What is VoIP?

VoIP means making “phone” calls using the Internet to transfer your voice instead of traditional phone cables.

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol.

In layman’s terms, your Voice is converted to ones and zeros and sent over the Internet to someone else, and vice-versa. (The Protocol part makes up the commonly used term “Internet Protocol”, which means the rules and mechanisms via which data is transmitted over the Internet).

Because there’s only the Internet between you and the person you are talking to, there are often no charges over and above your Internet Service Provider fees. Once your voice is converted to data and put out on the ‘net, the ‘net doesn’t discriminate – it’s all data and so there’s no reason to charge you extra.

The term VoIP can also cover situations where only one end of the call is on the Internet and the other end is on a traditional phone. In this case there are generally charges involved as the traditional phone network has to be used to do this.

Advantages of VoIP over traditional phones

• It’s generally free for pure VoIP calls, and cheap for international calls to traditional phones
• On pure VoIP calls (where no traditional phone is involved), the call can sound a lot “higher-fidelity” than a traditional phone
• Natural tie-in with many PC applications (e.g. contact managers)

Disadvantages

• The Internet has no “Quality of service” built in, so on some calls quality can be poor (although generally if you and the callee both have good broadband connections this doesn’t tend to be a problem)
• Messing around with a headset on your PC can be a pain
• Generally can’t be used to make emergency calls
• Sometimes can’t be used to call freecall numbers (e.g. 1800-).

Popular VoIP Providers

• Skype
• Gizmo Project
• Vonage
• ViaTalk
• Verizon VoiceWing
• AT&T CallVantage
• SunRocket
• Lingo
• NetZeroVoice
• BroadVoice

SkypeIn is Skype terminology for being able to take calls from normal phones using Skype.

Obviously for people to be able to call you on Skype using a plain old traditional phone or mobile/cell phone, they need a number to call. So when you sign up for SkypeIn, the people at Skype give you your very own number. When people dial that number from any phone, your Skype application (or Skype phone if you have one) will ring.

(One of the interesting things about this number is that you can ask the people at Skype to give you a number in your own country, or in a number of overseas countries. So, you could be living in London but answering calls made to a Los Angeles number for instance).

The following steps show you how to get a SkypeIn number (or multiple SkypeIn numbers if you want). The steps assume that you already have Skype installed and set up. (If you don’t, click here to see how to do that).

1. A SkypeIn number needs to be purchased. Unfortunately at present this is a separate process to purchasing SkypeOut credit – hopefully the people at Skype will streamline this in the future. In the meantime, it’s basically a separate deal. You can purchase your unique SkypeIn number here.

2. After completing the purchase process, wait to receive a confirmation email from Skype. Once it’s all confirmed, your number will be active and ready to take calls.

3. If you would like calls automatically answered and placed in your Outlook inbox, click here for instructions. With Skype and Skylook you also have lots of other services available to you – click here for more details.

In a nutshell, SkypeIn is basically the opposite of SkypeOut. If you want to call normal phones and have them be able to call you, you need both SkypeIn and SkypeOut.

SkypeOut is Skype terminology for making calls to standard phone lines. This includes land lines and mobile/cell phones – i.e. any number you can call from a standard phone except emergency numbers (e.g. 000, 999) and, in some cases, toll-free numbers.

SkypeOut calls are charged per minute. The rates are cheap (comparable to calling card rates). Quality can vary, from nearly equivalent to a normal phone, to very patchy, depending on a variety of factors. Calls to mobile phones can be problematic, as the glitches on the mobile network compound with glitches on the Skype network and internet, making some calls unworkable. However Skype are working to improve this and you can expect quality to improve over time.

The following steps show you how to make a SkypeOut call. They assume that you already have Skype installed and set up. (If you don’t, click here to see how to do that).

To make a SkypeOut call:

1. Click here to add some Skype Credit to your account.

2. Wait for a confirmation email from Skype and for your new Skype Credits to appear added to your Skype balance.

3. Click on the “Dial” tab within Skype. Make sure the selected country is correct,

4. Dial the number by clicking the numbers on the keypad. You will need to include an area code, even for numbers that are within the same area code as you. Don’t worry, you won’t be charged long distance rates (Skype charge you the same low rate regardless from where in the world you are calling), however keep in mind that the charging is time-based, so on longer calls you may be charged more than for a local call using your normal phone, if your phone service provider provides fixed price local calls.

5. Click on the green call button and wait for the person you are calling to answer.

If you would like to be able to call contacts directly from Outlook, using the phone numbers stored in Outlook, read about our product Skylook, here.

In a nutshell, SkypeOut is basically the opposite of SkypeIn. If you want to call normal phones and have them be able to call you, you need both SkypeOut and SkypeIn. You can purchase your unique SkypeIn number here.

For introductory information on Skype and how to use it, click here.

For information on how to make the most out of Skype if you use Microsoft Outlook, click here.

To learn more about Skype, how it works and its history, click here.

Visit the Skype website.