How Does VoIP Broadband Differ From Internet Phone Companies?
Some of us believe the so called “voip symmetries” with which the internet phone companies operate, is in some sense based on the public perception of what VoIP providers and Internet phone service providers do. There are many things that we do not know about such as how VoIP services are structured and operate, and some of the things that they have done that is both deceptive and unfair. This article will look into some of these issues and help you decide if you should continue to be loyal to your internet phone company or if you need to look for a new VoIP provider. But first let’s look at what is the VoIP Symmetry Rule all about?
The VoIP symmetries refers to the set of rules that internet phone companies use to give you the most similar call plan as your existing traditional analog carrier providers. VoIP is actually just a software that allows you to make telephone calls using your broadband internet connection instead of your cell phone carrier. VoIP providers have essentially provided you with another way to communicate. As you probably know all too well the VoIP providers actually compete against each other to win your business and provide you with the most attractive plans at the lowest rates possible.
What this means to you as the consumer is that the quality of the calling plans provided by the different VoIP providers is pretty much the same. And if there is a discrepancy you will be able to easily find it out. This leaves one thing up to us consumers to figure out. How exactly does VoIP work?
To understand how VoIP works you first need to know the basic structure of IP telephony. Every outgoing packet of data is converted from analog voice signal (or digital audio signal) into an IP packet. To send this packet of data over the internet we need a high-speed internet connection. These high-speed internet connections can be provided by either cable companies or telephone companies, or they can be provided by any number of alternatives such as Wi-Fi hotspots, dial-up connections, or even mobile phone service plans such as GSM and CDMA.
This high-speed internet connection is what VoIP uses as the basis for transferring the data packets to the destination. When this data is received, it is converted back to an analog signal, this process being referred to as analog compression. The next step is to compress the analog signal into a digital format. Once this has been done the conversion is complete and the data is ready to be used. One of the benefits of VoIP services is that they enable us to make telephone calls from our computers as if we were making telephone calls from phones at home or at work.
Although there are differences between traditional phone and VoIP providers, there is a common structure that both services use. The Internet phone companies usually offer a basic plan which provides local and toll free numbers, conference calls and voice messaging among other features. VoIP providers have an edge over landline phone providers in terms of features and flexibility, but for most people the biggest difference between the two is the pricing.
The pricing of VoIP services is quite dissimilar between the major players in the VoIP market and this makes for a difficult choice for consumers. There are two different factors that need to be considered when comparing internet phone companies. These are the monthly plan fees and minimum service level required. Each internet phone company charges differently for both these factors, so it is important to do your research before committing to a specific provider. Some companies have additional charges for services such as voice mail and call waiting. The choice really comes down to a personal situation and what works best for you.
In summary, it is clear that there are strong differences between internet phone companies. Consumers need to make sure that they are comparing options properly before making a decision on which provider will provide them with the services they need. If you already have a high speed internet connection and you are looking at options for a VoIP broadband phone provider then choosing one of the new ones may just work better for you.
