Internet Phone Service / VoIP is the New International Call Leader

The latest statistics show that Internet phone service / VoIP has become the preferred method of placing international phone calls globally. No longer are callers turning to their landline phone service provider to make long distance calls; instead they are relying on the cheaper alternative of utilising VoIP.

What the Survey Shows

According to 2008 TeleGeography research, VoIP is extremely popular, especially in Western Europe. The company reported a 17% increase year over year between 2007 and 2008 in the number of consumers who now rely on Internet phone service / VoIP to initiate cross-border voice communications.

France is the country leading the way, with a 42% adoption rate in 2008. Spain is lagging behind, with only 2% increase in consumer implementation. By the end of this year, most countries are expected to show double digit gains in VoIP adoption, however.

Why VoIP is Gaining in Popularity

Traditional telephone service companies have long been losing revenue from long distance calls, particularly since the advent of the cellular or mobile phone. They are no longer contenders in the market; in fact very few consumers have reported using their land line to place cross-border calls.

The use of VoIP for international calls has skyrocketed mainly due to its extremely competitive pricing. After all, what business or consumer can afford to pay an exorbitant rate for voice communications when there are companies offering much lower pricing with the same reliability provided by traditional telephone companies? This relates to mere pennies a minute, as opposed to pounds.

Internet phone service / VoIP works with any type of device you might be calling. Your call may originate from your computer, but it can connect to a person on the other end who is still using a traditional handset, or a cell phone.

The Future of VoIP

Some governments have expressed concern that internet calls could be intercepted by terrorist organisations or other criminals. The United States has attempted to levy wiretapping rules, associated with land lines, on internet technology. European officials are coming on board to do the same thing.

The fact is, most internet phone service providers already have safeguards in place and many can emulate the “lockdown” security features of cell phones. The future of these regulation efforts remains to be seen.

The growth trend in internet phone service / VoIP is only expected to continue. More and more businesses are coming on board with the latest technology and lowest pricing available for voice communications. As with anything, the more common VoIP becomes, the cheaper the rates will become as well.

How Internet Phone Service / VoIP Works

Have you heard of Internet phone service / VoIP? Perhaps you have used this modern technology yourself, but do you know exactly how it works. Take a look at this overview of the process in order to understand just why this system of calling is so popular and so cheap.

Technical Aspects

Technically speaking, VoIP takes your voice and converts the sound into a digital signal that can be carried across the internet – and thus around the globe. Additionally, if the person on the other end is using a regular telephone, another conversion is made in order for them to understand the sound as regular conversation.

Equipment Needed for Internet Phone Service / VoIP

VoIP calls are accomplished with the help of certain software and hardware. If you are communicating strictly with a computer, then only software is required. If you are using a regular telephone, then you must also have an adapter to connect it to the internet. Either way, incoming phone calls utilise a ringing sound to provide an alert for an incoming call.

Of course, in order for the digital signal to travel across the internet, a connection is required. It must be high speed, such as a broadband connection via a cable or DSL modem. Wireless VoIP communication is also possible via internet access points in hot spots such as airports, libraries, municipalities, etc.

For use with a computer, VoIP will require a microphone and speakers in order to speak and hear the sound. Some consumers who use this service with their PC prefer to connect a headset in order to ease the communication process and keep the other side of their conversation private.

With a regular telephone set, users can dial just as they would normally, however some companies require that a specific access number be dialled first. Check with the individual service provider to determine the exact procedure.

Save Money

Many times Internet phone service / VoIP is offered at a deeply discounted rate along with the features most consumers have come to expect from cell phone service providers. These include free long distance calls, call waiting, call forwarding, etc. Because you are only utilising your broadband internet connection, there are no additional fees for setup and other monthly services, making it quite cheap.

There are many benefits when using Internet phone service / VoIP for your personal and/or business needs. Perhaps the biggest advantage comes from the cost savings. Check out the options available to you in order to start using this modern technology and start saving money on your telephone bill right away.