VoIP technology is revolutionary in that it combines internet access with telephone service therefore utilizing the same technology for two very different things. Now, instead of having a traditional phone connection, VoIP technology enables you to use your internet broadband connection to make telephone calls.

1) So how does a VoIP phone work?

Firstly, you need a broadband connection and a router. This device works by allowing you to take phone calls as before. However, with a VoIP phone, the connection is now digital instead of through a phone line. A VoIP phone also has a gateway that connects you to a network. Your voice is then converted to a digital sound and this information can be sent in packets enabling you to have great sound and connection to people with and without the VoIP service.

2) What do you need to get started?

Of course, you need a broadband internet connection. Although VoIP can work with other internet service providers, the voice reception quality will not be as it would be with broadband.

3) What are the benefits of a VoIP phone?

The main benefit is that the VoIP phone costs much less that the traditional phone lines. This applies whether you use a cell phone or home phone service. Unlike home phone services, regular long distance callers really notice the benefits of a VoIP phone. The more long distance calls you make the more you save since with a VoIP phone the location of the caller and the person receiving the call is not important. Since you are also able to take you adapter with you, this service is perfect for the travelers among you. VoIP phones are also cost effective if you wish to add to your service. For example, instead of the normal fee of adding a phone line to your traditional home service, you need only pay a minimal amount since those with VoIP phones need to install any additional equipment.

4) Are there any disadvantages of switching to a VoIP phone?

Although there are some disadvantages, however these are minor. Poor voice quality can occur when the reception is poor. However, this is something we already have to contend with cell phones. Also, since a VoIP phone is connected to a broadband connection, if the company supplying you with this connection has any problem with its power supply, then your call will automatically be cut off. This may also occur when there is poor signal in an area.

5) What are the future applications?

Presently, the majority of companies allow you to be online at the same time as making calls. There are no limitations to this service and in this area can only grow and progress in the future. VoIP phone use will become more and more common and easier to use, as digital phones will be made. This means that a customer no longer needs a router and this will lead to VoIP phones becoming more popular than the traditional phone line.

Seymour Brown writes articles for http://www.voip-basics.com

Is you car GPS’less? That is not very nice, how would you feel to be sent out on a mission without proper guidance and directions? You know the American Automobile is an extension of one’s personality in the United States. Are you a lost sole, with no direction or sense of where you are going in life? Oh so you are not, you say? Well then why don’t you have a GPS in your car then? There are so many different models an many are relatively in expensive. You know for someone who has all the latest things, it is amazing no one has told you that you have to get a GPS? I mean GPS in your car is like the ultimate. For the person who has everything, it just makes no more sense for you to forego the latest and greatest that GPS – Global Positioning Systems have to offer.

Just think you will always know a short cut and you will therefore make up the cost of your new GPS unit in your fuel savings. You will never be lost trying to remember the landmarks from a really bad set of directions, you will never encounter another brain dead moron who is a local but cannot tell you how to get some where which is only a few blocks away? You will never be lost again, trying to vector into some elusive quadrant of the city when the roads keep bending the wrong. Imagine looking down on the city like the God Almighty and then say; “Ah, Ha!” You will certainly look like one smart cookie never needing directions and always driving right to where ever you are going, whenever you want to be there, so think on this.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

File sharers will not give up their illegal habits so easily. At least, that is what a recent study preceding the final publication of Lord Carter’s Digital Britain report has to say.

paidContent:UK, in close collaboration with media lawyers Wiggin, have concluded from a survey that warning letters from internet service providers would deter not even half of the illegal file sharers who pirate copyrighted content online.

The Digital Entertainment Survey found that most of the persistent offenders (80 per cent) would stop sharing files illegally at once if warning letters came with the grim threat of broadband disconnection. This is a significant increase from the 70 per cent of similar respondents, who admitted to mending their ways under similar circumstances when questioned for the Digital Entertainment Survey last year.

