| Over the past decade, technological advances in | | | | call. That means you can talk to anyone in the |
| the world of communications have been fast | | | | world for as long as you want, and for free. |
| paced and driven by a global demand to | | | | Furthermore, the sound quality can be as good as |
| communicate more freely. Whilst the greatest | | | | talking over a traditional phone line, though this is |
| advances have been achieved through the mobile | | | | at times dependent on network traffic or internet |
| phone industry, the convergence of the internet | | | | connection speed. |
| and the traditional phone call are beginning to form | | | | Whilst simple to set-up, getting started with |
| a formidable partnership. | | | | internet calls is also not too difficult. Often a |
| As such, calls via the internet may use a | | | | traditional call or email is required to ensure both |
| broadband connection and Voice over Internet | | | | parties are online and logged in to the software at |
| Protocol (VoIP) to stream telephone calls over the | | | | the same time. And for many, the advantage of |
| web. The ability to implement this concept has | | | | free calls far outweighs any current disadvantages |
| become relatively accessible. Users are simply | | | | of internal calling, as friends and families seek a |
| required to download internet telephony software | | | | means to communicate globally. As it goes, |
| onto their PC, plug in a headphone set (or use the | | | | internet calls offer the ability to both see and talk |
| PC's built-in microphone and speakers), and find | | | | to loved ones in another country, simply at the |
| someone with a similar set up to speak to. Video | | | | touch of a button. |
| calls can then be achieved with a web cam and a | | | | Although internet calls are offering many homes |
| higher spec PC. | | | | the latest advances in telephony, consumers are |
| Once you've established your internet connection | | | | demanding more. And if you look at the bigger |
| and logged into your software, there is a variety | | | | picture, currently computer-to-computer calls are |
| of advanced features at your fingertips, which | | | | free, compared to computer-to-landline calls and |
| includes two-way real-time video via web cam, | | | | landline-to-landline calls, which are still chargeable. |
| instant messaging, voice mail and speed dialling. | | | | And when you consider the cost of such |
| Indeed, one of the major advantages with this | | | | trans-continental calls, it is easy to see the |
| form of communication is that, once connected to | | | | benefits of what internet calls can offer. |
| the internet, there is no cost in making an internet | | | | |