Thoughts on VoIP

OK, at the new job I'm not receiving that many calls - which is great from a "no interruption" POV. But I do have a VoIP handset that works - which is great from a technology POV. I'm SO cutting edge!

Our office VOIP (Voice Over IP) service allows external contacts to call me using a regular phone, but my handset is connected to our network and converts the call to digital. One of the advantages of this solution, apart from being WAY CHEAPER is that the technology interfaces with our mail system -- my voicemail messages are emailed to my account and I can listen to them like any other digital audio file.

This technology is quite different from services like Skype which are PC/computer based (for now) and allow users to use their computer's microphone and speakers to make calls. Skype is free for personal use (but requires broadband). I used this technology with great effect to work a deal in Mexico when I was at Infoware.

So overall there's good VoIP quality of service solutions. Makes you wonder what companies like Bell are going to do -- these services are much easier to work with now than the traditional carriers. ()