| you heard that you can make phone calls over | | | | open non-essential applications that are shown in |
| the internet cheaply? Have you had a chance to | | | | your taskbar at the bottom right of your screen. |
| try it? Most people that have had a chance to try | | | | If you are using windows XP & there are |
| it have experienced hit or miss quality, dropped | | | | other users logged on, be sure they log off |
| calls as well as some speech delays. But there are | | | | before trying to make a call. |
| some steps that you can take to really improve | | | | You also need to be conscience of what you are |
| the quality and consistency of you VoIP calls over | | | | doing while you are on the call. If you overload |
| your internet Connection. | | | | the limited data capability your call quality will |
| There is a lot of buzz these days around Internet | | | | suffer. Other activities that will compete for |
| based communication, VoIP, replacing regular | | | | bandwith are: Instant Messaging, checking your |
| traditional telephone service. Much of the buzz has | | | | email, web cameras, surfing the internet or |
| been created by/around a company called | | | | downloading anything. |
| Vonage, who’s motto is “Leading | | | | Scan your system frequently for Viruses and |
| the Internet Phone Revolution”. | | | | Adware, these programs can tie up your browser |
| Even if you do not have a broadband connection, | | | | and internet connection, slow down your system |
| you can still save a fortune by using VOIP service | | | | and affect your call quality. |
| for long distance calls. A broadband connection will | | | | Make it a habit to scan your system every |
| give you more consistent, reliable call quality, but | | | | month so your virus software remains uo to |
| similar results can be obtained using a dial up | | | | date. McAfee or Nortons are good programs, |
| account if some guidelines are followed. | | | | Spybot – Search & Detroy is good |
| All VoIP service providers are different, they do | | | | for removing spyware. |
| not all support dial-up users. Companies such as | | | | Use a headset with a boom microphone and this |
| Vonage happens to be one that backs away | | | | should eliminate annoying voice echoes often |
| from dial up connections. The providers that do | | | | associated with VoIP phone calls. If you use a |
| support dial up usually only support dial-up above | | | | headset, voice signals are limited in volume and |
| certain speeds. The two most popular companies | | | | thus the chances of your microphone |
| that do support dial up VoIP are Callserve and | | | | 're-transmitting' those voice signals is greatly |
| Go2Call. | | | | reduced. |
| If you close programs that are running in the | | | | So if you have dial up you can still enjoy the cost |
| background, you will get higher call quality. If you | | | | savings of making PC to VoIP call. |
| are using windows, just right click & close all | | | | |