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Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is still a foreign term to many phone users, but as the technology continues to improve, and the prices keep falling, this new-way-to-phone stands to make big noise in the coming years as customers continue to give up their land line phones in search of better, more cost-effective options.

What follows are some common myths about the VOIP technology and the real information you need to know.

Myths and Facts about VOIP:

Myth: The sound quality is poor.

Fact: The first generation of VOIP technologically did have its share of issues, but all these services have since upgraded their technology significantly in the past two years. Now, VOIP customers can enjoy crystal-clear conversations that are on par with any traditional carrier.

Myth: You can only save money by calling other VOIP phone numbers

Fact: One of the biggest VOIP selling points continues to be free user-to-user calling over the network, however there are also considerable savings to be found in calling packages with VOIP service providers. In fact, many are competitively priced well below the large long-distance carriers.

Myth: The service is unreliable.

Fact: Individuals using VOIP for the calls reports no more dropped calls or service gaps than those using traditional cell phone or land line services.

While some companies experienced a rough start in this regard, additional testing and better hardware/software has helped make the service run smoothly.

Myth: Setting up a VOIP system is too complicated

Fact: For most VOIP systems, setting up is as easy as “plug and play.” In fact, if you have been able to get your cable TV or wireless in-home Internet working properly you should have no problem getting the VOIP system set up as well. Also, VOIP providers have spent time expanding their customer service departments. Customers who felt intimated by the technology can count on round-the-clock service and support centers to help answer their questions about VOIP installation, troubleshooting or general use.

Myth: Nobody is using VOIP for their calls.

Fact: On the contrary, more and more people are switching to VOIP for their personal and business use. According to industry sources, VOIP users are expected to grow in number by over 21% in 2008 with addition growth projected for 2009.

Myth: You can’t use a cell phone with VOIP

Fact: Initially, one of the biggest challenges facing the VOIP industry was giving people the ability to use their own phones when accessing the technology. Seeing that any real growth would be tied to this issue, VOIP providers are now offering dual handset capability which allows the user to seamlessly switch between their cell phone’s network and a wi-fi network carry the VOIP service.

You must have many a times heard about VoIP and VoIP gateways. But do you know what these technologies actually are?

To understand what a VoIP gateway is, you first need to understand what VoIP technology is. VoIP is the term used for Voice over Internet Protocol . It refers to the technology which facilitates transmission of voice traffic over internet networks. Internet protocol was originally developed for sharing data. After its immense success, the technology was adapted for sharing voice networking.

More and more number of business organizations have started to use VoIP instead of the traditional PSTN for communicating because it is cheaper and more useful than the other mediums of voice communications. Some of the benefits of using VoIP technology and VoIP phones include:

VoIP facilitates to transmit more than one phone call on a single broadband phone line. Therefore, more telephone lines can be installed by the business at a lower cost.

Like business phone systems, VoIP phones too, have many advanced features such as call forwarding, caller ID, call waiting etc. For these features, the businesses don’ t have to pay any extra charges.

VoIP offers unified and secured communications, which can be integrated with other internet based services such as video conferencing, web conferencing etc for enhancing the business communication.

Now let us discuss what VoIP gateways are. Gateways are devices which convert telephony traffic into internet protocol so that data can be transferred over a network. These are generally used in the following two ways:

For converting PSTN to VoIP. A VoIP gateway facilitates to receive and place VoIP calls on a regular telephone network. With the VoIP technology, businesses can make larger volumes of calls at much lower prices.

To connect traditional PBX and other business phone systems to an IP network. A VoIP gateway allows making a call using VoIP technology instead of a regular telephone line. Business can either buy these services from a reputed and reliable VoIP service provider or can route the calls through the internet to reduce the call charges.

VoIP gateways are available in the form of external units and PCI cards. However, most of the business organizations prefer using the external units as their VoIP devices. Every VoIP gateway has a connector for getting connected to the IP network and one or more number of ports for connecting the phones lines to it. For more information, you can visit : http://www.telcom-data.com/

 

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you certainly have heard of the Global Positioning System or GPS. There is a GPS for almost everyone: for hikers, drivers, bikers etc. You also find GPS modules on some advanced mobile telephones like the Nokia 6110 Navigator.

