What is VoIP?

1. What is VoIP/Internet Voice?
VoIP allows you to make telephone calls using a computer network, over a data network like the Internet. VoIP converts the voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that travels over the Internet then converts it back at the other end so you can speak to anyone with a regular phone number. When placing a VoIP call using a phone with an adapter, you'll hear a dial tone and dial just as you always have. VoIP may also allow you to make a call directly from a computer using a conventional telephone or a microphone.

2. How Can I Place a VoIP Call?
Depending on the service, one way to place a VoIP call is to pick up your phone and dial the number, using an adaptor or IP Phone that connects to your existing high-speed Internet connection. The call goes through C3Call Telecom, your VoIP provider. The phone call goes over the Internet to the called party's local telephone company for the completion of the call. Another way is to utilize a microphone headset plugged into your computer or commonly known as PC to Phone. The number is placed using the keyboard and is routed through similar broadband connections.

3. What Kind of Equipment Do I Need?
A broadband (high speed Internet) connection is required. This can be through a cable modem, or high speed services such as DSL or a local area network. You can hook up an inexpensive microphone to your computer and send your voice through a cable modem or connect a phone directly to a telephone adaptor or have a IP Phone.

4. Is there a difference between making a Local Call and a Long Distance Call?
No, there is no difference between Local Call and Long Distance Call, if you subscribe to C3Call’s ON-NET service; your calls between subscribers are FREE. This means you will not incur long distance charges if you call a number in within C3Call subscribers base regardless of geography.
C3Call only charges call for long distance or International call to a PSTN number, similar to existing or traditional landline telephone service.

5. Is it possible to use IP Phone behind a IP-Sharing device such as DHCP / NAT?
Yes, IP Phone can work behind any IP-Sharing devices directly without requiring any additional configurations on the IP-Sharing device, just plug in the IP Phone, and it will look for any available IP address to be assigned accordingly. The NAT-pass-through technology works well for all IP Phones tested by C3Call Telecom.

6. If I have VoIP service, who can I call?
Depending upon your service, you may call other subscribers within the network [Please see What’s VAPP for more Information], or you may be able to call any phone number, anywhere in the world. The call can be made to a local number, a mobile phone, to a long distance number, or an international number. You may even utilize the service to speak with more than one person at a time. The person you are calling does not need any special equipment, just a phone.

7. What Are Some Advantages of Internet Voice?
Because VoIP is digital, it may offer features and services that are not available with a traditional phone. If you have a broadband Internet connection, you need not maintain and pay the additional cost for a line just to make telephone calls.
With our ON-NET VoIP option, you can talk for as long as you want with any person in the world (the requirement is that the other person has an Internet connection). You can also talk with many people at the same time without any additional cost.

8. What Are Some disadvantages of Internet Voice?
If you're considering replacing your traditional telephone service with VoIP, there are some possible differences:

  • VoIP services don't work during power outages unless you have Uninterruptible Power Supply (or UPS) attached to your broadband router/hub and IP Phone.
  • VoIP services are not connected directly to emergency services such as 995 and 999. These are barred.
  • VoIP numbers are not listed on public telephone directory/white page listings.

9. Can I use my Computer While I talk on the Phone?
Yes

10. Can I Take My Phone Adapter with me When I Travel?
You may be able to use your VoIP service wherever you travel as long as you have a high speed Internet connection available. In that case it would work the same as from your home or business.

11. Does my Computer Have to be Turned on?
Not if you are making calls with a phone and adaptor or IP phone, but your broadband Internet connection needs to be active. You can also use your computer while talking on the phone.

12. How Do I Know If I have a VoIP phone Call?
It will ring like any other call.

13. How much IP bandwidth is needed for each VoIP Calll?
Approximately 15 kbps (Kilo bits per second) is needed for one way of VoIP voice traffic.

14. Does the local Infocom Authority Regulate VoIP?
Yes, countries with liberalized telecommunications laws have worked to create an environment promoting competition and innovation to benefit consumers. Historically, like in the USA the FCC has not regulated the Internet or the services provided over it. On February 12, 2004, the FCC found that an entirely Internet-based VoIP service was an unregulated information service. On the same day, the FCC began a broader proceeding to examine what its' role should be in this new environment of increased consumer choice and what it can best do to meet its role of safeguarding the public interest [extracted from FCC].