When Wireless Broadband Meets VoIP

For a long time, wireless cell phones using broadband were the only solution to communicating on the go. But a few years ago, people developed a new way to communicate with their phones and it s called VoIP, or voice over internet protocol. Many people may have already heard of Vonage, the company that pioneered the use of VoIP, but these same people may not know what it is and how it works. People also might be wondering why it s a lot cheaper than traditional wireless plans.

VoIP is a new revolutionary way to make phone calls, sometimes for free. This new technology allows you to make phone calls through your computer and an internet connection.

It uses IP addresses to connect you to whoever you re trying to call. But voIP isn t limited to just computer to computer phone calls. It can also make calls when someone is in reach of any wi-fi hotspot. All you need is a IP phone and a power supply. Of course, with every new technology, there will be up-sides and down-sides.

When you subscribe to a service like Vonage, they will only charge you around thirty dollars a month while other cell phone companies will charge around fifty. If you download VoIP software off the internet and use it to make long distance calls, it will cost you nothing in most cases and

it takes around five minutes to set it up. Now, companies are developing ways to allow people to use voIP on popular smart phones such as the Motorola Q and the Samsung Blackjack. The reason it s so cheap is that voIP costs about a two thirds less than wireless to maintain. Placing a call using VoIP will only cost a company like Vonage one third of the cost that Cingular or T-mobile has to pay. And now that people know how to convert wireless phones to IP phones using Motorola Q accessories or Samsung Blackjack Accessories, cell phone companies are starting to lose business to VoIP providers, but new technology always has certain important disadvantages.

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example, when you do not have a WI-FI signal, the phone will have no dial tone. Also, emergency calls to 911 will be a problem as well. These IP calls are untraceable so if you are unable to tell the 911 operator where you are, they won t be able to find you.

VoIP won t be a large threat to wireless companies for a decade or two because of these problems. They are not small either and it will take companies like Cingular more than a decade to switch to this cheaper technology. Stay with your expensive wireless company for now.

Natalie Aranda is a freelance writer. For a long time, wireless cell phones using broadband were

the only solution to communicating on the go. But a few years ago, people developed a new way to communicate with their phones and it s called VoIP, or voice over internet protocol. And now that people know how to convert wireless phones to IP phones using Motorola Q accessories or Samsung Blackjack Accessories, cell phone companies are starting to lose business to VoIP providers, but new technology always has certain important disadvantages.