 

What is it?

 

In very simple terms, the Global Positioning System (GPS) uses radio signals from 4 satellites to locate the exact position of anything on Earth.

 

What does it cost?

 

Apart from the cost of buying one, using a GPS is free of charge. In fact some of the most basic GPS do just what they are about: guiding the driver from A to B via a graphic interface.

 

The most recent models come with a range of functions (MP3 player, slideshow, video player, blue tooth kit, and even digital tv!).

 

Some GPS have pre-installed POI (points of interest) such as garages, restaurants, parking etc. GPS makers have also added new value-added services such as live traffic update or a weather services like Tomtom Weather on the GO 530/730/930).

 

You will need a subscription to most of those services however. Typically an annual subscription costs around $50, with unlimited updates.

 

Other options are free for a limited period only (for instance when a new map becomes available within 30 days of buying a new GPS, Tomtom will let you download the map free).

 

What to look for?

 

Ease of Use. If you are not too comfortable with gadgets, you might prefer going for a simple model. One that simply guides you from A to B without all the extras.
Traffic Info. Some GPS offer real time info on traffic jams or road works. The GPS then recalculates your route – and offers an alternative one. These services are often charged so you’d better check before buying!
Speed Cameras. Most GPS’s come with a pre-installed list of speed cameras. And again here, you will need some form of subscription to update that list with new cameras.
Maps. Some GPS only cover a limited geographic area. Others have more extensive maps like the Tomtom Go 730. This type will be particularly useful for your holidays abroad. New maps can also be purchased as CD roms or on pre-loaded memory cards.

 

You can also download off the website of most GPS makers. After download, you then transfer the maps onto the GPS using either a memory card, a usb cable or a bluetooth kit (if your GPS has bluetooth).

 

Screen Size. This usually varies between 3.6 and 4.3 inches. AS rule, especially for car GPS, information on the screen should not be too hard to read. But this should not be a problem considering that most new GPS’s come with voice navigation.

 

Need to know more about GPS devices, check out the GPS reviewer.

In Part 1 of this report, we discussed how the technology of using satellites to broadcast radio signals from over 20,000 miles above the earth results in great reception throughout the US everywhere and all the time. But there is more.

Satellite radio is not free radio. It is subscription based, meaning that you pay a monthly fee for the service. The costs are very nominal though as Sirius costs $12.95 a month and XM is $9.95 a month. Neither of the subsciptions can be said to be expensive, but initially you may recoil from thwe idea of paying for something that you have gotten for free for so many years.

However, think about this. You weren’t actually getting anything for free all this time. Think of how much time in your life has been wasted listening to ads or commercials on the radio instead of the programming that you tune in for. If you added it all up, it would no doubt be a huge chunk of time, and if your time is worth anything, you were definitely paying a price for tuning in. The radio stations have no other way of making radio broadcasting a profitable business, so you are stuck with putting up with ads for so many minutes of every hour just to be able to listen to the programming you want in between the commercials.

Satellite radio is following the proven business model example of cable television and instead of inundating you with ads, they just provide high quality programming all the time. No ads, no commercials, no wasting your time.

And what kind of programming do you get? Just about anything that you can imagine, and it’s growing all the time. Your selections include music, talk radio, sporting events, kids programs, news and more. There are several celebrities that have set up shop in the studios of the satellite radio companies, including the high profile case of Howard Stern. But you can find even more celebrity specific programming from others like Martha Stewart, Jimmy Buffet, Eminem and more.

There are around 65 channels of music listening alone on each provider’s service, and they cover almost every conceivable kind of music that is found in the US including rock, jazz, country, blues, reggae, and more. And there are several different kinds of each music genre as well, For instance, rock has channels devoted to hard rock, early rock, soft rock, heavy metal, and many more. Just pick your favorites and tune in for solid good music that you like to listen to wherever you go.

Be sure to read Part 3 for even more satellite radio facts.

Time and technology marches on and things that were considered impossible just a few years ago, are now almost routine. That applies to a lot of things in life, but certainly to the way that we are able to listen to radio broadcasting today.

