| The buzz surrounding Voice over IP technology has | | | | service? |
| been growing for quite some | | | | If I am buying the hardware, is it locked to your |
| time, but only recently has the notion of ditching | | | | service or can I use it with other |
| standard telephone service grown | | | | SIP service providers? |
| so compelling that companies like Skype can claim | | | | Do you offer a "Bring Your Own Device" calling plan? |
| over 215 million downloads of | | | | Does the plan include a virtual phone number so |
| its product. In this article, we'll explore the current | | | | anyone can call me? |
| offerings and help you make | | | | Are all incoming calls free? |
| wise choices while embarking on the VoIP path.Let's | | | | Can I receive incoming SIP calls by number and/or |
| start with vocabulary. The most important and | | | | URLs?Make sure you understand any contracts, fees, |
| oft-repeated acronym you | | | | calling rates or restrictions before |
| must learn and understand in regards to Voice over IP | | | | agreeing to service. There are numerous service |
| is SIP. SIP stands for Session | | | | providers offering free and paid |
| Initiation Protocol, a well-established, open-standard | | | | services. With a little bit of research, you'll find |
| protocol that is the glue to | | | | something ideal for your intended |
| the VoIP world. It allows a vast array of services, | | | | purpose.OPTIONSIf you're looking to stay on your |
| software, and hardware to work | | | | computer while having some room to grow, check |
| together to create flexible, feature-rich calling solutions | | | | out Gizmo. Gizmo is an excellent, cross-platform SIP |
| with many attractive | | | | softphone that works with |
| benefits. If it doesn't support SIP, you shouldn't support | | | | network services from SIPphone. In this setup, you |
| them.WHAT DO I NEEDAt minimum, you need a | | | | could add incoming virtual |
| high-speed Internet connection, a SIP phone number, | | | | phone numbers for $12/3 months or $35/year that will |
| and | | | | allow folks to call you. All |
| a softphone. A softphone is a software version of an | | | | incoming calls are free to you and to the person |
| IP phone that lets you make | | | | dialing (as long as it isn't a long- |
| calls using your computer.Some services, like | | | | distance call, of course). They also maintains in major |
| Stanaphone and Gizmo, will provide you with a | | | | cities that users can dial, |
| softphone to use | | | | enter your SIP number, and then be connected to you |
| with their system. Most of these will only let you | | | | free of charge. They also have |
| configure SIP numbers that belong | | | | decent outgoing rates for non-IP calls and sell making |
| to their network. If you want to utilize multiple SIPs | | | | this a solution that scales |
| across different networks, your | | | | well for the average user. There's even an Adium |
| best option is to use X-Lite, a free softphone from | | | | plugin available for you Mac users |
| Counterpath (formerly known as | | | | out there.Stanaphone is a free service from hosting |
| Xten Networks). With X-Lite, it appears you can | | | | giant Intermedia that also provides you |
| configure up to 9 different SIP | | | | with a free virtual phone number in the New York City |
| numbers. Like Gizmo, X-Lite comes in Mac, Windows, | | | | area. You can also receive |
| and PC versions.If you want to use your existing | | | | faxes sent to your virtual number in your email. Voice |
| phone, rather than a headset or microphone and | | | | mail is also included. You |
| speakers, you'll need an analog phone adapter. | | | | can also utilize a SIP phone adapter with the service, |
| Dedicated, SIP-compatible IP | | | | but you'll have to pay to make |
| phones are also available. Wi-Fi IP phones can be | | | | outgoing calls to standard phone numbers. At 2.6 |
| carried with you and used | | | | cents a minute for calls in the |
| wherever there's a wireless Internet signal. There are | | | | US, they're a bit more expensive than Gizmo |
| also WiFi mobile phones | | | | SIPphone but the free virtual number |
| available.You should also receive a SIP URL which | | | | and fax receiving are nice bonuses although their |
| looks similar to an email address and is a | | | | service lacks in other features. |
| simple way to share your new contact information. | | | | Stanaphone has a softphone client for Windows and |
| You can easily dial a SIP URL in | | | | PocketPC, but Mac users can |
| your softphone application or link to it from a web | | | | also use CounterPath's X-Lite softphone with the |
| page. If you're using a hardware | | | | service. The web site also says |
| phone, SIP Broker has a free service that can maps | | | | only Stanaphone to Stanaphone calls are free, so you |
| the SIP server names to short | | | | might be better off sticking |
| numeric codes, allowing you to easily dial users on | | | | with Gizmo and their flexible peering agreements.Free |
| over 200 different services.WHAT CAN I DO WITH | | | | World Dialup offers SIP network services, but also has |
| ITYou can make free calls to other IP phone users | | | | their own combination |
| worldwide. You can make calls to | | | | Video IP Phone / instant messaging program. Within |
| traditional phone numbers or attach a local phone | | | | one program, you can make |
| number that routes to your SIP | | | | SIP-based voice and video calls and chat with your |
| number, allowing regular phone users to call you. If you | | | | friends whether they're on |
| travel, you can carry that | | | | Yahoo, MSN, AOL, or ICQ. Their traditional inbound |
| same phone number with you wherever there's an | | | | and outbound calling service is |
| Internet connection, and the folks | | | | still in Beta and a bit more expensive than Gizmo. |
| back home won't incur long-distance charges when | | | | Their Communicator application |
