Residential
& Small Office / Home Office VoIP
Products and services of value
to residential users and small office applications.
Enterprise level VoIP is gross overkill
for the residential user, even if you are running a small business
out of your home. You can still enjoy the advantages of Internet
Telephony and broadband Internet computing without having to
pay thousands of dollars needed to support large enterprise network
bandwidths.
Broadband at Reasonable Prices
There are often multiple options for broadband data service to
the home. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each:
Cable Internet
- This is often your lowest cost option for usually fast and
reliable high speed Internet access. You need to have a Cable
TV company in your area with cable service to your door. In most
populated areas that's a given these days. But, if you live in
a newer subdivision or out in the country, you may be out of
luck. Cable Internet is cheapest when you also subscribe to Cable
TV. There is usually a discount for taking both services. Speed
can be 2 or 3 Mbps download and 125 to 300 Kbps upload. However,
don't be surprised if you get much less than this during peak
times of the day. That's because Cable Internet is oversubscribed
in the sense that you share a fixed bandwidth connection with
many of your neighbors. If they're all downloading songs and
software, your web speed will just poke along. The service is
usually reliable but short outages are common each week, especially
during the overnight maintenance period. With a home router,
Cable Internet will support several computers and VoIP phone.
You don't even need a telephone line to your house if you don't
want one. Check
Cable Internet Prices Here
DSL -
Digital Subscriber Line is a broadband Internet service that
shares your main telephone line. The phone works the same as
always for voice and FAX. The Internet transmissions are multiplexed
on the phone lines at frequencies above the voice range. Since
the isolation process isn't perfect, you may well need filters
on each phone or a splitter for the whole house to keep DSL noises
out of your phone calls. DSL is also reasonably reliable, but
not guaranteed at any given time. It may also be oversubscribed
so that your speed can vary throughout the day. DSL is unique
in that the speed you can get depends on how far you are from
the phone office. The longer the phone lines, the slower the
line speed. Once again, if you are out in the country or connected
to an office that hasn't upgraded for DSL, you are out of luck.
Check DSL Internet Prices
Here
Wireless
- Some areas are now offering wireless Internet service. It might
also be called community WiFi as the technology is very similar.
You generally have to be within a few miles of the nearest tower
and have a direct line of site between the antenna they mount
on your roof and the wireless station antenna. Speeds can be
excellent if you qualify for this this type of service. There
is a new wireless standard under development called WiMax. The
Max means maximum, as in maximum distance which is 20 or 30 miles.
This technology may well become the 800 Lb. gorilla of Internet
service in a few years when it is rolled out.
Satellite
- Two-Way Internet service via satellite dish is available in
most any location in the 48 US states when you have a clear view
of the southern sky where the satellites are parked. Plus power,
of course. Power could be provided by a gas generator or solar
cells for your secluded cabin office in the woods. Speed is lower
than what you generally get with other broadband options, but
at least double dial-up speeds or faster. Forget VoIP with satellite
service. The birds are so far away that even at the speed of
light it takes half a second for a call to go from phone to phone.
If you want phone service via satellite, plan on operating it
like a walkie talkie or CB radio. Only one person can talk at
a time and you need to pause between transmit and receive or
you'll be talking over each other. Satellite is also pricey.
It costs double what you'll pay for DSL or Cable and you'll have
to pony up $500 to $1,000 for a satellite earth station. Even
so, here's a way to get Internet service in locations that don't
even offer decent landlines. Check
Satellite Internet Prices Here.
Fractional T1
- Business grade T1 service is highly reliable and available
in most locations. It is delivered over two ordinary phone lines.
It is highly reliable Internet service with 1.5 Mbps available
for both upload and download. The only fly in the ointment is
the price. This high grade service starts around $450 to $500
a month and can go over $1,000 a month if you are located in
the boonies where such services aren't common. Fortunately, you
can buy a piece of T1, called fractional T1 for a fraction of
the monthly price. For small offices with only a few computers
and phone needs, fractional T1 can give you the reliability and
speed you need for business purposes at a reasonable price. Check Fractional T1 Prices Here.
VoIP for the Residential and Small Office
Enterprise VoIP solutions usually involve private branch exchange
(PBX) systems that serve hundred or even thousands of employees.
If all you need are one or two phone lines for telephone and
fax calls, there are much more appropriate services starting
at under $20 a month. Yes, VoIP for VERY reasonable prices. Instead
of having to buy and manage a lot of complex equipment, the service
provider handles all the software, central switching and connections
back to the public switched phone system. You just buy a special
Internet enabled phone or an adaptor that lets you plug in your
regular telephone and fax machine. Many services will provide
you with use of an adaptor that is already set up for their system
for no additional costs.
Advantages of VoIP include flat based pricing
for domestic USA calls or even USA plus Canada. Calls between
phones on the same VoIP service are usually no extra cost even
if they are International. That's because VoIP to VoIP phone
calls stay on the Internet, which you are already paying for
worldwide access. Even if calls leave the Internet to ring conventional
phones, the international rates are extremely attractive. VoIP
packages generally include such niceties as caller ID, call forwarding,
call waiting and other features the phone companies charge extra
for. Did you know that you can also select the area code for
your VoIP phone number? Try that with a regular phone company.
Having an area code in another city can be a money saving proposition
if you have many customers or relatives in that area.
Voice quality for broadband VoIP is excellent
if you have a reliable broadband connection, even one that is
shared with your computer. Forget dial-up. You can make calls
on your home computer over dial-up Internet, but the voice quality
is more like a two-way radio than what you are used to with telephone
service. Most VoIP services also aren't recommended as your only
phone. E911 service is not universally available and costs extra
in most cases. Also, if you lose power or your broadband connection,
you've lost phone service. Even so, as a second phone or business
phone, VoIP service is hard to beat. If all you have now is a
cell phone and non-DSL broadband, you won't even need to install
a regular phone line. Find
Residential and Small Business VoIP Services Here.
