Via Talk Voip - Any Different From Other Voip Providers?

By Mike Singh

Via Talk (VT) is a provider of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to both residential and business owners. They are a division of a privately owned, multi-million dollar corporation. What is the difference between the Via Talk VoIP and other providers of Internet communications?

The technology to use the Internet for telephone communications is available to any company in the telecommunications industry. What separates one business from the other is customer service. Via Talk VoIP offers excellent technical support and service to its customers. Via Talk has years of experience providing Internet service and has learned what their customers prefer in terms of service.

There are several plans that Via Talk offers starting as low as $9.95 per month. They offer standard features that you would need in your daily telephone use such as call forwarding and waiting and caller ID. In addition, they offer special features for a minimum charge such as virtual phone number, soft phone, fax service, and more.

With a virtual phone number, you have the ability to enjoy more than one number without an additional phone line. The soft phone feature is included in a program provided from Via Talk that allows the customer to make and receive calls directly from their computer or laptop. If you send and receive faxes, you can have a fax line along with your phone line and then send faxes directly from your computer.

VT_500 Plan lets customers call anywhere in the United States, Canada, and starts at $9.95 per month. This plan includes 500 anytime minutes and you can subscribe for as little as 1 month or up to 24 months. With the VT Unlimited Plan, you will pay $15.95 for 24 months. This plan also includes unlimited calling throughout the United States and Canada. If you own a business, consider the VT Business 1500. This plan is perfect if you own a small business or work from home. You receive 1500 anytime minutes that you can use throughout the United States and Canada and it includes a fax line.

Via Talk VoIP offers several plans, which makes it easier for you to match the plan to your telecommunication needs. When you choose your plan you will also pay a one-time activation fee but can be waived if you subscribe to a package that is either 12 or 24 months. If you find that the service package does not meet your needs, Via Talk will charge a cancellation fee.

Check out http://www.why-switch-to-voip.com/ for more articles on VOIP provider and voip systems.

The Importance Of Security In Business VoIP Applications

By Michael Lemm

It's unfortunate that when evaluating business VoIP solutions few mention the word security except in the context of web-based administration. This could be a fatal miscue to your business.

Keep in mind that a big advantage of VoIP is you can have people working from home or on the road. When you're logging in, are the credentials passed in the clear? Don't just take the vendor's word for it, have you tested it using a packet sniffer? If it's a requirement, is the call data encrypted?

Here's a scenario to consider:

You have Sales reps using an open WiFi network at a coffee shop or at a hotel. The call setup information is unencrypted and the IP stream carrying the conversation is unencrypted.

Why should you care about either of these things? Two risks:

#1: Toll fraud. Someone can sniff that authentication information and impersonate your sales rep. Your switch doesn't know the difference. You might not know that the credentials got swiped until your bill shows up with calls to a lot of foreign countries or (if you're very lucky) your carrier calls you and asks why your calling patterns have changed so much.

Good luck trying to get credit for toll fraud. The carrier is going to tell you that they put access to their network in at your premises and it was your responsibility to control it. There's probably language that covers them in your contract and/or tariff.

#2: Confidentiality of trade secrets. Maybe it's a quick call to check on fantasy football standings. But it could also be a call to a supplier to see if they'll do special pricing on a deal. That call could also be followed up by a call to a sales manager to talk about percentage mark-up. An unencrypted VoIP stream may seem complicated but its trivially easy to reassemble and "record" the whole conversation.

The above scenario is just an example of many ways your VoIP system may be vulnerable. I'm not discouraging you from implementing a business VoIP system if it's right for you. I am encouraging not to thoroughly evaluate security implications and be prepared to guard against any potential issues.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including DS3-Bandwidth.com and Business-VoIP-Solution.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

Which VoIP Service is Right for You? VoIP Problems Discussed

By Joe Robertson

There are a few problems associated with VOIP. Like, if the broadband connection is problematic, if there is a conversation that is taking place between two VOIP users and a few IP packets get destroyed or there is a delay in its reaching the destination at any point there is a pause for a few moments, rather no voice is heard.

This happens more in networks that are saturated or when the distances of the call are long. The voice quality has improved a lot today though and it will get better with time.

It is considered better to use the media that is 'packeted' in terms of VOIP as these works on multi-path routing or the incoming and outgoing packets take different routes. This reduces the effect of the minute failures.

There are a number of protocols that help in supporting the report of QoS/QoE which are for VOIP calls. Like RTCP XR (RFC3611) or the SIP RTCP Summary Reports, H.248.30 and MGCP extensions. The RFC3611 VOIP metric report support the feedback which is related to the QoS problems.

It is a little difficult to send faxes through VOIP. The voice codec that already exist are not meant to be sending faxes. Everyday technology is changing, everyday a solution is thought of for fixing this problem. Efforts are being made to answer this problem by defining a solution based on a different IP for sending Fax. These include the T.38 protocol.

Other solutions have also been thought of. Treating the system of fax like a system for message switching and it doesn't need a great data transmission, like sending over a fax like an attachment with the email. The system at the end can buffer the fax data that is incoming prior to its display or its being printed.

You may wish to read more at: VoIP Requirement List and Skype Problems and Complaints

Joe, a reporter, has been travelling around the world for more than a decade now and has extensive experience in many fields. Now he has a blog along with other article writers. To know more about him, do visit: Random Rants