1. Internet Phone & Video Services
(i.e., VoIP)
CAT Web Site: sir-web.org/computer/

2. Topics To Be Discussed Landline alternative companies
Examples: Vonage, Via:talk
VoIP Adapters (no or low monthly bill)
Examples: MagicJack, netTalk
Computer based systems (softphones)
Examples: Skype, Google Talk/Chat
Mobile phone based systems
Examples: Truphone, Skype apps
Video & Conference Calling

3. Voice over Internet Protocol
VoIP – “Voice over Internet Protocol”
Uses Internet rather than landline cable to transmit voice and video signals
Advantages of VoIP:
Lower cost (or free) phone service
Inexpensive domestic & overseas calling
Video calling capability
Phone & video conferencing

4. Telephone vs. VoIP Network
Public Switched Telephone Network
Internet
VoIP
Adapter
VoIP
Provider
Router
DSL
Modem

5. VoIP Phone Systems Unlimited free calling for domestic calls
Typical free services:
Voic
caller id
call waiting
online message playback
Etc., etc.
Low cost international calls
Cost less than a standard telephone landline

6. VoIP Connection Setup

7. Potential Issues with VoIP Phones
Voice signal quality
Emergency 911 Calling
Fax handling
Retention of existing phone number
Loss of AC power = Loss of phone
Loss of Internet feed = Loss of phone
Customer service

8. VoIP Phone Companies Main advantage vs. other VoIP alternatives
Business quality systems
Better signal quality
Better customer support
Main disadvantage vs. other VoIP alternatives
Typically they are slightly mores costly

9. IP Phones vs. Adapters
IP Phones are specifically designed to work with VoIP technology
Ethernet ports to connect voice/data
Landline phones work with VoIP, if you use an “Analog Telephone Adapter”
Converts voice to VoIP call
Can be used to connect to your existing phone system
Voice quality may not be as good as IP Phones
Some features, such as caller ID, may not work

10. Leading VoIP Phone Companies
Vonage
Lingo
Voip.com
BroadVoice
ViaTalk
AT&T U-verse
Comcast Digital Voice
Etc., etc. (100s)

11. VoIP Company Comparison
$/Mo.
Setup
Comments
Vonage
$26 $0
Most popular VoIP, great call quality
Lingo
$10-22
$10=250 min., $22=unlimited
Voip.com
$8.33
One of the lowest cost VoIP
BroadVoice
$10
Good for lot of international calls
ViaTalk
$11-17
Long list of features
Skype $3
$170
Pricey phone, no 911
AT&T
$31 -
Basic phone service for comparison

12. Internet Phones

13. Video Calling Systems (free)
ooVoo
Skype
Yugma
Vbuzzer
Ekiga
TokBox
Eyejot
SightSpeed
Google Chat
Yahoo Messenger
AOL Instant Messenger

14. Video Calling Systems
Conference Call
One-on-One

15. Video Calling Comparison
Company
Comments
ooVoo
Similar to Skype, desktop sharing, can join via browser
Skype
Most popular, easy to use, up to 640x480, 30fps
Yugma
Focused on multi-users, desktop sharing & mark-up
Vbuzzer
Calling, faxing, video conferencing
Ekiga
Linux’s alternative to Skype, complete software
TokBox
Simple & we-based, group conferencing up to 200
Eyejot
Browser based, spam-free, create/receive video
SightSpeed
Excellent video quality but outdated interface

16. “Do it Yourself” Adapters
MagicJack Plus
netTalk Duo
Ooma
Obi w/ Google Voice
FreeTalk “Connect.Me”

17. MagicJack Plus Matchbox-sized device
Works as stand-alone device or via PC
Low cost: $70 + $30/yr after 1st year
Free USA calling, low cost international calls
You get a new phone number
Number porting available ($20 + $10/yr)
Portable: Use in hotel (need Ethernet cable feed or laptop for Wi-Fi)
Smartphone app available
When buying- try to sell you “extra” services
Customer service is difficult to deal with

18. netTalk Adapter Free USA calls, low cost international calls
Similar size & features to MagicJack Plus
Low cost: $70 + $30/yr after 1st year
Free USA calls, low cost international calls
You get a new phone number
No number porting available
Portable: Use in hotel (need Ethernet cable feed or laptop for Wi-Fi)
Smartphone app available
Better customer service than MagicJack

19. Ooma Adapter Adapter box (not as small as MJ or NT)
Different pricing ($200 + $3.78/mo. tax)
Free USA calls, low cost international calls
Can use landline as backup
Number porting available ($40)
Better voice quality than MJ or NT
Smartphone app available
Good customer service

20. Obi Adapter Obi is an “Unlocked” adapter May be used with Google Voice
Cost: $50 + $0/mo.
Can handle 5 Phones (Ring Load)
Smartphone apps available
Another similar option to Obi: “VoSKY Call Center”

21. VoIP Adapter Services no Feature M. Jack netTalk ooma Obi
Free calls to US & Canada
yes
Free calls to identical devices
Voic to no
Free 411 Directory Assistance
Enhanced 911 service
Conference calling
Fax friendly
Videophone capability w/ PC
Cost – Purchase device
$40/$70
$70
$200
$50
Cost – Per year (after 1st year)
$20/$30+
$30+
$45 tx $0
Voice quality *
good
best+
best-
* Voice quality tends to be very subjective and depends on specific conditions

