| Internet Protocol telephony or IP telephony has been | | | | IP telephony has also entered the business realm. |
| in use for quite some time now. Bypassing the | | | | Today's open source and proprietary IP PBX systems |
| proprietary Bell network by making use of the public | | | | support bothVoIP trunks as well as IP desk phones |
| internet promised free long distance calling for | | | | and IP softphones. |
| consumers. This provided great motivation for the | | | | Although traditional trunking methods still abound, |
| growth of a new technology. Today, consumer VoIP | | | | some VoIP trunking is gaining momentum. Typical |
| telephone services can be divided into three | | | | trunks for businesses include plain old telephone |
| modalities of use, VoIP trunks, IP desk phones, and | | | | service (POTS) lines and T1/PRI. A form of VoIP |
| IP softphones. The majority of IP telephony users | | | | trunk that shows promise is the SIP trunk. SIP trunks |
| implement one of these three methods. | | | | compete more directly with POTS lines and have the |
| Consumer Use | | | | competitive advantage of cheaper long distance |
| Early renditions of internet telephony employed the | | | | costs. |
| use of IP softphone client software. This software | | | | IP softphones also have important implications in |
| allowed any user with a PC and a headset to call | | | | business communications. Within the office, |
| another user over the internet using the same client. | | | | softphones are not as pragmatic. For most users |
| Most of these services began with free PC to PC | | | | desk phones are more efficient and seem to be the |
| calling and eventually evolved into paid PC to phone | | | | norm. Where IP softphones do have an advantage is |
| models. Some of us may still remember using DialPad | | | | for the remote telecommuter. Remote workers |
| or Packet 8. Popular services in use today include | | | | equipped with laptops and PC headsets can access |
| Skype and Yahoo! Messenger. | | | | both the business data and voice network via VPN. |
| Subsequent to IP softphone offerings, providers | | | | Voice calls can be taken just as if you were at your |
| began to advertise VoIP trunk services. VoIP trunks | | | | desk. You can also dial other users' extensions and |
| were touted as an inexpensive alternative to | | | | access your voice mailbox just as if you were in the |
| traditional land lines. VoIP trunks employ IP protocol | | | | office. Hooray, yet another way for the boss to get |
| and use a customer's broadband connection to carry | | | | a hold of you. |
| voice packets. This requires the use of small analog | | | | Whether you're a home or business consumer of |
| gateway devices to convert VoIP signals to analog. | | | | voice products and services, IP telephony is here to |
| These gateways allow residential consumers to | | | | stay. The options for use are plentiful and growing. |
| continue the use of traditional telephones. The most | | | | Features are becoming more robust and can even |
| notable providers are Vonage, AT&T, and | | | | include video. Look into this burgeoning technology |
| Comcast digital voice. | | | | and you're sure to find great uses and savings. |
| Business Use | | | | |