subject: Is The Internet A Reliable And Secure Medium For Home Communications? [print this page] As we move forward into the 21st century it seems that the heralding of the digital age rings ever more true. There certainly is a lot in the way of change in the modern day and there is little doubt that technological advances are acting as a catalyst for much of this development. Yes, it seems that digital mediums are quickly finding their way into households and business establishments around the world and revolutionising our techniques for communication and exposure. At the heart of these new media is the Internet; this powerful and versatile tool has brought about many opportunities.
As the Internet entered the public domain it has not taken too long for people and businesses alike to realise the vast potential that was waiting at their fingertips. Not only is the Internet an extremely economical tool for communication but it is also an effective choice. There are a number of ways that someone can communicate online; social networking sites, email, and Skype are just a few. Not surprisingly the telephone companies were among the first businesses to realise the potential in the Internet, and as a result some are bringing out products and packages that take advantage of it.
VoIP phones function in a similar way to how a regular phone does but they operate through your Internet connection. This has a number of implications; firstly it means that long distance or international calls can be made for no extra cost. This is ideal for anyone who has friends or family in another country. These phones also come with a variety of features that traditional ones do not, they can check emails, send instant messages, and even make video calls.
Unfortunately there are also some negative implications associated with using the Internet for communication too. If you do not have a strong Internet connection then you may find that the quality of the calls is not matched by a regular landline. One of the main issues with using your Internet connection for your communication is that it is not completely secure. Much like mobile phones, internet connections come with the risk of being hacked. So despite the numerous advantages associated with online communications there are still some underlying issues that need to be ironed out.