22. Calling Rates ($/minute)
Call to:
MagicJ
netTalk*
Google
Skype*
AT&T*
China 2¢
2.3¢
$3.49
France
2-18¢
3-22¢
2-10¢
2.3-21¢
$1.49
Italy
2-28¢
4-30¢
2-15¢
2.3-31¢
Japan
2.5¢
4-19¢
2-11¢
2.6-18¢
Thailand
10¢ 9¢
2-3¢
6.5-12¢ UK
2-23¢
2-25¢
2.3-26¢
USA 0¢
39¢
* Calling plans available at a monthly fee that will reduce $/min. costs

23. CR Phone Service Ratings *
* Consumer Reports, May 2011

24. VoIP Softphones No adapter needed PC or smartphone app required
Softphone examples:
AOL Instant Messenger
Google Chat/Talk
Skype
Windows Live Messenger
Yahoo! Messenger

25. Google Voice Google Talk Google Chat - Phone mgt. system - PC app
Google, Google,
Google Voice
Google Talk
Google Chat
- Phone mgt. system
- PC app
- Browser app

26. Google Voice Unique & free phone management system
Requires Gmail account
Many of useful features
You need to get a new phone number or
Port one of your existing numbers ($5-10)
No “911” access
Use CallCentric for E911 service at $1.50/mo.
Excellent “User Quickstart Guide”:

27. Google Voice Features Unique & free phone management system
1. Google Voice with your existing number
Google Voic – Voice mails in your inbox as text
Voic transcription – Read what your voice mail says
Custom Greetings – Caller can send voice mail greetings
International Calling – Very low cost international calling plans
Notifications – Read your voic s via or mobile sms
Share Voic s - Sharing features like you can embed, download and forward voic s
2. Google Voice with Google Number
One Number – Single number which can ring all your phones
Free SMS – Share, receive and archive text messages online
Block Calls – You can block unwanted or advertisement calls
Record Calls – You can record phone calls and store online
Conference calls – You can make or receive conference calls
Screen Callers – You can check callers ID before receiving the calls

28. Google Voice Options & Features
Google Voice Lite (No GV# needed)
One voic for all your phones
Voic transcriptions & forwarded via /SMS
Custom voic greetings
Free domestic and low cost international calling
Full Google Voice
Get a custom Google phone number
Call forwarding
Call recording
Call blocking
Conference calling
Free SMS

29. Google Voice “Call Forwarding”
My Google Voice number
Select phones that you want to have calls forwarded to

30. Google Voice – Calls to You
Public Switched Telephone Network
Call to your GV number
Internet
Google Server
Voic is stored & available on GV Server

31. Google Voice – Calls from You
Public Switched Telephone Network
Domestic or international phone
Internet
Google Server
Google Server

32. Google Talk PC/Smartphone application Requires Gmail Account Features
Voice calls (to friends online)
Instant messages (IM)
Transfer files
Leave voic messages
No video call capability

33. Google Chat Browser application inside Gmail Requires Gmail Account
Features
Voice and video chat
Instant messages
Group chat
Phone calls to any landline or mobile phone

34. Local Number Porting (LNP)
Keep your existing phone number
Cancel your land-line account
Port all calls to this number at another phone (VoIP or cell number)
Some VoIP services require you purchase LNP from them
Cost: $6.99/month (typical)
With LNP for VoIP phones, 911 Operators may not automatically receive
Calling phone number
Calling location

35. VoIP Quality of Service (QoS)
Latency: Delays in transmission
Jitter: miss-timed info packets
Packet Loss: lost info packets
Router/Adapter “hang-ups”
Things you can do to improve QoS:
Sufficient Internet bandwidth
Enable “Quality of Service” setting on router
Enable “Background Services” in Windows
Computer firewall (“allow” VoIP access)

36. VoIP Quality of Service
Some VoIP systems are better than others
VoIP techniques to improve QoS:
Voice compression
Wire-speed (prioritize voice packets)
Adaptive redundancy (packets)
No “stand-out” best QoS winner but:
Ooma gets generally good marks
Although all systems have some bad reviews, they all also have many satisfied customers

37. Web Site: myspeed.visualware.com
Test Your VoIP Quality
Web Site: myspeed.visualware.com

38. Call Quality Comparison

39. Skype

40. Skype Free voice/video calls to other Skype users
Maximum Video Resolution:
VGA (640x480) at 30 fps (min. 0.5 Mbps)
HD (1280x720) at 22 fps (min. 1.2 Mbps)
Automatically optimizes video call quality
Software on PC or Smartphone needed
Smartphone works via Wi-Fi or 3G/4G
Low cost fee to call non-Skype phones
Conference calling (up to 8 connections)
Can not call emergency numbers

41. Skype Video

42. FreeTalk “Connect.Me” Use land-line phone for Skype calls
FreeTalk “Connect.Me” adapter ($50)
Also use your phone for landline calls
Emergency 911: Available via Packet8 for $1.99/month
All calls at Skype rates
Unlimited domestic calling for $4.50/mo.
Low international rates

