| VoIP is a means of telephone service made | | | | is still not as dependable as conventional telephone |
| available through the ever-expanding popularity of | | | | lines. This means that if there is a problem with |
| broadband internet service. VoIP (or "Voice over | | | | internet service, there will be no telephone service |
| Internet Protocol") services enable users to call | | | | as well. While this can be very inconvenient for |
| extremely long distances over the World Wide | | | | home use, it can be downright devastating for |
| Web without accruing large conventional | | | | businesses that find themselves in a situation with |
| long-distance telephone fees. In order to use | | | | no phones. Additionally, the unavailability of |
| VoIP, customers must have an existing | | | | telephone service during a power interruption can |
| broadband internet connection in place. The VoIP | | | | leave people stranded with no phone service |
| carrier provides a new phone number, access to | | | | during emergencies, which can have |
| the service, and for an additional fee, the phone | | | | life-threatening consequences. |
| equipment as well. While companies such as | | | | Finally, the quality of phone calls that VoIP |
| Vonage and Skype helped pioneer the industry by | | | | services offer can range from very good to very |
| making people more aware of the technology, | | | | unacceptable. While many customers rave about |
| large conventional telephone carriers are also | | | | their clear service, others regularly complain of |
| stepping up in order to offer their own VoIP | | | | dropped calls, strange sounds, delays, and echo. |
| services, proving that the technology is maturing. | | | | Delays are commonplace in VoIP phone calls and |
| However, despite the large backing of major | | | | many expect the problems to become worse |
| telephone carriers, VoIP still isn't perfect. | | | | before they get better because, as with anything |
| The most notable of existing VoIP problems is | | | | else on the internet, VoIP calling is subject to |
| the lack of an adequate infrastructure and | | | | hacking. Therefore, companies will be scrambling |
| effective back end system. Though as the | | | | to implement security patches in place, possibly at |
| companies and divisions that are devoted to VoIP | | | | the sacrifice of quality, at least at first. |
| services implement increasing usable standards in | | | | However, even though VoIP may not be as |
| place this aspect grows less worrisome. However, | | | | reliable as traditional telephone communication just |
| in the beginning, billing issues as well as IP concerns | | | | yet, there really should be no surprise. Traditional |
| had some companies, particularly those that | | | | telephone services have had the better part of a |
| specialized in conventional phone services, reeling. | | | | century in which to perfect their networks and it |
| Another large weakness that VoIP exhibits when | | | | still isn't perfect, either. For the cost, VoIP cannot |
| compared to traditional home phone service is | | | | be beat if you have a contingency line in case |
| that VoIP is reliant on a broadband connection | | | | your power or broadband goes out. If you |
| (dial-up internet is too slow), service up-time, and | | | | already have broadband internet service then the |
| power, whereas a traditional phone service | | | | equipment and monthly VoIP service fees should |
| combined with an older, powerless phone needs | | | | be affordable enough to utilize the service in spite |
| none of them. While broadband internet service | | | | of its flaws - which are only going to become |
| has become much more reliable in recent years, it | | | | minuter as the technology matures. |