Just a few years ago it was just accepted that if you tuned in to a particular radio station, you would lose reception and clarity if you were driving long distance and you would have to hunt around and find another station instead. It was also accepted that every broadcast would be filed with lots of ads that you didn’t really want to hear, just so the radio station could turn a profit.

Well, now there are more choices to be ahd and technology has made a whole new way of broadcasting radio possible. It’s called satellite radio and we will try to help you understand a few facts about it, because the more you know about it, the more you will no doubt appreciate what it can do for you.

First of all, conventional radio traditionally only travel around 30-50 miles with any clarity at all, and then they degrade rapidly. Much of that is due to the roundness of the earth and so as the signal goes out it can’t follow the contour of the earth and so the signal is lost to the user. Satelliter radio has solved that issue altogether. As it’s name implies, the signal is sent from satellites over 20,000 miles above the earth, so there is absolutely nothing that can obstruct the broadcast signal.

There are currently two major players in the US in this new field, Sirius and XM satellite radio. XM has two satellites in orbit and Sirius employs three. They are specifically timed and placed within orbit to maintain constant coverage of the US for about 16 hours at a time. What this means to you is that no matter where you go in the US and no matter what time of day or night, you will not lose reception, and can enjoy the programming that you like uninterrupted.

This feature alone of satellite radio is an incredible advantage over conventional ground-based radio stations. It comes in handy especially for folks who may live in rural areas that get very poor reception from standard radio, and for those that are long distance travelers. There is no hunting for stations as their reception fades. No having to listen to programming that you don’t particularly like just because it’s the only thing available in a particular area. Just crisp, clean programming all the time.

But there is lots more about satellite radio to be covered in Part 2 of this report.

10 Things You Need to Know About NY VOIP

Thinking about getting started with NY VOIP service for your home or office? Here’s some important information to help you make the right choice.

1. VOIP is available anywhere in New York where high-speed Internet can be found. If you live in Manhattan or upstate, it doesn’t matter. All you need is a DSL, T1, Cable Modem or other fast connection and you’re equipped to start using VOIP.

2. NY VOIP service can take advantage of WI-FI. If you have WI-FI in your home, and a WI-FI ready cell phone, you can use both to move freely around the house while using your VOIP connection. As long as you stay in range of your wireless signal, you’re good to go!

3. VOIP offers big cost savings. Many customers reports saving 50% on their monthly bill thanks to the unlimited calling structure and low monthly service cost for VOIP.

4. VOIP offers cutting-edge features. Many VOIP providers offer some of the most cutting edge technology available in phone services today, including: voice mails that can be sent to email, call mapping and automated call recording.

5. VOIP is a great choice for people on the move. In Manhattan, people tend to move from apartment to apartment on a regular basis. VOIP makes it easy to move your phone service without all the installation hassles of a land-line phone. If you’ve got a high-speed Internet connection in your new place of residence, you can start calling as soon as you move in.

6. You can call Internationally with VOIP. More NY VOIP providers are adding international calling to their service options. Depending upon the plan you select, you can make International VOIP calls from your PC-based phone, or cell phone.

7. VOIP’s sound quality has improved significantly. In the early days of VOIP, one of the biggest knocks against the technology was the sound quality. Callers used to have to deal with dropped calls and long gaps or breaks in the conversation. Increased competition in the VOIP world has forced companies to upgrade their technology – which mean call quality has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years.

8. You can use VOIP for faxing. Your VOIP services gives you the power send and receive faxes over a dedicated phone line or using the eFax virtual fax service.

9. VOIP is a great choice for small businesses. Small companies need to watch their telecommunications costs closely. VOIP allows these businesses to enjoy all the benefits of a standard corporate phone system (putting callers on hold, voice mail, multiple lines, etc.) at a price that is at least half the cost offered by the major carriers.

10. VOIP is growing. Every year, VOIP users continue to grow in number. That’s because more and more people are discovering how easy the service is to use, its reliability and more importantly the low price of service.

For reliable, affordable VOIP service in the New York area, visit www.itpvoip.com. Unparalleled customer service and amazing price packages are what helped ITP VOIP be rated #1 in customer satisfaction in New York and the #1 VOIP provider in the United States by users. Every day, ITP VOIP strives to bring you the best service is the country. Contact www.itpvoip.com today for more information about how to get started.