TV Storm

Good news for VoIP consumers: A seldom-used, but major feature of Internet phone service just got a big boost: the ability to take your phone with you on the road, to make and take calls from the same number at the same low price.

The problem with this idea is that you usually have to take your adapter on the road with you to hook up a regular phone to the Internet, or install your VoIP service provider’s software on any computer you want to use – typically limiting your options to the use of your own laptop computer.

Vonage has come to the rescue with a solution that will help users realize the full potential of VoIP: the V-Phone. The V-Phone is a keychain device – actually an ordinary USB drive with Vonage software and your user ID pre-loaded – that you can plug into a USB port on any Windows-based computer with broadband access, for instant Internet phone service.

The device is easy to use: you plug it into a USB port and the software loads automatically, displaying a small window with a number pad that resembles the keys on a regular phone. Online authentication between the keychain and Vonage’s servers typically takes from 30 to 90 seconds to complete.

Importantly, the V-Phone does not load any applications to the computer’s hard drive during setup, so you don’t have to worry about leaving “debris” on other people’s computers when you’re finished. Simply unplug the device and all icons disappear, along with any trace that you were ever there.

The V-Phone comes with a jack for plugging in standard cell phone earplugs, a set of which are included in the package from Vonage. This has a couple of advantages: you don’t need to locate the separate sound and audio ports on the computer, and with desktop PCs, you don’t need to unplug the speakers to plug in your earphones.

The unit sells for $40, which doesn’t include the $10 activation fee and $10 for shipping. It’s available for purchase online from Vonage now, and will be sold by major retailers in September with a $40 rebate.

Calling plans are the same as for any normal Vonage account: $15 per month for 500 minutes, $25 for unlimited residential use and $35 for business service.

One important point to note is that the device comes programmed with its own number and calling plan. There is no option offered for having an adapter and V-phone programmed with the same number. This means that if you choose to port your existing home Vonage number to a V-Phone, your home will be without service every time you take the device on the road.

This makes it most practical for businesses and other users willing to add an additional Vonage account, rather than transfer an existing number to the V-Phone.

This novel product takes mobile Internet-based phone usage to another level. That’s great news for Vonage which, as the industry leader, is in the enviable position of having to fight off rivals who are cutting prices and even giving away phones for free in attempt to gain market share.

The bad news for Vonage is that this device is a no-brainer – it’s surprising that no service provider offered it previously. The likelihood of Vonage getting a patent on the technology is not great, and it’s certain that rivals will be offering competing products soon.

That competition could be even better news for consumers.

The manner of communication has changed steadily with the emergence of the internet and as such nothing has remained same as before. People can now communicate with people residing in various parts of the globe very easily and that also without costing much. The advancement in the field of technology has also contributed a lot in this arena. In fact, nowadays we have access to various gadgets which easily facilitate us to interact with people at ease form anywhere and any time. Earlier, their were only analogue phones. But then various innovations took place and this process gave way to mobile phones and cordless phones that efficiently permits the users to stay connected with our beloved ones even while on the move. Step by step, a unique and more advanced method of communication has amazingly made its presence felt. This new innovation is called VoIP, wherein the calls get transmitted over the Internet to different destinations as one can imagine.

You can associate various benefits with the VoIP technology and what is more there is a potent demand for both institutional and individual users. The wholesale market for the advanced VoIP carriers and solutions is hence a growing one. Furthermore, there is also a related addition in the domain of wholesale voice. In fact, the wholesale carrier services have surprisingly registered a momentous advance over the last few years.

Most importantly a large unexploited market is still waiting that needs to be explored. The possibilities to earn revenues are equally attractive. In fact, the suppliers of the cost-effective wholesale carrier services are believed to be in the most comfortable zone. What is more, most of them are devising and setting new trends in the market and even the consumer behavior. In fact, they are offering the most effective VoIP carrier services which are steady and efficient and are amazingly least expensive too. These advanced wholesale VoIP carriers are permitting many establishments to accrue huge savings from their so called telecommunication costs – quite a reasonable options after all.

As a matter of fact, there are several reputed VoIP providers that offer wholesale carrier services to resellers, corporate clients and as well as Tier 2 carriers. The cost effective wholesale VoIP carriers guarantee that the routes which would be used for the purpose of voice termination would be the best. Furthermore, the tough competition existing in the market assures that the cost of such efficient services are affordable. Furthermore, a lot of care is cashed to the issues that pertains to the quality of services too. Actually what matters at the end of the day is least number of call drops, good voice quality and high amount of voice clarity.

