Who else wants to take advantage of the amazing savings an internet phone provider offers but is confused by all the different marketing mumbo jumbo?

If you are still struggling to understand what the terms used to describe internet phone service actually mean you'll want to devour this webpage!

You are about learn some of the vital secrets (I'm being a little sarcastic here, by vital I mean tricky marketing terms) that internet phone providers use to describe their service.

Why are consumers are getting confused? It seems as though there are some savy marketing departments for each internet phone provider. Each of these companies have adopted their own name for internet phone service and created confusion among consumers in the market place. Lets get one thing straight right here and now that will hopefully clear up some confusion, it all describes VoIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol. Each provider gives you digital phone service over your high-speed internet connection regardless of the name used to describe the service in a marketing campaign. Don't let them trick you.

There are some minor differences in the definitions depending on the type of services however they are all some variation of VoIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol. Below are definitions and their differences:

• Broadband Phone Service, Internet Phone Service, Web Phone, Net Phone, VoIP Service, Internet VoIP Phone: These terms are all synonomous and interchangeable. They all describe VoIP or for lack of a better term internet phone service. There may be other variations of these terms out there, however if you have questions or need clarification contact me and I will happily help you understand the differences.

• Digital Voice Service : Usually Describes VoIP that comes from your cable provider such Comcast or Cox phone service. This type of service sends a digital signal across the copper wires of your cable provider and is still subject to taxes and surcharges like that of your current local phone provider. "True" VoIP is completely portable, you can take it with you when you travel or move, therefore, Digital Voice from your cable provider is arguably not "true" VoIP. Your voice is transferred over a private network much like traditional phone companies except it's transferred in the form of a digital signal hence the name "digital voice". Additionally, you usually pay a hidden premium for bundled services.

Most companies have marketing teams in place to solicit new customers and as internet phone providers exploded onto the scene each company eventually adopted its own version of how to interpret or describe the VoIP technology. I know you've seen several ways to describe it on this website already, in technology a lot of words and acronyms are interchangeable. There are many explanations for coming up with your own interpretation but here are just a few:

• VoIP isn't a good marketing term because most people haven't heard of it let alone know that VoIP is an acronym for Voice Over Internet Protocol. It's unsavvy and hard to understand if you've never heard of it before. It sounds too geeky or technical so most internet phone providers have elected to steer clear of it.

• The new era of internet phone providers wanted to separate themselves from the old style of VoIP. When VoIP first arrived many years ago, the voice quality was choppy and slow. Technological breakthroughs have corrected this issue and VoIP now delievers superb quality and sound.

• When thinking of Internet Phone Service consumers tend to associate it with having to sit in front of the computer at home in order to make calls. The internet phone service we are talking about doesn't require users to be in front of the computer at all. Skype is a type of computer-to-computer VoIP company that requires a special Skype phone, although Skype is a variation of VoIP, it's not what we are referring to. We are referring to those internet phone providers that require you to use an analog telephone adapter (ATA). The use of this adapter allows you to use your regular telephone and gives you a dial-tone in order to make calls. With this type of internet phone service you do not need to be in front of the computer to make calls, in fact a PC isn't required at all!

Regardless of how each internet phone provider describes the technology, they are all some type of internet phone that utilizes VoIP. Each internet phone provider requires a High-Speed Internet connection in order to work with your service. Your voice is converted from the analog signal sent by your telephone into a digital signal that is able to be routed across the internet. By recognizing this, it's easy to tell why we see things from a marketing perspective such as: Digital Voice, Broadband Phone Service, Internet Phone Service, VoIP, Web Phones, etc.

What differences are there in Internet Phone Service Providers?
If you have a quality highspeed internet connection you will be able to get excellent quality service from any internet phone provider.

The bigger companies such as Verizon and Comcast have the ability to combine multiple services onto one bill. Each company has a type of "Triple Play" package that put your phone, internet, and TV all on one bill. This is a huge convenience to consumers however there is a hidden price premium that you will pay for it. In order to gain the most cost savings and benefits I would recommend a stand alone provider. Stand alone providers will give you more features and less hassle. For a list of stand alone internet phone providers contact me or call me directly at 317.348.1134.

I hope this clears things up a bit and helps in understanding what different terms/names that can be used to describe VoIP. Each internet phone provider has its own way of marketing the service but they all end up describing the same technology. I hope I've helped you learn about VoIP and helped you make your decision to take advantage of the amazing benfits that VoIP has to offer.

For additional information about internet phone service or for a top recommended internet phone provider you may call me directly at 317.348.1134.