Posted on 06/16/2006 7:29:01 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Voice over IP wielding the knife, says analyst
VoIP technology spells the end of traditional home telephone numbers, according to an industry analyst.
A study by JupiterResearch claims that the rise in fixed/mobile telephone services appeals strongly to Europeans, and that location will cease to be important for either making or receiving calls.
The report said that 27 per cent of consumers are already interested in regularly using their mobile phone in place of their home telephone.
"VoIP will convert the home telephone from analogue to digital and, once digital, the home telephone number will become unfixed," said Ian Fogg, lead author of the reports and senior analyst at JupiterResearch.
"It will no longer be available just at home, but in the office, in internet cafes and even on mobile phones."
Fogg explained that VoIP telephony is attractive to consumers because services are cheap and flexible.
The study found that PC-based VoIP telephony already appeals to 17 per cent of consumers in Europe, with 21 per cent interested in diverting their home telephone to a mobile phone showing their desire to use their home telephone number wherever they are.
However, Fogg warned that services must be allowed to operate across other providers' systems if uptake is to be successful.
"Mobile operators and internet VoIP competitors must lobby to ensure that their VoIP services operate unimpeded across other ISPs' connections, or they must be prepared to invest in fixed broadband to ensure the security of network supply for their VoIP services," he said.
I somehow doubt that. VoIP is still obscure. The cell phone has much more to do with the demise of landline phones at home.
I have now switched over all telephone land lines to VoIP.
I get two separate numbers (my old ones) with totally unlimited local and long distance, eFax, VoiceMail, Anonymous Call Rejection, etc. for $19.95 per month total. Plus state tax of $1.20. That's it. I have Cable Broadband for $44.95 per month. I am saving around $200 per month just on telephones!
I hae a voip line and a land line. I'm not giving up my land line ..quality is spotty. With DSL it's awful when I'm trying to do more than one thing on the computer. Might be better with cable internet.
I just got Vonage for my home business phones, after getting tired of Comcast's high costs, and AT&T's lousy, noisy connection.
Voip is the way to go. Full digital with web reporting of incoming and outgoing calls, email notification and forwarding, the whole bit.
Careful of porting a number though. I takes forever, so be sure you're happy with the service before you commit.
The quality of Skype connections a degraded considerably IMHO.
I can't believe how many people are using it.
The quality of Skype connections HAS degraded considerably IMHO.
Yeah, the key is the upload speed. You need a minimum of 80 Kbps. I was having occasional problems, but did some tricks to port settings on the router and it's been great ever since. I really like the call blocking features. That makes it worthwhile.
Can I interest you in 40,000 rotary coin telephones? They are in perfectly functional condition. For the mere sum of $50 each, I will throw in the mechanical switchgear. Cash up front.
What color is the sky on your planet?
I had Vonage, but they would not provide the call blocking. I have all the same other features, such as forwarding, etc. at less than half their $24.95 for each line. $9.95 per line for unlimited.
Global wireless will do the same for VOIP
Don't you need a fixed IP address for that?
Nope.
We had VoIP. Hubby is a network guy as a profession, and was gung ho. We also have cable hookup so figured, no problem. After trying it for months, we cancelled. IMHO, not ready for primetime yet.
Cheap, yes....quality and consistency....awful. Our provider would switch between a 10 digit phone number and a 7 digit number, even though they swore we'd have a 7 digit number (which is what is the norm in the area. )
Say you give your doctor your phone number, he's used to a 7 number digit, but he tries to call you back and can't get through on the 7 digit number...no way he's going to figure out to use a 10 digit.
That was just one problem. Whoosing noises, interference, etc. made it a disaster.
For the difference of 20 bucks a month we have a Verizon landline, with lots of features and unlimited minutes to Canada and USA, anytime of the day or night...after using Vonage, and being sorely disappointed, it's 20 bucks we don't mind spending.
"Cars are obscure, nobody's going to buy them." -- Hank's Buggy & Horses, Inc.
Can it compete with VoIP on a cost basis?
I have voip myself.. AT & T Callvantage.. Awesome service..
We got Vonage about 8 months ago and love it. That plus Comcast Broadband and it's around $70 per month. Saves us a fortune.
What`s next? Cochlear implants? It`s getting pretty nutzo seeing all these creeple seemingly talking to themselves as they walk down the street. I was at a stoplight the other day and I almost gave this guy a buck when he walked by my car, until I saw the device. "By God, he is not an insane money grubber about to ask me for a quarter!!"
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