The price of VoIP's thriftiness

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Well...

Yes I can see how you would question why someone would pay for a service like this because you can get chat for free with software + computer + internet. The problem with that is you have:

computer <-> internet <-> computer

Or there are even ways to go like this:

computer <-> internet <-> analog telephone

But in both cases you need your computer to be always on, you need to be in front of your computer which is not always as convenient as using a regular phone around the house.

The way VOIP works is like this:

analog phone <-> internet <-> analog phone

Which means you can use any of the cool cordless phones you can buy these days or any old analog phone lying around and it will just work with VOIP. You don't have to turn your computer on, you don't have to give up the computer when a family member needs to talk on the phone etc.

I have the AT&T VOIP service and it is very good. There have been a few glitches but it's not because the design is flawed, just that this is an infant technology going through growing pains.

It's cool to get an email at work telling you you got a call at home, and being able to go from anywhere with a browser and listen to your voice messages, or to have your home calls forwarded to your cell phone (up to 5 different phones, all at the same time or sequentially).

Yes my TiVo stopped working but since I already had broadband I bought a $20 Ethernet<->USB adaptor and now TiVo is happy again.

Yes I also use IM but talking on the phone and using IM are two separate things. Do you use IM when the bank calls to sort out the last of the new mortgage details?

Peter

Posted by: Qbt   Posted on: 07/19/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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