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