Excuse my ignorance but what is VOIP?

crabbman2004_2

I'm looking at upgrading to a Nokia N95 and have been reading that Vodaphone and orange has disabled the VOIP feature, I'm not the brightest crayon in the box when its comes to mobile phones and was wandering if someone could enlighten me as to what excatly VOIP is and whether it really matters that Vodaphone/orange have disabled it?

Thanks in advance

Dan

JAYMARSH2005

VoIP allows you to make telephone calls using a computer network, over a data network like the Internet. VoIP converts the voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that travels over the internet then converts it back at the other end so you can speak to anyone with a regular phone number.

VoIP can be implemented in several ways, from a software program on your computer used with a headset and microphone to adaptors used with regular analogue home phones or you can use dedicated VoIP phones which look and act like regular phones but have specially designed chips to improve call quality.

Basicly its a cheaper way to make phone calls over an internet connection, so calls abroad would be cheaper than usuing your standard telephone line.

crabbman2004_2

Thanks! I shouldnt think I would use that much anyway...so cant see it being too mch of a problem if orange/vodaphone has disabled it.

JAYMARSH2005

I've never used it but suppose its really for people who make a lot of overseas calls, I just ring my bank up for free on a landline to listen to overseas calls !!

smsmasters

I've been using VOIP for 1 year now. My router has built in VOIP functions and has standard rj11 connections so you can use to connect any telephone to.

I use VOIP at least twice a week making free phone calls to the USA.

crabbman2004_2

So I have just purchased AOL broadband with a wireless router, am i right in thinking that If the router has VOIP features built in, I could ring my mates for free when they go abroad using VOIP??

Bagger

Let me clarify a few things. VOIP is short for Voice Over IP (IP is the protocol used by the Internet. VOIP can alternatively be called Voice Over Internet.) As mentioned in a previous post, it is a way to make telephone calls over the Internet. A number of companies already exist who use this type of technology. The most famous one is probably Skype. With Skype, you need a PC and headphones. Other commercial companies (such as Vonage) install special hardware in your home and use your Internet connection to provide you with a telephone line. In these cases, you don't need a PC; you use an ordinary telephone to make cheap calls.

Most mobile phone companies allow you to browse the Internet from your phone. Some (such as 3 and T-Mobile) allow you to browse the Internet for a fixed price every month, regardless of how much data you download. The Nokia N95 goes one step further and uses this Internet connection to make voice calls (similar to Vonage above). To use VOIP on the Nokia N95, you will have to set up a separate VOIP account with someone else. Orange etc. do not like this since you can then use the N95 to make voice calls using VOIP. In this case, you pay Orange for the amount of data you use. Orange would prefer you to use their phone to make voice calls. If you use the VOIP service, this will cut into Orange's voice revenue.

I hope the above makes sense.

Bagger

virgo17

JAYMARSH2005 wrote: »

I've never used it but suppose its really for people who make a lot of overseas calls, I just ring my bank up for free on a landline to listen to overseas calls !!

We have a house in UK and also one in Spain. We have broadband at both locations and two VOIP accounts with the same provider. We can chat between both locations for as long as we want free of charge. Saves us a fortune in call charges.

Our VOIP provider also gives us advantages like ringing UK phones from Spain for 2 pence for a one hour call or free after 6pm and weekends. Total monthly subscription £1.99 per month.

V.

EvilMonkey

Bagger wrote: »

In this case, you pay Orange for the amount of data you use.
Bagger

Can you go a step further and use the phones Wireless functionality to hook into your own network / public hotspot. In this case is the data is free? Then you'd just have any charges that truphone (the company which routes that nokia recommend) levy on you. Currently its free for a LOT of countries