Summary
Internet telephony, also known as voice over IP (VoIP), seems poised to become the hot new technology in the telecommunications world. Early adopters cite large cost savings as their primary motivation; a VoIP telephone service costs about half as much as the least expensive conventional phone line. Analysts believe that VoIP service can offer new features much more effectively than the older, limited phone system.
Original source:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=reutersEdge&storyID=7470538
Details
One technology promises to harness the power of the Internet for voice communications.
Its competitor has been around for a century, and has an industry shorthand that needs two adjectives -- "plain old telephone service" -- to describe just how boring it is.
The battle between the two is expected to heat up in 2005, as we move further into the much-hyped "Year of the Internet Phone."
But even if the most optimistic predictions come to pass, industry analysts say, plain-old telephone lines will still have a tight grip on much of the market.
Still, even if it doesn't take over the phone market, Internet telephony, or VOIP (voice-over-Internet protocol), seems poised to make inroads in the United States, thanks to growing numbers of high-speed Internet connections and companies pushing Internet phone services.
James Jeffries said he signed up for VOIP service from Vonage because it was the first competitor to Sprint Corp. in his rural Pennsylvania town.
Analysts figure that the number of home VOIP lines in the United States was roughly 1 million at the end of 2004, a drop in an ocean compared with about 160 million landline and 170 million cellular phone subscribers.
But some estimates say VOIP subscribers could triple this year, thanks largely to cable company campaigns to sign up phone customers, and hit 20 million by 2008.
Other countries that have more widespread broadband use have seen faster VOIP growth, with Japan's Yahoo Broadband the largest provider so far at 4.4 million VOIP lines.
VOIP companies do not always offer phone numbers in every area code, and may not have numbers available in popular area codes such as New York's 212.
Many cable companies use Sprint's landline network as a backbone, allowing them to offer 911 service, and usually offer installation.
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health author and award-winning journalist with a passion for teaching people how to improve their health He has authored more than 1,800 articles and dozens of reports, guides and interviews on natural health topics, and he has authored and published several downloadable personal preparedness courses including a downloadable course focused on safety and self defense. Adams is an independent journalist with strong ethics who does not get paid to write articles about any product or company. In 2010, Adams launched TV.NaturalNews.com, a natural health video site featuring videos on holistic health and green living. He also launched an online retailer of environmentally-friendly products (BetterLifeGoods.com) and uses a portion of its profits to help fund non-profit endeavors. He's also a successful software entrepreneur, having founded a well known email marketing software company whose technology currently powers the NaturalNews email newsletters. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and enjoys outdoor activities, nature photography, Pilates and martial arts training. He's also author a large number of health books offered by Truth Publishing and is the creator of numerous reference website including NaturalPedia.com and the free downloadable Honest Food Guide. His websites also include the free reference sites HerbReference.com and HealingFoodReference.com. Adams believes in free speech, free access to nutritional supplements and the innate healing ability of the human body.
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Monday, February 07, 2005
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