VOIP: A Basic, Basic Intro
What is it?Most people are familiar w/ NetMeeting and other software that let you talk to others over the internet. VOIP is similar. However, it also uses your phone - the interface we're all familiar with.Instead of connecting your phone to the wall, you connect it to a box either the VOIP company provides or you buy on your own. This is the modem. You need highspeed/broadband internet for this.
Your modem plugs into your cable/dsl modem and now it can 'talk' btwn your phone and the internet.Your phone lines already do pretty much what VOIP does, just w/ different/older technology (well, some of it's new w/ optics and such, but...).How hard is it to setup?It's actually very easy. Assuming you have the company send you a modem or you buy a kit at the store, you simply plug the modem btwn your current cable/dsl modem and your computer (e.g., the out from your cable modem now goes to the new box and the out from that to your computer). It also has a phone jack for your regular phone.Once it is on, it will boot up and configure itself.What are the benefits?There are many benefits depending on the company you go w/, but here are a few I have (all of these are free w/ the monthly fee- $14.99 for my setup):1. Features like caller id, call waiting, call waiting caller id, call forwarding, etc.2. Voicemail3.
Email alerts for new voicemail.4. Web access to voicemail - you can play your messages on your computer.5. Auto-forward - if the phone is ever down or isn't answered, it's auto-routed to another number6. Online management of all features, settings, account, etc.7. Computer dialing - highlight any number on your computer, hit F6 and it sets up the call from your phone to theirs - very convinient!8.
Keep your regular phone (you don't need a voip phone)There are some other cool features available for extra $ like the softphone which lets you use your computer as a phone w/o the modem - this means you can take your laptop w/ you wherever and you have your phone w/ the same phone number everywhere too (you can do this w/o the softphone, but you have to take your VOIP modem around w/ you - not bad if you're going somewhere for a longer trip).Another really cool thing is the virtual phone numbers. You can get extra numbers that ring the same phone, but they are local numbers to any area code you want. So if I live in Dallas and have family in New York, I can get a local phone number here and there. That way my family in New York can call a local number (free) and talk to me! Vonage charges $4.99/month for that. I'm not sure about the others.And the biggest benefit - IT'S CHEAP! I pay $14.99 plus some tax and such, but not the ump-teen taxes, charges, fees, etc.
like the phone company charges.Also, if you do a little research/reading, you can set it up to where every phone jack in your house is wired for VOIP. It's little more than plugging the output of your VOIP modem into the wall jack you already have. Very little more.Bottom LineYou get lots of good, free features and options for doing/managing a lot more including a lot over the web and it's SO much cheaper (at least it is for me!). Being the 'average guy' I am, I don't really use all the features. Fortunately, it's pretty much a 'set it up and forget about it' type thing except that I save $40+/month w/ it!I use Vonage b/c that's what I was told about first and it was one of the first.
There are others and I'm sure they have their strengths, but Vonage has the cheapest base option at the time I did my research..
Visionary Rolls out ADSL2+ in Casper
Casper, Wyoming (ContentDesk) March 19, 2005 -- Visionary Communications has deployed ADSL2+ in Casper, bringing the fastest broadband technology to Wyoming's second largest city.
ADSL2+ is a Digital Subscriber Line technology that delivers broadband internet at eight times the speed of cable internet.ADSL2+ allows the company to deliver up to 25Mbps of internet bandwidth to customers within a two mile range of downtown.
The speed is the equivalent of 16 T1 lines, or 466 simultaneous dialup modem connections."Broadband is about advertising at this stage.
Cable advertises they are faster than MOST DSL, and telephone companies advertise they are TYPICALLY faster than cable internet," says Brian Worthen, CEO and President of Visionary.
"This technology forces cable and telco to add more disclaimers, because Visionary's DSL is the fastest broadband in Casper."The company has also introduced a bonded DSL that allows a business to be served by eight lines...
Dsl > Visionary Rolls out ADSL2+ in Casper
Eliminate Adware and Spyware
Everyone should eliminate spyware and adware from your hard drive for your computer privacy protection. Spyware and adware programs also slow down the speed of your computer by cluttering your hard drive with annoying programs. Once you eliminate adware and spyware, your computer speed will improve immediately. Spyware compromises the security of your personal information because the creators of these hidden programs can get access to your desktop even while you are offline.
Adware creates annoying pop ups while you use the Internet.
It can change your home page and even hijack certain pages to display their own messages, which are sometimes obscene. One of the most effective ways to stop spyware and adware is the use of computer firewall protection. These programs eliminate incoming spyware and adware that is attached to the legitimate data that you download when surfing the web.
Some computer firewall protection programs display the number of attempted 'hacks',...
Dsl > Eliminate Adware and Spyware
Visionary Deploys ADSL2+ Broadband
Gillette, WY (ContentDesk) January 20th, 2005 -- Visionary Communications has deployed ADSL2+ in Gillette Wyoming, bringing a faster broadband service to the rural town.
ADSL2+ is a Digital Subscriber Line technology that delivers internet service over a telephone line at a speed three times that of the fastest competing broadband.Visionary is calling the new DSL product Intense DSL, with good reason.
ADSL2+ allows the company to deliver up to 25Mbps of internet bandwidth to customers within a two mile range of the center of town.
The speed is the equivalent of 16 T1 lines, or 466 dialup modem connections."Internet providers focus on the metro areas and large cities," explained Jeremy Malli, Visionary's Chief Technology Officer and self-proclaimed Alpha Geek.
"If it is up to us to push the broadband envelope, we will."Visionary plans to market the new service to existing customers, providing a benefit to the customer for their loyalty to the company....
Dsl > Visionary Deploys ADSL2+ Broadband
New Research Tool to Select The Best DSL or Broadband Service in Your Area
(ContentDesk) September 1, 2004 -- Nap Jones Computing provides individuals and businesses with reliable, high-speed, internet access of all flavors, Cable, DSL, or Satellite.
We also provide instant quotes viathe geoquote system through our websites http://lowpricetelcom.com/dsl.cfm for residential access and http://lowpricetelcom.com/t1.cfm for business class access.Advantages to broadband over analog dial-up.1.
Eliminates constant dialing and busy signals.2.
Speed is up to 50 times faster than dial-up3.
Accommodates multiple users on one connection.4.
Scalable.
5.
E-mail and internet access whenever you need it.
You are always on.By using our service, customers are able to compare and choose from a number of top tier providers based on their needs and availability for their location.
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Dsl > New Research Tool to Select The Best DSL or Broadband Service in Your Area