Businesses large and small has realised the cost benefits of IP telephony.as VoIP technology becomes more commonplace and the networks faster and more established, LANs can handle virtually any kind of data. And the same is true for the modern residential household. More of us are building our own local area networks at home, expanding our Internet access with high speed Broadband connections that deliver sufficient bandwidth for us to seriously consider converging our home network with voice over IP telephony.

Even if it’s technologically feasible, why should you do it? When you look at the services and costs offered by VoIP providers compared to traditional telephone companies, the reasons become obvious!First and foremost is the considerable financial advantage (often up to 60% cheaper) of talking using the Internet rather than conventional copper PSTN telephone lines. Or indeed any other hardwired mil-spec cables. On long distance or international calls for example, calls initially routed over the Internet will eventually be switched over to landlines, but not until they reach their destinations local switching station. It becomes a ‘local call’, at least as far as the telephone company is concerned, and will be charged at appropriate local rates.Rates may jump when crossing over to a cell phone network, but even so they are likely to be the lowest you can get.

IP telephony packages from providers such as Kings Electronics for example are free to set up and allow users to talk to other Kings Electronics IP Telephone numbers at no cost.Calls from and to non IP numbers from Kings Electronics are charged out at only 30p per day.Usually all calls (expect those to non IP users) are completely free and International calls are charged at local rates.Indeed, with Kings Electronics, they pay you 3 pence a minute if you get an incoming call from one of their 0871 numbers!

Naturally, you’ll need to spend something on VoIP equipment. And you don’t have to have an expert knowledge of electronic components.You can get voIP or SIP handsets nowadays from supermarkets that look just like a regular phone but plug into a router or LAN hub.You can use a softphone application if it’s already on your computer or get an Analogue Telephone Adaptor (ATA) that will make your regular phone function as an IP phopne.

Ideally you should have a broadband connection of at least 128 kbps to enhance clarity of calls and provide enough spare bandwidth for normal Internet usage like web browsing, downloading files and emails.A broadband connection is also usually ‘always-on’, so you can take and make calls without delays.

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