This drop can be attributed to the fact that this year respondents were asked to consider the possibility of a communication involving no definite threat. Last year’s figure was 70 per cent because the respondents had assumed that the communication was an introduction to further action. It is evident that much more focused action is required to discourage file sharers from continuing with acts of piracy.

So far, there has been a rather frigid response to the suggestion to cut off broadband connection of anyone found downloading copyright material. Charles Dunstone, the CEO of Carphone Warehouse remarked recently in an interview with The Guardian newspaper, that even with technical strategies in place, net pirates would always find new and more advanced means to download copyrighted materials. For more info on Virgin Media Broadband, a dedicated site like Broadband Genie is a good place to look, the broadband blog and articles offer a good insight into the various ISP’s practices.

Vodafone has come out with its Q4 results and has taken observers with surprise. At a time when most other industries are struggling to even survive, it seems mobile broadband service providers have had a very good year.

The company has reported a 14% spurt in growth, which on a closer look at the numbers seems to be driven by a 25% growth in data services. The company has also added close to 450,000 new subscribers in UK, which again is a very impressive achievement, given the current economic scenario.

O2, a peer of Vodafone reports its numbers later and is expected to do better than the rest of the industry. Matthew Key who is the CEO of Telefonica (O2’s parent company) believes that O2 is likely to beat the competition again this year, as it has been doing in the past. He is also quick to offer a worrying sign for the industry that consumers have become much more value conscious and much less keen on long-term deals.

The mobile industry is undergoing major technological improvements right now, with sophisticated 3G handsets and enhanced mobile broadband services being launched. After the current set of numbers, people are expecting the industry to do reasonably well in the slow down, but only a brave man can predict the extent and impact of the current recession.

Studies are beginning to show that broadband operators are beginning to turn into credit issuers just like mobile operators. Around the world, it has now become a standard practice for mobile operators to allow customers to buy digital goods and services, and then be billed on their mobile bills. Now it seems that broadband operators are beginning to follow suit and showing an interest in establishing a similar system. In addition to the basic and standard offers, broadband operators are now looking into offering 3^rd party content and services, which will generate additional revenue. The trend has already started, but the question is, how far will they go?

As broadband and mobile broadband operators open up their bills to additional charges, they should have measures in place to eliminate or minimize risks. They should also evaluate the risks vs the benefits. They could have a limit on spending based on the consumer’s credit assessment. Once the consumer reaches the limit, they should no longer be allowed to use their bills to buy goods or services. Another means would be for the operator to only pay the third party/partner after the user pays for the purchase.

These broadband and mobile broadband operators are always thinking and exploring ways to increase revenue. This kind of third-party purchases/billing is definitely one way of doing so. This essentially makes them credit issuers, but to what extent is still unclear. So far, this off-portal market has proved that the micro-payments for purchase of digital goods and services, actually yields financial benefits. The benefits and the consumer justify the risks they run when giving out the credit.

12 month free contracts are a new phenomenon and are not properly understood by the public. Perhaps the fact they are little known is the reason they are still the lowest cost phone deals being offered at the moment.

A free line rental deal is a type of 100% cashback by redemption deal. With this kind of cell phone contract you are obligated to pay the bill as normal for the first few months before you are able to claim your one hundred percent cash refund. At a later time in the deal you must remember to claim all of the costs of the cell phone back from the vendor that first gave you the cell phone.

Theoretically a 12 month free deal wont cost anything to own. Assuming of course the individual in question is rigorous in making their claim for one hundred perecent cashback by redemption. It is rare that this is as easy as it first seems because mobile stores build in a number of potential snags in the terms and conditions of free line rental deals so they can keep down the quantity of successful claimants.

12 month free is will always be a trade off, as they are usually only available with older phones. A significant drawback of free line rental products is the fact that if ever the company go under you will be unable to get your refund.

Despite the potential problems of free line rental offers they remain legitimate and customers are still able to find a cost free mobile cellular phone for full duration of a 12 month contract.

Without exception most competitive way to purchase a free line rental offer is over the internet. As free line rental offers are somewhat specialised package it is worth trying to find a good a site comparing mobile phone deals to find the best offers at the time.