IP telephones...what do you think?

[RhinoZ]

Hi Ya Folks,
Have you heard anything about this? Will it be the same quality as internet calls with a computer, soundcard and microphone.
Just wondering what this is about, and if it's any good.
Thanks

[Jammrock]

There are many types of IP telephones and VoIP (Voice over IP) services. If you want a good IP telephone style service check out Skype. They use their own compression scheme and it sounds fantastic without sucking up huge amounts of bandwidth. It actually sounds better than regular telephones.

If you want to use your regular telephone, but call over the internet you have two options. One you can hook up with a VoIP provider like Packet8 (who I use). You plug the VoIP box into your router, phone into the VoIP box and you're off. You dial out and recieve calls like a regular phone, both incoming and outgoing.

The other option is to get a USB phone. You can use services like Skype with phones like this one from CyberPhoneK and the Siemens Gigaset M34 USB. They connect to your computer via USB, and then you use them to call other Skype users.

There are a ton of similar services all over the place. Skype just happens to be one of my favorite.

Jammrock

[Greebe]

Sasq has one

[SpiralDragon]

how about internetwork oprabiliity and compatibility..? can you make cals to users from other ISPs?

[Greebe]

Originally posted by SpiralDragon
how about internetwork oprabiliity and compatibility..?

I'm sure some people won't be able to use based on their workplace security policies and all that jazz but otherwise shouldn't be a problem

can you make cals to users from other ISPs?

yep, have chatted with several members here around the globe

[GT98]

I use Vonage myself. Been pretty happy with it but I have to call my cable company since they have my upload capped and I some times get crappy connections with the phone because of it.

[breezer]

We are seriously looking a wireless voip at work, I have seen alcatels offering and will see ayaya next week.
Watching some one lifting up their lap top and talking into it was quire funny.
To do this properly is not cheap the hand sets will cost £600 each.
breezer

[Sasq]

Aye I have one, works quite well, but services here are very different to OS.

[rylan]

We have a Cisco IP phone system at work, and I'll tell you I hate the thing. Depending on the network conditions, we get lag and/or echo on conference calls, and the dialing features are sucky.

[stcynic]

Hmmmm I was just looking into Packet8 and noticed one thing: it does not support usage of 911. I am not sure about other VoIP providers.

This is a deal breaker for me, unfortunately.

[Wombat]

Originally posted by breezer
We are seriously looking a wireless voip at work, I have seen alcatels offering and will see ayaya next week.
Watching some one lifting up their lap top and talking into it was quire funny.
To do this properly is not cheap the hand sets will cost £600 each.
breezer

At work we use ones from a company called SpectraLink.

[RedRed]

I read this a couple of days ago....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3791319.stm

funny how it comes around

for our non UK friends, BT is the UKs premier telco

[Jammrock]

Originally posted by stcynic
Hmmmm I was just looking into Packet8 and noticed one thing: it does not support usage of 911. I am not sure about other VoIP providers.

This is a deal breaker for me, unfortunately.

Most of them currently don't. They are beginning to implement 911 service, but the infrastructure is not in yet.

Jammrock

[rylan]

The really fun thing is say you're trying to call somebody, so we have to dial 9 for an outside line, then 1 for longdistance and the areacode. If you accidently hit the 1 twice (or forget to dial the 0 for international), or take too long to dial after pressing 9+1, it dials 911 and the police have to show up no matter what.