Asbroadband Internet connectivity continues to permeate throughoutsociety, communications companies are looking for new and exciting waysto capitalize on it. One way is through the introduction of broadbandInternet phone technologies. Time Warner is the latest company toannounce plans to introduce a digital phone voice service that they canuse with Internet Protocol (The most common method for sending datafrom one computer to another) to compete with some of the large-scaletelephone companies. The news is troublesome for regional phonecompanies who depend on the charges associated with long distancetelephone service to power their business.
What Exactly is VoIP?
VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a type of Internettelephony through which telephone conversations are sent and receivedacross IP networks as opposed to standard telephone wires. There aretwo ways to place VoIP calls:
- Using a digital phone that is connected to a broadband modem. Thismethod functions in the same manner as standard telephones with theexception that the call is being transferred across IP networks asopposed to telephone wires.
- Using a headset that is attached to a personal computer,people can actually make calls from their broadband connected computer.This is the older method of VoIP that is now being challenged bycompanies such as Time Warner who are offering voice services that aremore traditional in their functionality.
Time Warner VoIP Features
Some of the great features that come free with Time Warner digital phone service are:
- Enhanced 9-1-1 – Automatically transmits your address to emergency service providers.
- Call waiting – Never miss important calls. Lets you answer asecond call when you're on the phone. With the press of a button, putyour first caller on hold and connect with the second one.
- Caller ID – Find out who’s calling before you answer.
- Call waiting ID – See who’s calling before you click over.
- Call forwarding – Forward calls to an alternate number.
- Anonymous call reject – Ignore calls that don’t display Caller ID.
- Speed calling – Dial a phone number by pressing a single number on your phone.
- Unlisted number option – Choose to publish or not to publish your phone number.
- Voice mail service.
Time Warner Voice Service vs. Standard VoIP
The Time Warner Voice Service is expected to take the Internettelephony industry by storm through the implementation of varioustechniques designed to minimize costs and maximize quality. Don't missout on all of this:
- Unlimited local calling
- Unlimited in-state calling
- Unlimited long distance
- Caller ID, call waiting, speed dial and call forwarding
For a base charge of $39.95, subscribers can erase all their costlycalls by switching to a Time Warner Voice Service plan. Such a plan isespecially beneficial for large families that are spread around thecountry. Keep in touch as much as you like without having to worryabout excessive charges.
VoIP Competition
Telephone companies are not challenged as much by the VoIP serviceas they are by the cable companies who have the means to deliver theservice at lower costs. Whereas telephone companies can provide similarVoIP services, cable companies have the edge in that they can providemultiple services under a single bill. Services such as high speedbroadband Internet, digital cable and broadband telephony, can alleasily be installed and managed by the large companies such as TimeWarner, Cox, Comcast, etc.
Statistics show that nearly 60% of all households get theirbroadband Internet service from their digital cable provider. TimeWarner’s introduction of their new voice service is the beginning of anall-out competition for communications services in the home.
