intended |
| services, software, and hardware to work | | | | |
| | | | |
| together to create flexible, feature-rich | | | | purpose.OPTIONSIf you're looking to stay on |
| calling solutions with many attractive | | | | your computer while having some room to grow, |
| | | | check |
| benefits. If it doesn't support SIP, you | | | | |
| shouldn't support them.WHAT DO I NEEDAt | | | | out Gizmo. Gizmo is an excellent, |
| minimum, you need a high-speed Internet | | | | cross-platform SIP softphone that works with |
| connection, a SIP phone number, and | | | | |
| | | | network services from SIPphone. In this |
| a softphone. A softphone is a software | | | | setup, you could add incoming virtual |
| version of an IP phone that lets you make | | | | |
| | | | phone numbers for $12/3 months or $35/year |
| calls using your computer.Some services, | | | | that will allow folks to call you. All |
| like Stanaphone and Gizmo, will provide you | | | | |
| with a softphone to use | | | | incoming calls are free to you and to the |
| | | | person dialing (as long as it isn't a long- |
| with their system. Most of these will only | | | | |
| let you configure SIP numbers that belong | | | | distance call, of course). They also |
| | | | maintains in major cities that users can |
| to their network. If you want to utilize | | | | dial, |
| multiple SIPs across different networks, your | | | | |
| | | | enter your SIP number, and then be connected |
| | | | to you free of charge. They also have |
| best option is to use X-Lite, a free | | | | |
| softphone from Counterpath (formerly known as | | | | decent outgoing rates for non-IP calls and |
| | | | sell making this a solution that scales |
| | | | |
| Xten Networks). With X-Lite, it appears you | | | | well for the average user. There's even an |
| can configure up to 9 different SIP | | | | Adium plugin available for you Mac users |
| | | | |
| numbers. Like Gizmo, X-Lite comes in Mac, | | | | out there.Stanaphone is a free service from |
| Windows, and PC versions.If you want to use | | | | hosting giant Intermedia that also provides |
| your existing phone, rather than a headset or | | | | you |
| microphone and | | | | |
| | | | with a free virtual phone number in the New |
| speakers, you'll need an analog phone | | | | York City area. You can also receive |
| adapter. Dedicated, SIP-compatible IP | | | | |
| | | | faxes sent to your virtual number in your |
| phones are also available. Wi-Fi IP phones | | | | email. Voice mail is also included. You |
| can be carried with you and used | | | | |
| | | | can also utilize a SIP phone adapter with |
| wherever there's a wireless Internet signal. | | | | the service, but you'll have to pay to make |
| There are also WiFi mobile phones | | | | |
| | | | outgoing calls to standard phone numbers. |
| available.You should also receive a SIP URL | | | | At 2.6 cents a minute for calls in the |
| which looks similar to an email address and | | | | |
| is a | | | | US, they're a bit more expensive than Gizmo |
| | | | SIPphone but the free virtual number |
| simple way to share your new contact | | | | |
| information. You can easily dial a SIP URL | | | | and fax receiving are nice bonuses although |
| in | | | | their service lacks in other features. |
| | | | |
| your softphone application or link to it | | | | Stanaphone has a softphone client for |
| from a web page. If you're using a hardware | | | | Windows and PocketPC, but Mac users can |
| | | | |
| phone, SIP Broker has a free service that | | | | also use CounterPath's X-Lite softphone with |
| can maps the SIP server names to short | | | | the service. The web site also says |
| | | | |
| numeric codes, allowing you to easily dial | | | | only Stanaphone to Stanaphone calls are |
| users on over 200 different services.WHAT CAN | | | | free, so you might be better off sticking |
| I DO WITH ITYou can make free calls to other | | | | |
| IP phone users worldwide. You can make calls | | | | with Gizmo and their flexible peering |
| to | | | | agreements.Free World Dialup offers SIP |
| | | | network services, but also has their own |
| traditional phone numbers or attach a local | | | | combination |
| phone number that routes to your SIP | | | | |
| | | | Video IP Phone / instant messaging program. |
| number, allowing regular phone users to call | | | | Within one program, you can make |
| you. If you travel, you can carry that | | | | |
| | | | SIP-based voice and video calls and chat |
| same phone number with you wherever there's | | | | with your friends whether they're on |
| an Internet connection, and the folks | | | | |
| | | | Yahoo, MSN, AOL, or ICQ. Their traditional |
| back home won't incur long-distance charges | | | | inbound and outbound calling service is |
| when they call you. Free voice mail, | | | | |
| | | | still in Beta and a bit more expensive than |
| too, and messages are delivered to your | | | | Gizmo. Their Communicator application |
| e-mail.In a business situation, you could | | | | |
| slash or eliminate your long-distance charges | | | | is also available for PC only, although many |
| by | | | | hardware devices will work with the |
| | | | |
| setting up free calling between remote or | | | | FWD SIP network.A number of service |
| international offices. Videoconferencing | | | | providers offer packages targeted towards |
| | | | specific kinds of |
| also becomes possible without dedicated line | | | | |
| charges. For the more adventurous, | | | | users. Broadvoice, for example, has |
| | | | unlimited worldwide plans starting at $19.95, |
| you could also setup a PBX. Asterisk is a | | | | |
