Online, free phone

2005/04/03 Rementeria Argote, Nagore - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa

• Teknologia

Being in front of the computer, you do not need the phone: just access the Internet and use headphones and microphone.

For the moment, it has not replaced the usual phone, but it has been possible to reduce at least the phone bills of many companies and households. We refer to the programs of realization and reception of calls through the Internet. These programs use the Internet Protocol (IP) to send and receive voice. Skype was the first, followed by many others.

The IP calls are free among clients of the same company (to put it in some way, those made from one computer to another, although not necessarily so), and can also be called to the usual phones, with a much cheaper rate than usual, for about two cents per minute.

The increase in internet calls is due to the improvement of the network. Initially the quality of calls was not very good, but broadband has spread to a large number of locations, not only in companies but also in private homes, which allows the voice to arrive quickly and cleanly. In addition, it can be used via Wi Fi, that is, in the wired connections, and it is logical to think that from now on calls will also improve to the same extent as connections, which will be more comfortable.

Cheapest invoice for some

If the mobile phone has Internet access, the call can be made by IP.

At the moment there are not many people who call on the internet. However, more and more, the number of users increases by 200% each year. And when most people have the opportunity to do so, the revolution will come because then there will be no phone bills or at least they will be very cheap. Meanwhile, those who make many international calls will notice the decrease in the bill and those who make many calls to mobile phones.

And the real revolution will be when phone calls are made via IP. And that's not so far. These third generation phones already offer the possibility to access the Internet, just download the right program from the Internet so that phone calls are much cheaper. It is easier for some mobile phones to bring installed these programs in the future. For example, Motorola reaches an agreement with Skype and new phones will bring software to make calls via IP.

Although we call anywhere in the world, call the place where we call, the phone call is worth the same.

So, what is not paid on the monthly bill will probably be spent on buying one of them. But calls can also be made from the computer itself or from an electronic agenda. It requires fast connection and software to the Internet, including a microphone and speakers or headphones. However, there is the possibility to connect to a computer a phone similar to the usual one, which IP call companies offer in the form of a conventional phone, but with a USB connection to join the computer.

Use of use

Making an Internet call is not complicated, the operation is similar to that of email. Just access this website that offers this type of calls, register and download the program to the computer. It must be taken into account that at the time of registration you must advance about ten euros for calls to be made (you have to have credit to make calls, as in some mobile phones the card is charged).

Instead of having a phone number, it is usually a username and password, which each has chosen, and to call someone is also made by name. In this way, in the agenda that exists in this window, instead of being numbers, names appear. In addition to the agenda, it shows whether someone has called (missed calls) and where the last calls have been made or received. Of course, if you want to call a regular phone it is also possible to dial numbers.

The phone was a revolution in its day and can now be a second revolution thanks to the Internet.

On the other hand, like some chats, which people on the agenda are connected at that time to avoid unnecessary calls.

Useful, of good quality... it is clear what is the following question: Why is it so cheap? The traditional phone is the cable, the maintenance of copper cables. Therefore, the farther it is called the more expensive it is. However, for IP calls the Internet network is used and the distribution of the program or call software is free, since they have no production cost.

In view of these tough competitors, large telephone companies have already begun to ask for the support of the law so that there is no unfair competition. But it is better to live if they do not want to stay behind. The largest British telephone company, for example, plans to offer an IP network to all its customers in five or six years, and ensure that Google is also willing to offer IP calls. Start the race to take over the internet call market.

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