VoIP Services - An Introduction

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about VoIP services.

"Can you please briefly explain to me what VoIP is?"

VoIP stands for "Voice over internet protocol." A VoIP phone, (or "broadband phone") is a phone service which connects to your existing high-speed internet connection for the purpose of making and receiving phone calls.

With a traditional landline, you use your phone to make calls over the copper wires running on traditional telephone poles.

There are two kinds of VoIP services: phone-based and computer-based.

With phone-based services, you use your standard phone equipment. With computer-based services you plug a headset and microphone into your computer and make calls that way.

"How do I receive or make a VoIP phone call?"

With a phone-based service you'd do what you always do: pick up the phone to answer it or dial a number to place a call. You won't notice any difference, really.

With a computer-based service, you can make (or receive) calls using a headset and microphone that's plugged into your computer.

"Can I call any phone or just another VoIP phone?"

Most providers now enable you to call any phone number in the world -- local calls, long-distance calls, calls to cellphones, or even international numbers.

However, there are still some computer-based VoIP services providers that still limit you to calling other subscribers to that service (what they call "User to User").

Either way, you'll probably have the option of getting several kinds of features as part of your VoIP services: speaking with more than one person at a time with "Conference Calling" or "Three-way Calling", caller ID, etc.

"How's the voice quality?"

The quality of VoIP services have improved quite a bit over the years to the extent that you probably won't be able to tell the difference between VoIP and a standard landline.

However, voice clarity may vary depending on the specific VoIP services provider. It can also depend on the speed and quality of your high-speed internet connection.

Before you sign up, you may want to talk to other users of the service you are considering.

"Do I need a computer to make or receive calls?"

Not if you have a phone-based VoIP service. You will need an adapter (which you can get from the VoIP services provider). This adapter will connect your phone to your high-speed internet connection.

You'll need a computer if you use computer-based VoIP services.

"Do I do anything different to make a long-distance call versus a local call?"

No difference. What may be different is how much you are charged to make the call, based on who you go with for your VoIP services. But generally speaking, long-distance rates are pretty low. Not only that: many VoIP services providers will make unlimited long-distance a standard feature of their plans.

"OK, let's get technical. How do VoIP services work?"

Like it says, Voice over IP means you are using internet protocols to make and receive phone calls. More specifically, you are using packet switching technology instead of the more traditional circuit switching used in "old-fashioned" phone systems.

What this means is that your call is converted into small digital packets, each of which is marked to indicate that it is part of a larger message. Then it is compressed and sent on its way over several different pathways or routes. Traditional phone systems would use a single route, which was not very efficient -- too much wasted capacity. The routes are chosen depending on network congestion, etc.

At the other end, the packets are put back together in the proper sequence, then decompressed and converted back into a voice message that your party can understand.

Hope that wasn't too technical!

Ara Rubyan is not a part of the VoIP industry, nor does he sell VoIP services, nor does he pretend to be a guru of any kind. Instead, he is like you: a consumer, a business owner, and someone who has been researching the industry so that he could make an informed decision about the best VoIP service for his needs. Now, he's put all his research (so far) in one convenient location and he's sharing it with you, no strings attached.

For more info on VoIP services, visit Ara Rubyan's VoIP Solution.

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A Late Start - But All Is Not Lost!

Theres still time to build that retirement nest egg.

History has shown us one of the most amazing financial shifts ever, as weve gone from being a nation of savers to a nation of investors. Even somewhat more amazing is that it has happened in less than a generations time.

Welcome to chronologically speaking, middle age or as I like to call it: The AARP Generation.

With retirement just around the corner and old age looming in the suddenly not-so-distant future for those of us in the baby boomer generation, financial concerns have become critically important. Just where do we find the extra income or the how to generate that extra income for those maybe not so golden years?

In the past we might have skipped the newspapers financial pages to read the sports section or worked on the crossword puzzle. Now we find the earnings reports and mutual fund listings endlessly fascinating weather online or reading the paper.

The challenge facing many of us even if we arent baby boomers is how to finance our busy lives while trying to save for our retirement years or maybe other unforeseen expenses. This challenge looms even larger day by day as we get closer to retirement. One of the best ways to meet the challenge is to start a small home based business.

For generations, security and safety were more important than high returns on investments. Having grown up during or in the aftermath of the Great Depression, they were very reluctant to put their money in anything that involved substantial risk. Investing hard-earned dollars in the stock market was only for gamblers and speculators, not for the average person. A mattress was a safer place for any of their extra money.

Their plan for building wealth was pretty straight-forward. Stay with the same company for a long time and forget about any other business opportunity. Rely on a great pension plan from that employer, and salt away any extra income in a federally insured personal savings account.

For our generation, however the blueprint has changed and earning extra income from home has become a business opportunity for many.

Traditional pension programs and savings accounts have all but disappeared. The number of workers covered by traditional pension plans has dropped 73% over the past 20 years. Nationwide, according to the latest federal data, personal savings have dropped from about 10% of disposable income in 1980 to -1% in 2006. In other words people today, weather a one or two income family, spend more money than they make. By the way, the credit card companies love it.

The primary source of retirement savings/pension income today is a 401(k) account. Again we have gone from savers - investors, safety - risk. Making a home based business one of the best ways to make extra income and take advantage of the many tax savings available to those working at home.

The main problem is that our generation came late to the 401(k) game. Whether through career changes, conversions from traditional pension plans or some unforeseen circumstance we really werent prepared to manage our own retirement funds. Now many of us are trying to make up for lost time with an extra income from a network marketing company or some other small business opportunity.

The 401s always work best if you start saving a good percentage (10%) of your income very early in your working life. Future generations will be much better prepared to invest over their entire working lives and manage their own resources. The problem for those now nearing retirement age is how to invest those dollars to provide a decent return. Even the simplest calculation demonstrates the problem. If youll need $3,000 a month in extra income and you plan on living for 20 years in retirement, youll need to accumulate $720,000 in your 401(k) or by other means. Now thats a lot of extra income to make up for, if you got in the game late.

So, let I ask How is your retirement savings plan doing?

To make up for lost time, some people will be tempted to choose very aggressive, and very risky, equity investment options. This may seem wise today, but tomorrow it could be one of the worst moves you could have made. Has anyone watched what the market has done in the last couple of weeks? Great America theme parks could model one of their rides after it. This also makes an online business opportunity or work at home business all the more palatable.

Ready or not, were all capitalists today. The game of saving for retirement has changed the landscape of our future and betting our futures on what the Dow Jones will be on the day we retire is a high-risk and a high-stakes game that we cant afford to lose.

Eleanor Roosevelt said it very well: The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Why risk everything on a roller coaster? The sooner you get in a small business opportunity, the sooner you can earn the extra income it looks like well all need.

Watch for more articles on this and other subjects

As Always, God Bless and Always Remember To Make It A Great Day!!

Michael J Kohn New Image Marketing Group, Inc.

Please Visit Us At: http://www.PassiveMillions.com

Michael Kohn has been in sales and marketing for over 25 years. He currently makes a living as president of New Image Marketing Group Inc., an internet marketing and direct sales company. He brings a modern and easy-to-follow approach to direct and on-line selling. A native of Wisconsin, Mike was previously an insurance claims adjuster for the banking industry. He then spent over 20 years as the Director of Account Executives for a specialty lines insurance agency. He was responsible for maintaining a multi-million dollar account base. Mike left the corporate world 5 years ago and continues to enjoy both the time and financial freedom his internet business has provided for him and his family.

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