Every time a new technology is introduced in the market, many people are quite reluctant to try it out unless other people attest to its usefulness in their daily life. This is true to almost every new product brought into the market.

The Internet alone offers a lot of software, added features, and the like. The new Internet software that was introduced not so long ago is the VoIP or voice over Internet protocol. In case you haven't heard about if before, VoIP allows any person to make calls through the net to any part of the world.

Even VoIP has its advantages, as well as disadvantages; and this is because as a new technology, VoIP still has a small number of kinks. But this should not be much of a concern since standards are now being developed to make VoIP more reliable in order to achieve bigger acceptance.

The customers are the first ones to benefit from VoIP because traditional phone companies are now offering cheap rates for long distance phone calls to stay competitive in the market. Many telephone companies are somewhat threatened because of the development of VoIP.

As the primary customer, whether residential or commercial, you should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of using VoIP.

Here are the following advantages:

1. Low cost

Almost every person wants to cut down on cost; and this is because of the many expenses that one has to pay every day. With a lot of bills to pay every month, any offer that allows a person to save a lot of money is a sure hit. Regular telephone companies charge a bit higher compared to VoIP. In you have an Internet connection (either cable or DSL), you can call anywhere for free if it is a PC to another PC call. For those who want to call from their PC to an ordinary phone, there is usually a fee; but is much lower than the regular fees charged by phone companies.

2. Look for a VoIP provider that charges fees monthly. Some providers allow local calls free and charge a small rate on overseas calls; so make sure that you choose a provider who can meet your calling needs.

3. Portability

VoIP is just like your email. You have to sign-in, and as long as there is a broadband connection, you can call or receive a call anywhere and anytime. If you travel a lot, having a VoIP account is very convenient; be sure to have an Internet phone or a headset when you travel.

It is portable because you can make a call regardless of your location using the unique number that is assigned to you after plugging into an Internet connection.

3. Added features

There are many competitors in the market. Many VoIP providers also offers added features like caller ID, call forwarding, voicemail, call waiting, and many more.

Here are some of its disadvantages:

1. Power outage

Regular phones operate even during a blackout. And this is one of the biggest problems with VoIP. Without a power source, there is no Internet connection. And if there is a major blackout, the VoIP can't be used. People who use VoIP should at least have power generators or battery backups in order to receive or make a call.

2. Emergency calls

By using your regular phone, your call can be traced whenever you make an emergency call. But with VoIP, it's quite difficult for operators to pinpoint your location, so it is not advisable to use VoIP for emergency calls. Providers are still attempting to address this big problem.

3. Sound reliability and quality

This is a problem with using VoIP. If you don't have a fast connection, the digital data is sent in scrambled order. Some of the data are even dropped. Distance and connection speed have something to do with this problem. So if you want on-time calls, it is better to have a broadband connection. Providers are creating data paths to avoid traffic and ensure high quality connections.

VoIP providers are welcoming consumer complaints regarding their service to further improve their quality of service. Their target year is 2007; by this time, all kinks of the system will be wiped out and addressed properly to gain global acceptance.

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