VoIP presented by Todd Collins
Tuesday, January 31 at Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio No charge.    Please bring a friend.    Guests welcome. Please join us Tuesday night, January 31, 2006 for this free presentation in Room 116 Health Sciences Building, Wright State University. We'll begin at 7:30 p.m. Bring a friend. Please note that we're meeting at Health Sciences Room 116, Wright State University tonight! by Bob Kwater, Editor The DataBus

Interested in reducing your phone bills?

We invite you to come to the General Meeting of the Dayton Microcomputer Association on Tuesday January 31 in Room 116 of Health Sciences Building at Wright State University at 7:30pm. Visitors are always welcome. (Parking Passes can be purchased at the meeting. See details below.)

If you've never heard of VoIP, get ready to change the way you think about long-distance phone calls. VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a method for taking analog audio signals, like the kind you hear when you talk on the phone, and turning them into digital data that can be transmitted over the Internet.

How is this useful? VoIP can turn a standard Internet connection into a way to place free phone calls. The practical upshot of this is that by using some of the free VoIP software that is available to make Internet phone calls, you are bypassing the phone company (and its charges) entirely.

This person is using VoIP to talk to a friend in another state.

VoIP is a revolutionary technology that has the potential to completely rework the world's phone systems. VoIP providers like Vonage have already been around for a little while and are growing steadily. Major carriers like AT&T are already setting up VoIP calling plans in several markets around the United States, and the FCC is looking seriously at the potential ramifications of VoIP service.

Above all else, VoIP is basically a clever "reinvention of the wheel." In this article, we'll explore the principles behind VoIP, its applications and the potential of this emerging technology, which will more than likely one day replace the traditional phone system entirely.

Calling

The interesting thing about VoIP is that there is not just one way to place a call. There are three different "flavors" of VoIP service in common use today:

ATA - The simplest and most common way is through the use of a device called an ATA (analog telephone adaptor). The ATA allows you to connect a standard phone to your computer or your Internet connection for use with VoIP. The ATA is an analog-to-digital converter. It takes the analog signal from your traditional phone and converts it into digital data for transmission over the Internet. Providers like Vonage and AT&T CallVantage are bundling ATAs free with their service. You simply crack the ATA out of the box, plug the cable from your phone that would normally go in the wall socket into the ATA, and you're ready to make VoIP calls. Some ATAs may ship with additional software that is loaded onto the host computer to configure it; but in any case, it is a very straightforward setup.

IP Phones - These specialized phones look just like normal phones with a handset, cradle and buttons. But instead of having the standard RJ-11 phone connectors, IP phones have an RJ-45 Ethernet connector. IP phones connect directly to your router and have all the hardware and software necessary right onboard to handle the IP call. Soon, Wi-Fi IP phones will be available, allowing subscribing callers to make VoIP calls from any Wi-Fi hot spot.

Computer-to-computer - This is certainly the easiest way to use VoIP. You don't even have to pay for long-distance calls. There are several companies offering free or very low-cost software that you can use for this type of VoIP. All you need is the software, a microphone, speakers, a sound card and an Internet connection, preferably a fast one like you would get through a cable or DSL modem. Except for your normal monthly ISP fee, there is usually no charge for computer-to-computer calls, no matter the distance.

Try it Yourself

If you're interested in trying VoIP, then you should check out some of the free VoIP software available on the Net. You should be able to download and set it up in about three to five minutes. Get a friend to download the software, too, and you can start tinkering with VoIP to get a feel for how it works. One place to look is www.skype.com.

But chances are good you are already making VoIP calls any time you place a long-distance call. Phone companies use VoIP to streamline their networks. By routing thousands of phone calls through a circuit switch and into an IP gateway, they can seriously reduce the bandwidth they're using for the long haul. Once the call is received by a gateway on the other side of the call, it is decompressed, reassembled and routed to a local circuit switch.

Although it will take some time, you can be sure that eventually all of the current circuit-switched networks will be replaced with packet-switching technology (more on packet switching and circuit switching later). IP telephony just makes sense, in terms of both economics and infrastructure requirements. More and more businesses are installing VoIP systems, and the technology will continue to grow in popularity as it makes its way into our homes.