| they call you. Free voice mail, | | | | is also available for PC only, although many hardware |
| too, and messages are delivered to your e-mail.In a | | | | devices will work with the |
| business situation, you could slash or eliminate your | | | | FWD SIP network.A number of service providers |
| long-distance charges by | | | | offer packages targeted towards specific kinds of |
| setting up free calling between remote or international | | | | users. Broadvoice, for example, has unlimited |
| offices. Videoconferencing | | | | worldwide plans starting at $19.95, |
| also becomes possible without dedicated line charges. | | | | while also offering a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) |
| For the more adventurous, | | | | plan at just $5.95 a month. |
| you could also setup a PBX. Asterisk is a powerful, | | | | TelePacket has plans that start at just $0.95 a month |
| open-source PBX system with a | | | | while Packet 8 has plans that |
| feature list that can give any sized business the | | | | target videoconferencing users at $19.95 a |
| advantages of a full-fledged digital | | | | month.SUGGESTIONSIf you want to test the waters, |
| phone system.If you work in a scenario where 2-way | | | | I'd start with trying out Gizmo. It's a lightweight, |
| radios are utilized, DingoTel offers a product | | | | feature-rich softphone that also gets you service |
| which can turn these in to VoIP walkie-talkies while | | | | through SIPphone. They provide |
| making use of the radios full | | | | local access numbers for non-VoIP users to call SIP |
| reception range, sometimes up to 12 miles depending | | | | numbers from traditional |
| on the model.For the budget-conscious, with some | | | | phones, have many peering agreements with other |
| services like Gizmo and SIPphone, standard | | | | networks to keep you connected, |
| phone users in major cities can dial a free access | | | | and support options like virtual phone numbers and |
| number, enter your SIP number | | | | offer low-cost rates on calls |
| and speak to you via your IP phone. SIP Broker also | | | | made to standard phones to give you a more robust |
| maintains a few numbers which | | | | VoIP phone package when |
| allow callers to dial SIP numbers on any of their 220+ | | | | you're ready.If you want to take the plunge, check out |
| supported networks.It may seem tedious, but | | | | Broadvoice or Packet 8, who offers E911 |
| programming the entire of sequence of numbers in to | | | | service. They both offer robust feature sets, unlimited |
| a | | | | calling plans, inexpensive |
| phone's contacts directory is quite straightforward. | | | | virtual phone numbers, and have a good track record |
| Just remember to insert pauses | | | | of reliability and service.As for speaking and listening on |
| to allow for the phone system's menu options to | | | | any of these services, you have three basic options: |
| respond. If your friends have free | | | | use a quality headset, purchase a phone adapter, or |
| long-distance calling plans, they could reach you via | | | | purchase an IP phone. A |
| any of the available access | | | | headset, of course, is the most economical option. |
| numbers mentioned above at no cost to either of | | | | Buying a phone adapter is a |
| you.IPKall and Stanaphone will give you a free local | | | | good choice if you love your phone and/or want to |
| number as long as you don't mind it | | | | continue using your standard |
| being in Washington State or New York City. IPKall will | | | | phone service. Most, if not all, phone adapters also |
| forward your number to any | | | | plug in to your phone line to |
| SIP URL, but Stanaphone's will only work with the SIP | | | | utilize the attached phone for both VoIP and regular |
| number provided through | | | | phone calls. If you like the idea |
| them.Free World Dialup and SIPphone have peering | | | | of an IP phone and have a wireless network, we |
| agreements allowing you to SIP dial | | | | strongly suggest getting a WiFi |
| users on a number of different VoIP networks using a | | | | phone. It offers the most flexibility because it allows |
| short prefix. SIP Broker can | | | | you to not only talk wirelessly |
| also help you reach anyone on a service that allows | | | | at home, but wherever there is a wireless Internet |
| incoming SIP calls, which | | | | connection.CONCLUSIONWhether you just want a |
| Vonage and CallVantage do not.There are also | | | | new toy or are looking for a replacement phone |
| SIP-compatible softphones available for the Pocket | | | | system for |
| PC, Palm OS, | | | | your home or office, the current crop of VoIP |
| Symbian, and Linux handheld markets that can turn | | | | offerings present a wide array of |
| your handheld in to a cordless | | | | services and options. Review each company's web |
| Internet phone.SERVICE PROVIDERSYou have to | | | | site, read the fine print, and |
| pay when you want make calls to regular telephone | | | | search the web for service reviews and user |
| numbers. If you | | | | experiences. You're sure to find a |
| want a local number that links to your SIP number, | | | | suitable solution with the ideal combination of cost, |
| that'll usually cost you, too. The | | | | features, and quality that you're |
| good news is that the prices are very reasonable. | | | | looking for.Darrel Farris is Co-Founder of FND |
| There are many service providers, | | | | Enterprises, a online community creation and hosting |
| plans, and packages out there to suit home and | | | | services company. Darrel has 10 years of experience |
| business users. Here are some | | | | working in technology and enjoys making things easier |
| important questions to ask:Does the plan include | | | | for people. He can be reached at This work is licensed |
| hardware, i.e. an analog phone adapter? | | | | under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.5 |
| Will I own the hardware being provided by the | | | | License. |