I am thinking of slowly reducing my dependance on conventional telephony networks by using more VOIP products out there. As of now, I am very impressed with Gizmo Project. It's not as big as Skype, but it allows free calls within all SIP networks.

What this means is that I can basically call globally for free as long as the other party has a SIP number or is on an open VOIP platform like Asterix.

What do you think about ways in which VOIP could be made more mainstream in our day-to-day communication processes. Don't suggest paid services like Vonage.

7/27/2006 2:24:22 PM

voip will definitely be how all future calls are made - POTS will disappear slowly over the next 25yrs

7/27/2006 2:25:40 PM

It's what I've used at work for the last 6 years or so.

I haven't had a POTS line since the dorm days. It's either VoIP or GSM for me.

7/27/2006 2:36:39 PM

well, GSM uses PSTNs.

7/27/2006 2:39:46 PM

I use VOIP at work and home regularly. I haven't used a conventional phone network in about 2 years.
Only huge downside is the fact that when the power dies or internet drops you have no phone service. That's the only thing in my opinion that a conventional line has over VOIP.

7/27/2006 2:39:52 PM

Quote :

"voip will definitely be how all future calls are made - POTS will disappear slowly over the next 25yrs"

except i think a lot of these recent blackouts are going to reinforce to people that POTS does have a remaining advantage it wll always have over POTS.

7/27/2006 2:40:07 PM

Quote :

"use VOIP at work and home regularly"

I wouldn't call it true VOIP. It still goes through a PSTN. I know true VOIP is hard to accomplish in day to day settings because not everyone you know has a voip adapter or a soft-voipphone, but I am trying to force my close ones and associates to start embracing SIP.

7/27/2006 2:42:40 PM

People are going to embrace the cheapest, most convenient, and most reliable method available. Right now POTS still beats VoIP for the average consumer. Until the technology matures to the point of feasible ubiquity, it'll be a tough sell in the consumer market.

7/27/2006 2:49:23 PM

I agree, Bobby, but I think the technology still eludes people because of the complexity surrounding it.

For example, I can buy this DLink adapter for about the price of a wireless router

http://www.sipphone.com/dlink/

and I get 2 voip ports, and one free SIP number. Plug in a regular cordless phone and you get free worldwide calling to relatives and friends and associates!

7/27/2006 2:53:34 PM

... if they also have a sipphone

7/27/2006 2:56:09 PM

sipphone is a free service, which is what Gizmo Project uses. You get a free SIP number as well as a free regular phone number.

7/27/2006 2:56:59 PM

sipphone to PSTN aren't free, but they are very very cheap.

http://www.sipphone.com/minutes/

7/27/2006 2:59:39 PM

yeah...which is why I am trying to get everyone to use some sort of SIP service.

And it doesn't have to be SIPphone. As long as it's SIP and open, it's free for me.

7/27/2006 3:00:37 PM

triple play ftw

7/27/2006 5:59:58 PM

^ it's going to be quad play pretty soon - IMS ftw

7/28/2006 1:45:09 AM

both of you miss the point.

7/28/2006 2:15:46 AM

i already answered with my opinion - i'm helping one of the telcos with their solution - it's nowhere near ready to replace POTS

7/28/2006 2:17:05 AM

interesting stuff, eh?

7/28/2006 2:27:47 AM

working on adding caller id to tv right now - so whenever someone calls it shows up on the screen - once it's done (which will pretty much be never - but most of the cool stuff should be live by the end of next year) - you'll never have to leave your couch for anything

7/28/2006 2:29:31 AM

that's the kind of stuff we envisioned in Back to the Future for the first time.

Are you actually coding anything?

7/28/2006 2:37:57 AM

I'm not missing the point, I'm taking the thread in a better direction. There's a difference.

[Edited on July 28, 2006 at 10:18 AM. Reason : .]

7/28/2006 10:18:12 AM

not all SIP to SIP calls are free. it has to be on the same network terminating the calls. however, VoIP is the way to go. i've been using it for the past year and its awesome. the costs savings is ridiculous.

7/28/2006 10:20:49 PM

well, as far as I know Gizmo has peering arrangements with the biggest of the open SIP networks.

7/28/2006 10:25:41 PM