However, any prospective wholesale carrier requires to have a huge base of customers that are obviously loyal to its services and solutions. The required equipments and the infrastructures which are needed for call termination also needs be procured to serve the concerned customers with efficient and high-quality VoIP services.

Voice over internet protocol or VOIP, allows anybody with a high speed internet connection to make calls to any land line or mobile phone number world-wide at just a fraction of the cost they would normally pay for phone calls. The quality of these calls is just as good as a traditional phone, if not better. Setup takes just a few moments and VOIP is guaranteed to save thousands of dollars each year.

There are several things to consider when setting up VOIP for home use, so this article will go over the features of some of the more popular choices, such as Skype and MagicJack. A computer with high speed internet access is required to use VOIP services, but the connection can be wired or wireless. Either one will work great.

Service for MagicJack is only about twenty dollars per year, and usually comes with a free year of service when purchased at a store. This service will add a second phone line, or can even replace a home phone all together. With features like caller ID, call forwarding, a local phone number and even 911 support, it really does have everything a user could possibly need.

To install MagicJack, plug it in to the computer’s USB port. There is a telephone jack located on the opposite side of the device, where any telephone can be plugged in. The computer will automatically detect it and will guide you through the installation process. MagicJack will then update before it is ready to use, which only takes a few moments. Once complete, simply pick up the phone connected to the device and dial the number.

On the other hand, Skype offers rates as low as three dollars per month, or pay-as-you-go prices from just two cents per minute, without needing to purchase any hardware from a store. Skype also lets users send text messages to and receive messages from any mobile phone in the world and Skype-to-Skype calls are completely free of charge.

To install, visit Skype.com and download the installation. After installed, select a user name. This can be any mix of numbers and/or letters. You need Skype credit to place calls to a land line or mobile phone number, but Skype-to-Skype calls are still free.

There are two ways to purchase Skype credit. Stores such as Wal-Mart or Radio Shack sell prepaid cards or it can be purchased online. When purchasing this credit from a store, there are three choices. There is a 3 month prepaid card, a ten dollar Skype credit card, and a twenty dollar Skype credit card. The 3 month card is ideal for most users.

Businesses are all dependent on the internet and its ability to transfer information fast and efficiently. Communication systems keep changing with time and as they do, their ability to work even better also increases.T1 line is one of the most recent technologies that utilize fiber optic cable in order to transmit information. T1 lines can be used for voice channeling and for data transmission. It can take up to 24 channels of voice and can transmit data at the rate of 1.5 megabits per second. When it is used only for voice calls, a T1 line is hooked up to the phone system of the office or residence but if it is to be used for data purposes, it is connected to the network router itself.

With the ability to carry data at speeds of up to 192000 bytes per second, this system is far much better than using a regular modem. It works almost 60 times better than the modem. For your business to proper and meet the goals that you have set for yourself, you a very reliable internet connection. The T1 line connection is much more reliable than the modem or any other connections. This kind offline also has the advantage that it can be shared by a good number of people with great ease.

What Is the Cost of a T1 Line?

A T1 line may vary in cost depending on a number of factors but generally the cost ranges between $1000 and $1500. This is the general cost per month although depending on where you live and work it may vary slightly. The T1 line is much better than the DSL or other systems because it is not location specific. It can be used anywhere. It is always function with almost no interferences and you will therefore never incur costs in finding an alternative connection when it is down. It is always running. If you are a phone Carrier Company or a cable company, the T1 line will suit your business perfectly because it is a foundation for upgrading and using systems such as mail and web services, VOIP services, VPN for many users and Citrix services. This reduces setting up costs for you.

Why T1 Line Services Are the Best Option

Depending on what kind of business you are running, T1 line will offer you connectivity like you have seen nowhere else. It gives you the chance to privately own and use a network unlike the DSL connections. With this kind of network you can get T1 point to point connections that will allow you to extend the connections you have both internally and internationally. If you are just starting off on a new business, this is just the kind of connection you will need to launch and become stable.

If your workforce uses mobile phones for communications, there’s a good chance that you can save money by avoiding your cell carrier’s airtime and long distance charges. This can be done using an IP PBX in conjunction with your cell phone carrier’s friends and family plan or by using an inexpensive device called a GSM gateway.

