VOIP Sites and Services
VOIP Services enable you to use your computer as a telephone, making and recieving calls to other
computer users and regular telephones.
Some VOIP Services provide you with an additional telephone number that regular phone users can
dial. This number will allow you to recieve calls as long as your computer is on and connected to
the Internet.
Additional services may include Voice Mail, forwarding messages as email, conference calling
and caller ID.
As VOIP phone number cannot be traced to an address, (or work in case of a power cut) you will still
need a regular phone for 999 calls.
There are VOIP handsets and phone adapters that connect via a computer's USB connection. These work
as regular phones, but only if the computer is also running.
Rather than use your computer as a phone, there are VIOP Phones and adapters that connect via a ROUTER or Network
cable. These will work as normal phones without the need to load software onto your computer.
What is Skype
Skype is a VOIP style service that uses a p2p method of communicating rather than the SIP based protocols that other
VOIP services use.
Skype began by linking people together via the internet. Now you can use the Skypein and Skypeout services to make and
recieve calls to and from regular landline phones.
As with regular VOIP services, you can buy handsets and interfaces allowing you to make calls without resorting to a headset
plugged into the computer sound port. As Skype uses a different system to regular VOIP, many skype interfaces will not function
fully with regular VOIP services. SIP based hardware and phones will not work with a Skype account.
What system should you use?
When choosing a VOIP service (regular or Skype) you should first consider what you will need most from the service.
If it is free calls to friends, then you will be more interested in using the same service they do - as with mobile phones.
If your decision is based of getting an extra line for people on regular lines to call, then the type of number available, any ongoing costs,
voicemail and reliability of the service will be more important.
If you are interested in saving money by calling landlines in a specific area, then the call call costs may dictate the best service to use.
Most services will provide an entry level or pay as you go service that you can try without spending too much or buying a handset/phone adaptor.
For free calls to friends using a headset/mic, you can use both a regular VOIP service and a Skype account on the same computer
VOIP Services
Gradwell Provide Business & Home VOIP services including a Virtual PBX.
They also provide Fax i/o via a Fax to Email and Email to Fax.
Sipgate Free (PAYG) and Monthly discounted service, the Free service INCLUDES
a geographic number for many UK locations.
Gossiptel Free and Monthly VOIP service, the Free service includes a non geographic 0870
number for incoming calls.
Free World Dialup VOIP service that allows you to call users on other VOIP services.
VOIP Sites
VOIP Wiki a reference guide to all things VOIP
VOIP User the voice of IP telephony
How to Build a DIY VOIP Handset This pages describes how an audio handset for VOIP can be made using a cheap or broken phone and a few other parts
Using and Programing the MicroChip Processor AND how to turn a basic Desk Phone into a VOIP phone *Updated* Source code for using the phone
as a Console Phone on the Asterisk server Serial & Sound ports .
Communications News at ZDNet UK Latest News Including VOIP.
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