How to connect to VoIP

With VoIP, long distance and international calls are very cheap, if not free. No matter how far you call, you can chat with your next door neighbor or friend in India and it will usually cost you nothing except the charge you pay to your internet provider each month. That’s because there is no physical infrastructure to maintain, no phone lines to break, vehicles to maintain, or unions to negotiate with, just the internet charge.

The packet-switched telephone network (PSTN) is what we’ve always used and time is money – you pay per minute, and international calls are even more expensive than local service. With VoIP, the only cost is usually the monthly internet charge, depending on the plan you choose. Of course, you will need a broadband connection, but you will save hundreds of dollars a year, especially if you make a lot of international calls. There are a few different ways to connect to the VoIP service once you make the decision to use it.

The first most convenient and cost effective way to connect to VoIP is through your computer. You need a broadband connection, speakers, a microphone, and communication software like Skype. Once you download the software, you are ready to go. The only limitation of this method is that the person you intend to talk to will also need a computer and the type of software you have installed. You can use the Internet or a LAN (local area network) setup as many companies do. However, you will need enough bandwidth to get good sound quality; at least 100 kbps is required for good voice quality.

You can choose to connect to phone-to-phone VoIP, a convenient but more expensive and complicated method than computer-to-computer.

You can use an IP phone, one that looks like the traditional landlines we’ve always used. However, instead of working on a PSTN, this phone is connected to a router with an RJ-45 connector like those used for wired LANs. You can also use Wi-Fi to connect to the network and enable VoIP. You may prefer an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter) that allows you to connect a standard telephone to your computer. An ATA converts your voice into digital data and sends it over the Internet or a network.

Most VoIP services include an ATA in their service package. Just plug it into your computer, install the software, and you’re ready to go VoIP. You should take good care of the ATA because you will generally have to return it if you cancel your service.

As you can see, setting up VoIP is very easy. It only takes a few minutes to download the software and connect the necessary equipment. You will love the money you save using VoIP and the ability to call anyone, anywhere, at a nominal cost!