VoIP Features

The Forrester Research Group predicts that nearly 5 million U.S. households will have VoIP phone service by the end of 2006. Perhaps the biggest draws to VoIP for the home users that are making the switch are price and flexibility.

Flexibility

With VoIP, you can make a call from anywhere you have broadband connectivity. Since the IP phones or ATAs broadcast their info over the Internet, they can be administered by the provider anywhere there is a connection. So business travelers can take their phones or ATAs with them on trips and always have access to their home phone. Another alternative is the softphone. A softphone is client software that loads the VoIP service onto your desktop or laptop. The Vonage softphone has an interface on your screen that looks like a traditional telephone. As long as you have a headset/microphone, you can place calls from your laptop anywhere in the broadband-connected world.

Price

Most VoIP companies are offering minuterate plans structured like cell phone bills for as little as $30 per month. On the higher end, some offer unlimited plans for $79. With the elimination of unregulated charges and the suite of free features that are included with these plans, it can be quite a savings.

Most VoIP companies provide the features that normal phone companies charge extra for when they are added to your service plan. VoIP includes:

• Caller ID
• Call waiting
• Call transfer
• Repeat dial
• Return call
• Three-way calling

There are also advanced call-filtering options available from some carriers. These features use caller ID information to allow you make a choice about how calls from a particular number are handled. You can:

• Forward the call to a particular number
• Send the call directly to voicemail
• Give the caller a busy signal
• Play a "not-in-service" message
• Send the caller to a funny rejection hotline

With many VoIP services, you can also check voicemail via the Web or attach messages to an e-mail that is sent to your computer or handheld. Not all VoIP services offer all of the features above. Prices and services vary, so if you're interested, it's best to do a little shopping.

For more information on Voice Over IP try going to these web sites.

HowStuffWorks "How VoIP Works" Voice over Internet Protocol lets you make free long-distance phone calls using your computer. It's essentially a phone network that uses the Internet ... computer.howstuffworks.com/ip-telephony.htm

Skype - The whole world can talk for free. Peer to peer voice service. Users may call landlines and cellphones for a fee; users may call each other for free. www.skype.com

Packet8. is a VOIP Service Provider and offers Internet Phone Service for residential and business consumers who have broadband access. www.packet8.net

Vonage - The Broadband Phone Company Use your high-speed Internet connection to make all of your phone calls with Vonage digital phone service. www.vonage.com

Voice over IP Calculator Free VoIP resources, including online bandwidth calculators, white papers, books, a directory and a forum. www.voip-calculator.com

All are welcome. The meetings start at 7:30 p.m. Guests are always welcome. Directions are here.

Audio file of this program

A 62 MB MP3 file of Todd's talk is available to Dayton Microcomputer Association members for download here.

Parking

WSU has agreed to issue temporary parking permits for the regular meetings in January, February, and March. These permits cost two dollars each and are good for the entire winter term. In other words, two bucks gets you a parking pass for all meetings in January, February, and March. The alternative is to take a chance and park illegally.

• For the January meeting, write "DMA" prominently on an ordinary 8½ X 11" sheet of paper. Stick it in your windshield wiper.
• When you get to the meeting, fill out an application at the desk outside of Room 116 in the Health Sciences Building when you pick up your raffle ticket. Pay your $2 at that time. We'll have hang tags for you.
• You cannot get the permit if you are a WSU student, faculty, or staff member! You should have your own parking pass. All applications will be checked against the WSU student and employee data base.
• Not going to a meeting? Lend your tag to someone who is.
• If UD is unavailable in the spring and we continue meeting at WSU, you'll need to spend $2 for another temporary permit.

Although parking regulations are not enforced as stringently after 5:00 P.M., there is some enforcement. Two dollars is cheap insurance.

After the meeting, we'll enjoy pizza and conversation at the Cici's Pizza in Beavercreek, behind Chili's and next to OfficeMax on the southeast corner of the intersection of North Fairfield and New Germany Trebein roads. See this map for approximate location. The Beavercreek Cici's number is 427-2433.

Bob Kwater, Editor
The DataBus
editor@dma.org

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