The key to this approach is to make it possible for your workers to call back into your office PBX for free. Once they are able to do this, then you can redirect their calls back to the PSTN using an inexpensive wholesale VoIP service. Even if you do not have an IP PBX, you can still make use of this technique by using a free multi-stage calling service (or even a prepaid calling card). Most wholesale VoIP providers charge less than $0.01 per minute for calls to the USA and just pennies for most other countries. When compared to the high international calling rates and over-plan airtime charges imposed by most cell carriers, the savings can add up quickly.

If your workplace cell phone service offers a friends and family option, then setup couldn’t be simpler. Just have your workers add the number of your office PBX or multi-stage dialing platform to their friends and family list. Once calls arrive at your PBX, forward a specific extension to a multi-stage calling service that will provide a dial tone and the ability to place a call to any other destination. If you can not use a friends and family plan for any reason, you can purchase a device known as a GSM gateway which will connect to your PBX just like a regular phone. The GSM gateway will also connect to a spare cell phone. Your workers can then call the cell phone (using the in-network free minutes allowed by almost all cell carriers) and get access to your PBX at no charge.

If your PBX does not provide a second dial tone feature, or if this feature is disabled for security reasons, then you can forward mobile-originated calls to a service that provides multi-stage dialing or even a calling card access number. Most multi-stage dialing platforms will prompt you for a PIN or access code after connection. Once a valid PIN or access code is entered, the system will allow you make call to any other number. Many services also provide extra features such as call recording and call conferencing at a small extra charge.

Many of the ‘present day’ corporates are trying their hand at selling VoIP. While a few among them are trying very hard to bring about a change in the means of communication within their organisational context. A comprehensive communication infrastructure that can be seamlessly integrated with the other processes and production related activities is more than welcome. Their search for such a system brings them face to face with special routes facilitating a to z termination services offered by providers of repute.

Buying and selling of VoIP minutes is possible with many of the deals offered by any of these service providers. Corporate establishments can buy VoIP minutes at affordable costs to resell the same within their geographical domains. In addition, they can also buy these minutes for efficient and cost effective management of intra-organisational calls through a process that is known as “call termination.”

Buying and selling of VoIP minutes has become the new ‘mantra’ of the season. From well known brands in different sectors to little known entrepreneurial initiatives, almost anybody wanting to be somebody are taking recourse to this innovative means for facilitating their on-site and off-site communication. These entities are going in for the best service providers to cater to their individual needs. A lot of research is being done before the VoIP calling plans & routes are being finalized. The increasing importance being assigned to Voice over IP at different levels is now an established fact. Moreover, the process of call termination, wherein the voice data is transferred over the medium of the Internet to recipients located in another part of the world, is being recognized as the next big thing in communication.

To fulfill the rising demand, a lot of activity is happening at the supply side as well. Providers – at quite a few levels – are catering to the rising demand. Tier 1 providers, Tier 2 providers, resellers – as of now, the opportunities available in VoIP are quite diverse. The first level providers, having their own VoIP routes, are the most self sufficient. They have the infrastructure to offer a to z call termination at industry leading costs. At the second rung, there are the second level providers who take the routes from the Tier 1 providers and offer services under their own names.

The point is that a lot of buoyancy can be noticed in the market. A rising demand with more than adequate supply go a long way in ensuring the same. And so the competitive prices of A to Z VoIP termination routes should not raise any eyebrows.

It can be said that the buying and selling of VoIP minutes has become both a profitable enterprise as well as a facilitating tool for ensuring the success of any business venture. Many corporate users are therefore, rushing in for making the most of the volatile market situations. Certain factors that are proving to be decisive and swaying the decision in favor of any one provider over the next are mentioned below:

1.The cost at which VoIP calling plans and routes are available.

2.The clarity and the overall quality of the calls.

3.The steadfastness of the networks being used.

4.The availability of special services and technical support.

The Problems of Firewall/NAT Traversal: The purpose of a firewall is to ensure that only authorized users are allowed Access. Today, most homes possess a firewall-protected connection through cable or ADSL.

Enterprise or home users who are protected behind their own firewall are Communicating from what we call an internal network. The user’s endpoint communicates with a gatekeeper via the Internet through a firewall or a NAT (usually both) to another endpoint. The gatekeeper and the other endpoint are on what we call an external network. When the other endpoint is on a different internal network, it should also use a similar solution to traverse through its own firewall/NAT.

For that video communication we are going to user RTP,RTSP etc Protocols. These protocol are used to transmit the audio, video for A to B.