43. FreeTalk “Connect.Me”
Skype
Router

44. Apple “Facetime” iOS 4 Application (Apple)
Free video calls between iOS4 devices
Simple to use – Just like making any other call from address book
Video up to: 320 x 240 at 10 fps
Both devices must be in a Wi-Fi area
May be projected on HDTV via HDMI cable or Apple TV “AirPlay”

45. Mobile Phone Apps
Use to make data-only phone calls (doesn’t affect your “minutes”)
Use Smartphone to make free domestic & low cost international phone calls
Apps available for:
Vonage (audio)
Skype (audio & video)
ooVoo (video)
Paltalk (audio & video)
MagicJack (audio)
netTalk (audio)
Google Voice (audio)
Etc….

46. Google Voice on iPad Use your Wi-Fi iPad to send/receive calls
Need Google Voice account
Must be in Wi-Fi area
Two good apps:
Talkatone (for voice) - free
GV Connect (for voice, SMS integration) - $2.99
Free calls (no “plan minutes”) and low cost international calls

47. Google Voice “Tricks”
Friends/relatives in another state:? Get GV# in their area code and forward calls to your home number
Tired of all your phones ringing simultaneously? Set up specific times when each phone will ring
Send missed calls to your Gmail inbox so you don't forget to call back
Record incoming calls by pressing “4”
Set your Skype Caller ID to your GV#
Switch phones while in a call: hit “*” , your other phones will ring and then pickup another phone
Avoid cell phone “minutes”: Make your GV# one of your “Top 5” or “Faves” and then use “Click2Call”

48. The End……………...
CAT Web Site: sir-web.org/computer/

49. Supplemental Information
Test your VoIP Internet connection quality: myspeed.visualware.com or bandwidth.com/tools/voipTest/
Good VoIP comparison site:
Another VoIP comparison site:
Google Voice “User Quickstart Guide”:

50. Number Porting to Google Voice
This tutorial will guide you through the process of porting a non-mobile number to Google Voice. Once your number is ported, you can eliminate the monthly fee and use this number on the OBi with Google Voice.
Since Google does not support porting non-mobile numbers to Google Voice directly, this requires a two-step process that we will describe in greater detail below. In essence, you will first port your number to a mobile service number and then the mobile service number (previously the original number) to become your Google Voice number.
Important Note: Google Voice cannot be used to place or receive emergency services calls.
Requirements: An unlocked mobile phone (with SIM card access) and a pre-paid SIM card from T-Mobile available here (link).
Check if your number can be ported or transferred to T-Mobile. Click here to check.
If your number is eligible for transfer, buy a prepaid SIM card from T-Mobile here (link)or at any authorized T- Mobile dealer. This will cost approximately $3 to $7. Select the image to the right to purchase from Amazon.
When you receive the prepaid SIM card, activate the SIM card using the instructions included in the package. You will choose a new (temporary) number and PIN. Insert the SIM card into an unlocked phone and a test call — call in and out.
Call T-Mobile's activation department at Request to port your old number to your new prepaid SIM account.
In 1 to 3 days, you will receive confirmation that the number port is complete, check to see that the number is working properly — E.g. Your old number is now the mobile number.
Go to your Google Voice account and request to port your T-Mobile number to Google Voice. The request to port link is found in, "Voice Settings." Look for the "Change/Port" link (click here for example screen shot). Google will charge a one-time fee of $20 for this service. You will need to provide your T-Mobile account number which is your ported number, e.g. 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx and your PIN. Note: Use your newly ported, original number — not the number you choose when activating the SIM card. Google will call the mobile number for activation purposes, so be sure to have your unlocked phone in which you inserted the prepaid SIM card.
In 1-3 days, Google will you to confirm the porting is complete.
You may now start using your old number with Google Voice on your new OBi!

51. Google Voice Lite Voicemail Setup
Set up Google voic for your mobile number
Google Voice Lite lets you set up Google voic for your mobile phone number. This allows you to have all your voic in one place, with transcriptions, access to your past voic s, and voic sharing options.
If you'd like to set up Google voic for your mobile number, follow the steps below:
Click the gear icon link at the top right corner of the page. gear icon
Click Voice settings.
Click Add another phone and enter a name and the number for your mobile phone.
Click Save.
You will be prompted to verify your phone number. Click Connect and Google Voice will call your phone and you need to verify it by entering the code that appears in the 'Verify your Phone' pop-up window.
Once you've verified your phone, you'll have to choose your mobile carrier from the drop-down menu.
Follow the directions on the next screen and enter the code provided as if you were calling someone. Press the 'Call' button on your phone to finish setting up Google voic for your mobile phone.
If you need to deactivate Google voic for your phone at any time, click the Deactivate voic link and follow the instructions provided.
Note: If you are having trouble configuring Google Voice as your voic service on Verizon you can make the switch manually by dialing these three activation codes:
*71[Your Google Voice number]
*90[Your Google Voice number]
*92[Your Google Voice number]

52. Google Voice Quick Reference