AN INTRODUCTION TO VOiP

1. AN INTRODUCTION TOVOiP VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL

2. WHAT IS VOiP? • Any digital method of communication [conventional phone, cell phone, internet] treats what is flowing through it simply as “data”. Hardware & Software “manage” the different types of data at the “In” & “Out” stages. • VOiP is the technology that permits phone calls [including with video] to be made over the Internet.

3. WHY CONSIDER VOiP? • Because it’s very high tech and with it? • No way! • Because it can save you money? • Much more interesting!

4. DOES IT REPLACE YOUR NORMAL PHONE? • It is suggested that you keep your normal phone because: • Not all providers have 911 service • No Hydro means no phone – it is recommended that all Sandycove residents have at least one “regular” phone which will keep working under nearly all circumstances. Cell phones can be variable in use in Sandycove and sometimes the local towers are shut down in a power outage.

5. VOiP Providers • There are many – today we shall look at two of the best known in Canada. These two highlight different provider approaches. They are: • SKYPE • VONAGE

6. WHAT DO YOU NEED?[minimum] • Computer running Windows 2000, XP or Vista. (Windows 2000 users require DirectX 9.0 for video calls). • Internet connection - broadband is best. Some providers insist on it • Speakers and microphone – built-in or separate. • For voice/video calls - a computer with at least a 1GHz processor, 256 MB RAM and of course a webcam. • For High Quality Video calls you will need a high quality video webcam and software, a dual-core processor computer and a fast broadband connection (384 kbps).

7. SKYPE • Low Cost System • No Long Term Contract Needed • Software is FREE download –www.skype.com • I use a $20 headset – microphone and earphones

8. SKYPE MODES • Skype to Skype: Computer To Computer – anywhere in the world • Skype to Phone: Computer to Landline or Cell Phone – anywhere in the world [pay as you go] or monthly fee [by selected geographical area]

9. COSTS

10. PAY AS YOU GO[PER MINUTE] • Canada CA$ 0.024 • United Kingdom CA$ 0.024 • Netherlands CA$ 0.024 • Australia CA$ 0.024 • Belarus CA$ 0.288 • Brazil CA$ 0.063 • Japan CA$ 0.027 • Skype to Skype is still free

11. USING A MONTHLY PLAN[pay 12 months in advance] • Skype to Skype – unlimited usage, global • Skype to landline/cell phone in your selected area – unlimited usage • Skype to landline/cell phone to other countries – per minute rates as shown earlier

12. MY USAGE • I use a Canada/USA monthly plan @ $2.95 because: • All my family are long distance in Canada • A majority of my U.K. calls are Skype to Skype – free • I pay 2.4 cents per minute to U.K. for the rest. For me, this is less than the extra $6 [250 minutes] per month that a world plan would cost

13. MY USAGE • Using this approach, my “regular” phone bill has dropped by an average saving of $25 per month.

14. DON’T FANCY A HEADSET? • You can buy a phone ranging from about $20 [cord phone] to $200 [cordless, dual Skype/Landline modes] that connect to your computer

20. VONAGE • Aims to replace your regular phone • Must have high speed internet • Has a form of 911 service – “National Emergency Centre” • $40 Activation Fee • $40 per month for unlimited calls to U.S., Canada & Europe [not all countries]

21. VONAGE • $20 per month – 500 minutes per month to U.S.A., Canada • To U.K. – 6 cents per minute • Vonage to Vonage – Free • Needs a phone adaptor [provided free] and any phone – cord or cordless

22. IS IT WORTH IT FOR ME? • Must look at your calling pattern and see what it costs you. • Identify where you call and how many minutes. • Are any of your frequent calls to Skype or Vonage users – always free

23. THANK YOU!

24. WINDOWS 7