RTP is unidirectional

-A indicates IP/port to receive from B

- B indicates IP/port to receive from A

- If either is behind NAT, media won’t flow to them.

So we have only achieved the point to point Audio, Video transmission using RTP Streaming Protocol. In the case If we want to send behind NAT, Solution: make RTP look like client-server protocol

- A indicates IP/port to receive from B

- B sends to A, A sends back to B using source IP/port of RTP

- Basically, only need IP address from ONE of the participants – the “server”

For our web based application, some time the presenter (A) or Client (B) may be use the Proxy server setting to access the Internet. So we need the solution for Transmitting Audio, Video – (using of Streaming Protocol) and Data – (TCP, UDP protocol) over NAT, Firewall.

To achieve the NAT Traversal there has a two simple algorithm, which are popular

1) STUN – Simple Traversal of UDP (User Datagram Protocol) through NATs (Network Address Translators)

2) TURN – Traversal using Relay NAT

3) Universal Plug and Play (UPnP)

4) Application Layer Gateway

5) Tunnel Techniques

6) Automatic Channel Mapping(TM) (ACM)

7) Manual Configuration

In the Above methods the STUN is the best method of solving NAT. The is a API called STUN in JAVA.This will help us to Solving of NAT Traversal Problem. STUN is a client-server protocol. A VoIP phone or software package may include a STUN client, which will send a request to a STUN server. The server then reports back to the STUN client what the public IP address of the NAT router is, and what port was opened by the NAT to allow incoming traffic back in to the network. The STUN algorithm as follows,

For that Video, Audio Transmission we need the streaming Server like Microsoft, Real Media, Apple Quick Time, Flash Media server, etc. The main reason for using Steaming server is Transmitting and receiving for RTP Stream Data. For Transmission of Data we use the TCP or UDP Sockets.

The IP based voice and multimedia services as major part in the Internet traffic. Unfortunately, a number of technical problems are having. The most significant of these is to provide secure connection to subscribers behind NAT (Network Address Translation) devices and Firewalls.

Pics: /

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony is growing rapidly worldwide, usually within the double-play business model, i.e the provision of broadband internet and telephony together. The benefits of the new technology have literally revolutionized the world of fixed-line telephony and now VoIP is directly threatening all the major traditional telecommunications companies. As the VoIP service integration with data traffic is achieved (ie Internet access and telephony over a single network), the result is – especially for long distance calls – the Internet charges are very low and often below those of local calls. Have you understood how important the benefits are for SMEs which are seeking to cut costs in highly competitive environments? (Particularly for companies that trade overseas). Even in Britain the VoIP phone service has taken its own area code and a program that offers free phones among Internet users has already passed the 50 million users.

Often there is a misconception that Voice over IP means only low rates. In fact, Internet telephony has more to offer. It is here to integrate voice services with the world of IP, the Internet. The potential of businesses and professionals are truly limitless. An example of VoIP services is for example an automated call assistant operator where messages are answered and the message left can be sent to you on email. Also, personal list of phone contacts online and more. For example, the user of VoIP can configure the house phone to ring on his/her mobile. The possibilities are endless and offer unprecedented flexibility in communication.

VoIP telephony is growing rapidly and already many businesses choose it for their communication. Small and medium enterprises, for which both the flexibility and low telecommunication costs are critical factors for survival and effective response to competition, have much to benefit.

First a quick recap of how we got here, with this deep down feeling that not having a regular telephone is unthinkable. We need to make and receive calls. In the old days regular telephone was all there was. Then came cell phones, but in the beginning the minuets were very expensive. Unless you were on an unlimited plan for other unavoidable reasons like business, it was still cheaper to have a regular phone to yack on.

Cell minuets have gotten cheaper and cheaper, and so have the phones themselves. Now most people have cell phones and in many cases so do all the children. If everyone in the house has there own cell phone with unlimited minuets, why pay for a regular house phone? Cells have the added benefit of being personalized to the desired recipient of the call.

OK here is the BIG News. If there are any members of the family that do not have a cell or do not have unlimited minuets you may still have a reason to have a regular phone but now you don’t have to pay 25 To 40 dollars a month to have it.

