VoIP

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP as it is called, has become a very popular computer communication tool on a global scale. Major telephone companies are singing the blues because VoIP phone service is taking a bite out of their profits. Cheap long-distance phone calls over the Internet are the biggest benefit to switching over to a VoIP phone service. There are so many VoIP service providers today that the global communications landscape has been revolutionized by VoIP technology. The cost-effective technology has emerged as a powerful force in the market.

Advantages to VoIP

Businesses around the world can reduce their monthly telephone bills and enhance their communications network by employing VoIP solutions. Efficiency and productivity levels are up, and costs can be reduced significantly. This is a major benefit to any company that finds its current phone service too expensive. Many companies have also seen their employee productivity increase as well.

Another advantage to VoIP is that you may find several features – which your regular phone service provider cannot offer you – are included in most VoIP service packages as standard features. Even if some VoIP service providers charge a fee for these features, they will still be less costly when you use a VoIP service compared to a standard landline service. You could save as much as 75 percent on your monthly bill.

Too Good to be True?

When people hear the words “cheap Internet phone calls,” there is an immediate appeal, but is VoIP phone service for everyone? Most of the time, when it comes to new technology like this, the hype outweighs the reality. Granted, VoIP technology has changed the way we think about making phone calls, but with any new product or technology, there are bound to be bugs or glitches. Also, VoIP phone service isn’t available to everyone yet.

Current United States statistics show that in 2004, there were approximately 1.2 million VoIP phone service subscribers. It is now estimated that by 2009, there will be nearly 24 million – that’s 20 times the growth! In the Asia and the Pacific Rim, there are currently 12.8 million users and the projection is that it will reach nearly 93 million users by 2012. By 2011, estimates claim that there will be 1.2 billion VoIP service users globally, and this will account for revenues in excess of $150 billion (USD). As it stands right now, there are approximately 15,000 new subscribers to a VoIP phone service every month.