Long distance and international calls on "traditional" phone lines are a real luxury for most people in our country. The high price and low quality of communication make more and more users refuse to communicate with relatives and friends from other regions. Moreover, the insecurity of the telephone line makes it an easy target for intruders - with the proper ability to connect to it and talk at your expense, anyone can.
If you don't want to put yourself at risk of being robbed, but still can't refuse "international communication", you should think about connecting IP-telephony. What are Internet calls, what are the advantages of the system and how to set up a connection - we will try to figure it out.
Digital calls
IP-telephony is a combination of old habits and modern technologies. It is a set of communication protocols and methodsproviding traditional dialing and two-way communication via the Internet and any other IP networks.
Unlike conventional, fixed phones, in which the interlocutor's voice is transmitted by an analog signal, in IP-telephony the sound is encrypted in binary code and compressed. This improves the quality of communication and reduces the load on the network. Other benefits of VoIP calls are:
- Low cost international and long distance calls.
- Independence from telephone lines.
- Make calls anywhere.
As the last advantage, we should highlight the possibility of blocking unwanted incoming calls at your expense by turning off the "eight". Using IP-telephony is profitable and convenient, but, like everything new, you need to get used to it.
Types of IP-telephony
Internet calls can be made from a regular landline phone, from special IP equipment, and even from a computer.
According to the type of device through which communication is carried out, and there is a division of IP telephony for the home into types:
- "Computer-computer". To communicate, subscribers need a PC with installed software and an Internet connection. The call in this case is similar to communication in Skype. This type of connection is the least common.
- Communication through the map. To make a call, you need a regular landline phone with touch-tonedialing and an access card from the provider. To contact a friend, you first call the operator's number, enter your ID and PIN code in tone mode, and then the number of the called subscriber.
- Communication via IP phone. A special IP phone is already configured for communication. All you need is an Internet connection. When you make a call, the phone automatically connects you to the provider, connects to the proxy server and calls the subscriber.
Many probably have a question: what is an IP phone? It is a conventional device with a handset and a keyboard, works independently of a computer and can receive a call at any time.
Foreign operators in Russia
Choosing a provider becomes the first step towards communication via IP-telephony. The cost of calls will depend on the choice made, so choose a service company, considering the pros and cons. The largest representatives of IP-telephony in our country are Sipnet and Comtube.
Sipnet is one of the first foreign companies to set up a representative office in Russia. Its services are ideal for making calls within the network, that is, for communicating with citywide numbers - calls are completely free. For other directions, the tariffs for IP-telephony are as follows:
- international calls - from 1.5 to 6 rubles/min;
- intercity communication - up to 1 rub/min.
Reviews about the operator are positive. Some are confused by the equipment setup, which is carried out in English.
Comtube is one of the youngest and most promising providers. It provides its customers with two sets of services - "Start" and "Premium". The first set will provide customers with basic features, and the second, among other things, will provide a range of additional services. The cost of calls depends on the terms of the contract.
It is impossible to give reliable reviews about this operator - too few users are familiar with it. Some are happy with the quality of communication and a fairly wide range of options in the Starter package, others complain that all the service is fixated on VIPs.
Domestic providers
Zebra Telecom is one of the most promising providers in Russia. Provides customers with the opportunity to call both using an access card, and through a PC and an IP phone. Calls from "Zebra" to "Zebra" are absolutely free. Long-distance calls cost from 50 kop/min, international - from 1.5 rubles - it all depends on the subscriber's country.
Among the positive qualities, it is worth noting the Russian-language localization of the software. According to customer reviews, this is one of the many advantages of a domestic provider.
IP-telephony from Rostelecom will be a profitable solution for those who need constant communication with subscribers from other countries. Unlike other operators that charge per-minute calls, with Rostelecom you pay for minute bundles once a month or as your traffic is used up.
So, the cost of a package of 100 "international" minutes will be about 250-300 rubles. It does not matter which country you are calling. But some customers will be more prudent to use per-minute billing, especially if you talk to "abroad" for less than 50 minutes a month.
Equipment required
The set of equipment necessary for communication does not depend on the chosen telecom operator, but on the preferred type of IP-telephony. So, for computer-to-computer calls, you will need an Internet access point - a fiber optic cable, a USB modem and equipment for comfortable communication: a microphone, headphones, for video calls - a webcam.
To call IP-telephony numbers from a landline phone, you will need a SIP adapter and a computer or a router with a built-in IP gateway. If you are using a hardware IP phone, then you will not need anything other than the phone itself.
Setting up communication via adapter
When choosing an operator, ask what kind of equipment is needed to connect to a leased line, is it easy to buy and is it expensive.
Some providers offer their customers already fully configured adapters for communicating with other subscribers. In this case, the entire setup process comes down to the sequential execution of several steps:
- Use the instructions to connect the adapter to the mains.
- Connect a landline telephone to the LINE1 slot using a standard telephone cable.
- Turn on the adapter by inserting the power supply into the socket, wait for the download to finish (2-3 minutes).
- Pick up the phone, wait for the tone.
As soon as you hear a tone on the other side of the line, then know that you figured out what IP-telephony is and were able to connect the equipment correctly. Now there are no barriers to communication.
Setting up some softphones
Setting up IP phones has some peculiarities. In particular, you will need to program your device and enter information about yourself into its database. This is not as difficult as it seems.
Before setting up, make sure you have an ID (identifier), as well as a passphrase or PIN. Here is an example of the data that most phones require when connecting to a Sipnet operator.
Other operators should have a similar procedure for setting up IP telephony. Customer reviews report that it is easy to deal with it. In addition, in case of problems, you can contact the operator. It is their responsibility to help you set up.
Disadvantages of IP-telephony
Now that you have learned the basic principles of connection, the advantages and technology of Internet telephony, you are ready to learn about some of the disadvantages of this method of communication. Such information will help you decide whether you need IP-telephony or not.
The first and one of the most significant drawbacks is dependence onelectrical networks. If you use a PC or a landline phone to communicate, then “without light” it will be impossible to get through to you, as well as you yourself to make calls. The exception is hardware IP phones.
When making a call for the first time, the interlocutor most likely does not recognize you. It's all about caller ID - the caller's display will show the number of the gateway you're connected to, not your own.
The last and one of the most important drawbacks is the high price of equipment. Many customers are at a loss that such an IP phone can cost up to 3-4 thousand rubles, and this is without a subscription fee. However, by installing it in your apartment, you can no longer think about prices when communicating with subscribers from other countries.
