| Business |
Making free phone
calls over the Internet
By MALUM NALU
In this week's column, I will discuss how Papua New Guineans can
use the Internet to make cheaper telephone calls.
Many Internet-savvy Papua New Guineans already make free
long-distance computer-to-computer calls over the Internet using
free software such as Skype.
In theory, PNG should by now be on par with the rest of the
world in ICT, however, in reality this is not so.
All over this increasingly-globalised world, a massive
Information Revolution is taking place as economies use ICT as a
passport to what economists call the "New Economy".
The ICT monopoly in PNG, exorbitant telephone and Internet
costs, as well as lack of knowledge about ICT and e-business all
contribute to this digital divide.
Papua New Guinea will continue to remain light years behind the
rest of the world if we do not jump on the ICT bandwagon in this
globalised world.
Access to Internet, adequate infrastructure, human capacity
building and appropriate policies on ICT are central issues in
addressing the digital divide.
Success in this globalised world is predicated on ICT knowledge
and successful knowledge-based economies will be based on the
efficient and widespread use of ICT by all sectors within any
given country.
If you've never heard of VoIP, get ready to change the way you
think about long-distance phone calls.
VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a method for taking
analog audio signals, like the kind you hear when you talk on
the phone, and turning them into digital data that can be
transmitted over the Internet.
How is this useful? VoIP can turn a standard Internet connection
into a way to place free phone calls.
The practical upshot of this is that by using some of the free
VoIP software that is available to make Internet phone calls,
you are bypassing Telikom (and its exorbitant charges) entirely.
VoIP is a revolutionary technology that has the potential to
completely rework the world's phone systems.
VoIP is already in widespread use in many developed countries of
the world including Singapore, where I called my wife's cell
phone in Port Moresby and had a long chat with her over the
Internet, in August.
Today, VoIP technology is allowing small businesses to secure
the features and functionality of a sophisticated phone system
for a fraction of the cost by using the Internet to carry voice
traffic just as it does data traffic.
Above all else, VoIP is basically a clever "reinvention of the
wheel."
The potential of this emerging technology - which will more than
likely one day replace the traditional phone system entirely -
is limitless.
The interesting thing about VoIP is that there is not just one
way to place a call.
There are three different "flavors" of VoIP service in common
use today:
ATA - The simplest and most common way is through the use of a
device called an ATA (analog telephone adaptor).
The ATA allows you to connect a standard phone to your computer
or your Internet connection for use with VoIP.
The ATA is an analog-to-digital converter.
It takes the analog signal from your traditional phone and
converts it into digital data for transmission over the
Internet.
You simply crack the ATA out of the box, plug the cable from
your phone that would normally go in the wall socket into the
ATA, and you're ready to make VoIP calls.
Some ATAs may ship with additional software that is loaded onto
the host computer to configure it; but in any case, it is a very
straightforward setup.
IP Phones - These specialised phones look just like normal
phones with a handset, cradle and buttons.
But instead of having the standard RJ-11 phone connectors, IP
phones have an RJ-45 Ethernet connector.
IP phones connect directly to your router and have all the
hardware and software necessary right onboard to handle the IP
call.
Wi-Fi phones allow subscribing callers to make VoIP calls from
any Wi-Fi hot spot.
Computer-to-computer - This is certainly the easiest way to use
VoIP.
You don't even have to pay for long-distance calls.
There are several companies offering free or very low-cost
software that you can use for this type of VoIP.
All you need is the software, a microphone, speakers, a sound
card and an Internet connection; preferably a fast one like you
would get through a cable or DSL modem.
Except for your normal monthly ISP fee, there is usually no
charge for computer-to-computer calls, no matter the distance.
If you're interested in trying VoIP, then you should check out
some of the free VoIP software available on the Internet.
You should be able to download and set it up in about three to
five minutes.
Get a friend to download the software, too, and you can start
tinkering with VoIP to get a feel for how it works.
For comments and feedback, email the author at malumnalu@yahoo.com
or SMS 6849763.
 
|