If you have high speed internet replace your land-line with a netTALK Duo. Let me first say that in days gone by Instead of a land-line I had Vonage VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) I had the limited plan (don’t know if they still offer this) It was unlimited incoming, and 8 hours of outgoing per month, for $18. It worked very well and I was satisfied with it. By the way the price for unlimited calls in and out is about $26 + tax/ mo. Since I did not make or receive many calls on it in a month. (And since I don’t have a lot of money) I switched to Magic Jack. Again I was satisfied considering how much it cost. It’s $40 to buy the device with one year of service and then $20 a year, or $60 for 5 years for service. There were some problems with dropped calls, mostly if connecting to the internet through WiFi. It seems to work almost perfectly if the computer it is plugged into is connected to the internet with an Ethernet cord. Again since I only made a few calls a month when I wanted to yack with a friend for hours I was quite satisfied considering the price, and that it was saving me hundreds of dollars a year. But there is one major detriment with MJ, It must be plugged into a computer that is on and not sleeping. Not so bad if your calling out, but if you want to be able to receive a call anytime it means having your computer fully on (not sleeping) all the time. In my case it was doable. I just used it to make calls out, and when I was expecting a call in I would keep the computer on. Normally I just let the occasional incoming call go to Voice-mail (which is included). For $16 a year it has been great, but now it has to go!

Enter netTALK Duo; It works similarly to Magic Jack but with one major benefit… it can be plugged straight into your internet modem or router eliminating the need for a computer completely. So then it is equivalent to Vonage or other stand alone VOIP system but for a small fraction of the price. The device is $69.95 including the first year of service. Subsequent years of service are currently $29.95. So then the device is $10 more than MJ and a year of service is $10 more than MJ. This money would be just about made up in power savings, since it does not require a computer. By the way, if you want to plug the Duo into a USB in order to make use of WiFi it works that way also.

All the reviews I have read written by everyone, except the founder of the Magic Jack say that the sound quality and reliability of the Duo are equal or slightly better than the MJ but with both there are occasional problems with dropped or “frozen” calls mostly if connected to the internet with WiFi instead of a wire. I believe this to be due to inconsistency of the internet service. They might work flawlessly with DSL since it is much more consistent on a second by second basis than is cable internet. This is why it is the cable service of choice for internet gamers. One more note: The duo does not have a voice-mail mailbox you can call like MJ instead it only has audio clips of your massages sent to email, (I like this method better anyway and use it with MJ). Don’t forget to email a link to this article to your friends.

VOIP’s First Hurdle

With all the advantages of VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol), there is still 1 drawback — it cannot give you total wireless phone communication like a cell phone. Cell phones and VOIP seem to be 2 different animals. True, you can have a wireless internet connection (including VOIP) with Wi-Fi hot spots, but they are of no use to your cell phone. Or are they?

In fact, dual mode phones are already reaching the market. A few companies (including Motorola) have introduced cell phones that can automatically switch to VOIP when they detect a WiFi hotspot. This is sure to be popular with consumers who want the reduced costs of VOIP. Yet it is likely to be grudgingly adopted by cellular phone companies, who stand to lose considerable profits.

Industry analysts, however, predict this kind of service will be widespread within the next 5 years. Cellular phone companies will have no choice but to offer plans which combine VOIP and cellular, otherwise they will lose business to companies that step in to fill the void.

And Then

The next step after cell/VOIP integration is the replacement of cell networks with wireless VOIP. A new wireless technology called WiMax is in the works: city-wide wireless networks that operate at much faster speeds than what is available today. Such a network would allow anyone in range to use a VOIP wireless phone. This technology could also be used to transmit video and audio, possibly replacing services like video rentals and radio.

WiMax is currently in the testing stage around the world. While it is a great idea, it may cause disruptions within several industries, such as movie theatres, DVD distributors and traditional phone companies — all of which may lose if this technology becomes common.

Fortunately, it’s difficult to hold back technological innovation. New technology usually presents challenges and opportunities to existing industries. The phone companies and entertainment industries will be challenged, but could potentially thrive in the new WiMax environment if they find the proper niche. For example, faster broadband will likely make VOIP video phones a common item. There will undoubtedly be many unforeseen applications to this new technology.

Did You Say FREE?

Another future trend to watch for is the possibility of free internet telephony. After all, we do not pay for regular data transmission over the internet, so why pay VOIP service providers $15 or so per month? Voice data is the same as any other data that travels over the Internet. Some observers predict that as VOIP is more universally adopted, monthly fees for telephone service will disappear.

Of course, there would still be a charge for the basic Internet connection, but as bandwidth continues to grow, a single internet connection could be used for telephone, television, e-mail — and surfing the net.

Soon ET can not only phone home — it’ll be a free call.