InfoBusiness 2.0

If you think your existing phone services are too costly, or you aren’t satisfied with your phone company’s offerings, then check out the new voice over IP (VoIP) systems.  These systems use existing Internet lines to transfer voice data, and in most cases, are far less expensive than traditional phone services.  Additionally, they provide features that are not available with standard landline service, such as video conferencing. 

You can quickly and easily replace your existing service by transferring your phone number to a VoIP provider like Vonage.  You’ll get all the features you need, plus unlimited calling throughout North America and five European countries (note: please check with each service provider for current rates and plans).  And, International rates may be as much as 50 percent lower than what you’re paying now. 

Corporations can leverage the many VoIP services available through most major phone companies, or purchase the systems offered by telephony solution providers such as Cisco, Nortel, and Alcatel-Lucent.  Companies looking for a smaller-scale solution can look at packages provided by BizPhone and other manufacturers.  You can get complete VoIP with fully-integrated voice mail, greetings, auto attendant, and other advanced features for as little as $2000 (for eight extensions and four phone lines). 

One of the most affordable solutions on the market today is offered by Project Asterisk.  This Linux-based software provides many of the same features as the larger, more expensive VoIP systems, but without the hefty price tag.  In fact, it has no price tag at all.  Many hardware providers sell their systems with Asterisk software pre-installed and ready-to-go. 

Or, if you prefer a standard office PBX model, Packet8 can integrate all of your existing employee phones as extensions.  Staff around the globe – in the US, Canada, Mexico, Russia, or any other location – can be seamlessly linked together through one PBX system for as low as just $40 a month for each extension.  No more long distance fees, no missed calls, and no lost voice mail. 

Long before there were VoIP systems, there were computer-to-computer communication systems. This type of software has been around for quite a while, can be downloaded directly from the Web, and is, in most cases, free.  Once this software has been installed on your desktop computer, it will enable you to talk to anyone, anywhere – in another room, or even another country – as long as they have the same software installed.

The most famous computer-to-computer communication software is Skype.  Millions of people have signed up for, and are actively using this service.   All major Internet Messaging solutions – such as AOL, MSN, Yahoo, and ICQ – have free talk features as well.  Many of them even offer free Web or video conferencing. 

There are also computer-to-phone and phone-to-computer systems to consider.  These allow you to make calls to anyone in the world at discounted rates.  You can receive calls as well, as long as you have speakers, a microphone, and a special service enabled.  Skype, for example, offers Skype In and Skype Out.  For a small monthly fee, Skype In will provide you with a local number in any available city (the complete list of available cities can be found on the Skype Web site).  People that dial this number will be automatically forwarded to your computer.  Caller ID, voice mail, and other features are also available through this type of service.  And, for a low per-minute rate, you can use Skype Out to call any phone, in any country, right from your computer.  You can even make calls from Windows Pocket PCs and other handheld devices. 

Other solutions worth mentioning include VBuzzer, Packet8, and Gizmo Project. With VBuzzer, you can obtain a North American phone number for just $2 per month.  Gizmo Project uses a standard data transfer protocol known as SIP to provide a free phone line to your computer.  The company has recently formed an alliance with Google to offer one-cent per minute calling to all US phones. 

More advanced users can purchase a USB or WiFi phone to connect to their computer and VoIP service, so they can make and receive calls through the device. 

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 at 13:16 and is filed under business, it. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.