The Changing Face Of Voip

To properly appreciate how far internet based phones service has come over the years

, first, we have to look at what VoIP has changed in regard to the way we communicate, share data and work.

With VoIP, housebound or telecommuting employees can gain access to the entire network, and caller ID allows calls to be made and received as business calls without ever revealing they are not on location at the main office.

With VoIP, international business is suddenly much easier to undertake - with higher call quality and a huge decrease in costs compared to PSTN calls.

With VoIP, unified communication is possible with phone, email, and data sharing possible across multiple networks. Applications and features for VoIP service are constantly expanding, and are available at a much lower rate than non-VoIP alternatives.

With VoIP, nearly everything that can be accomplished with analog networks is now available. VoIP is now compatible with fax machines, and can be implemented in tandem with home alarm monitored security systems (previously problematic due to the need for a landline to send alerts to the alarm monitoring company).

In addition, government oversight has expanded to regulate portions of the industry, preventing regular phone carriers from penalizing VoIP users. VoIP was initially attractive to home and business owners due to the lower taxes and fees associated with IP service (landline telephony bills are made up of usage charges as well as taxes and fees, the latter of which can comprise a large percentage of the total bill).

One drawback to VoIP was the inability to function accurately for 9-1-1 emergency services - the nature of VoIP is to be movable, so the phone numbers assigned were not tied to one location like a landline. The FCC addressed this issue, however, and now most VoIP carriers provide E911 Enhanced 911 (E911) that allows VoIP providers to connect emergency calls directly instead of having to route through public networks. Number portability was also instituted, giving VoIP users the right to retain their number when switching carriers.

VoIP is here to stay, but many worry that government regulation will increase to the point that the taxes and fees associated with traditional telephony will be eventually applied - eliminating the cost savings which currently make VoIP so attractive. Cellular phone providers in particular are fighting the unchecked spread of VoIP, as it threatens to cut into their revenue streams.

by: Andrew Wiggin

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