| powerful, open-source PBX system with a | | | | |
| | | | while also offering a BYOD (Bring Your Own |
| feature list that can give any sized | | | | Device) plan at just $5.95 a month. |
| business the advantages of a full-fledged | | | | |
| digital | | | | TelePacket has plans that start at just |
| | | | $0.95 a month while Packet 8 has plans that |
| phone system.If you work in a scenario where | | | | |
| 2-way radios are utilized, DingoTel offers a | | | | target videoconferencing users at $19.95 a |
| product | | | | month.SUGGESTIONSIf you want to test the |
| | | | waters, I'd start with trying out Gizmo. |
| which can turn these in to VoIP | | | | It's a lightweight, |
| walkie-talkies while making use of the radios | | | | |
| full | | | | feature-rich softphone that also gets you |
| | | | service through SIPphone. They provide |
| reception range, sometimes up to 12 miles | | | | |
| depending on the model.For the | | | | local access numbers for non-VoIP users to |
| budget-conscious, with some services like | | | | call SIP numbers from traditional |
| Gizmo and SIPphone, standard | | | | |
| | | | phones, have many peering agreements with |
| phone users in major cities can dial a free | | | | other networks to keep you connected, |
| access number, enter your SIP number | | | | |
| | | | and support options like virtual phone |
| and speak to you via your IP phone. SIP | | | | numbers and offer low-cost rates on calls |
| Broker also maintains a few numbers which | | | | |
| | | | made to standard phones to give you a more |
| allow callers to dial SIP numbers on any of | | | | robust VoIP phone package when |
| their 220+ supported networks.It may seem | | | | |
| tedious, but programming the entire of | | | | you're ready.If you want to take the plunge, |
| sequence of numbers in to a | | | | check out Broadvoice or Packet 8, who offers |
| | | | E911 |
| phone's contacts directory is quite | | | | |
| straightforward. Just remember to insert | | | | service. They both offer robust feature |
| pauses | | | | sets, unlimited calling plans, inexpensive |
| | | | |
| to allow for the phone system's menu options | | | | virtual phone numbers, and have a good track |
| to respond. If your friends have free | | | | record of reliability and service.As for |
| | | | speaking and listening on any of these |
| long-distance calling plans, they could | | | | services, you have three basic options: |
| reach you via any of the available access | | | | |
| | | | use a quality headset, purchase a phone |
| numbers mentioned above at no cost to either | | | | adapter, or purchase an IP phone. A |
| of you.IPKall and Stanaphone will give you a | | | | |
| free local number as long as you don't mind | | | | headset, of course, is the most economical |
| it | | | | option. Buying a phone adapter is a |
| | | | |
| being in Washington State or New York City. | | | | good choice if you love your phone and/or |
| IPKall will forward your number to any | | | | want to continue using your standard |
| | | | |
| SIP URL, but Stanaphone's will only work | | | | phone service. Most, if not all, phone |
| with the SIP number provided through | | | | adapters also plug in to your phone line to |
| | | | |
| them.Free World Dialup and SIPphone have | | | | utilize the attached phone for both VoIP and |
| peering agreements allowing you to SIP dial | | | | regular phone calls. If you like the idea |
| | | | |
| users on a number of different VoIP networks | | | | of an IP phone and have a wireless network, |
| using a short prefix. SIP Broker can | | | | we strongly suggest getting a WiFi |
| | | | |
| also help you reach anyone on a service that | | | | phone. It offers the most flexibility |
| allows incoming SIP calls, which | | | | because it allows you to not only talk |
| | | | wirelessly |
| Vonage and CallVantage do not.There are also | | | | |
| SIP-compatible softphones available for the | | | | at home, but wherever there is a wireless |
| Pocket PC, Palm OS, | | | | Internet connection.CONCLUSIONWhether you |
| | | | just want a new toy or are looking for a |
| Symbian, and Linux handheld markets that can | | | | replacement phone system for |
| turn your handheld in to a cordless | | | | |
| | | | your home or office, the current crop of |
| Internet phone.SERVICE PROVIDERSYou have to | | | | VoIP offerings present a wide array of |
| pay when you want make calls to regular | | | | |
| telephone numbers. If you | | | | services and options. Review each company's |
| | | | web site, read the fine print, and |
| want a local number that links to your SIP | | | | |
| number, that'll usually cost you, too. The | | | | search the web for service reviews and user |
| | | | experiences. You're sure to find a |
| good news is that the prices are very | | | | |
| reasonable. There are many service | | | | suitable solution with the ideal combination |
| providers, | | | | of cost, features, and quality that you're |
| | | | |
| plans, and packages out there to suit home | | | | looking for.Darrel Farris is Co-Founder of |
| and business users. Here are some | | | | FND Enterprises, a online community creation |
| | | | and hosting services company. Darrel has 10 |
| important questions to ask:Does the plan | | | | years of experience working in technology and |
| include hardware, i.e. an analog phone | | | | enjoys making things easier for people. He |
| adapter? | | | | can be reached at This work is licensed under |
| | | | a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.5 |
| Will I own the hardware being provided by | | | | License. |
| the service? | | | | |