| Internet Telephony has been around for awhile, | | | | anyone with a computer, you could not use your |
| but its use was very limited prior to 1995. It was | | | | internet phone to speak to people who had a |
| mostly only used by people who liked to use the | | | | regular telephone line. You also had to utilize a |
| technology as a hobby. However in 1995, the first | | | | headset and a microphone in order to talk to |
| internet phone was released by a company called | | | | anyone, and many people found this cumbersome. |
| VocalTec. Internet Telephony has been around | | | | The solution came when VoIP phone service was |
| for awhile, but its use was very limited prior to | | | | introduced. This new technology allowed users to |
| 1995. It was mostly only used by people who | | | | utilize a regular telephone to make phone calls. |
| liked to use the technology as a hobby. However | | | | The telephone was connected a router which |
| in 1995, the first internet phone was released by | | | | then used high speed internet connections to |
| a company called VocalTec. | | | | transfer the voice signals. Once your system was |
| When internet telephony first began, it was limited | | | | set up, there is virtually no difference between |
| to PC to PC use. This required that both users | | | | your internet phone service and a traditional |
| had the software on their computers and that | | | | phone line. |
| both computers were connected to the internet. | | | | In fact, the only real difference comes from the |
| Both computers also had to have sound cards, | | | | price. Companies such as Vonage offer great |
| microphones and headphones. You could only to | | | | packages which allow you to make cheap calls, |
| speak to someone who was using a computer. | | | | even when do a lot of international calling. They |
| This was because internet phones utilized | | | | usually offer call waiting, call forwarding and caller |
| packet-switched networks and regular phone lines | | | | ID for free. |
| utilized circuit-switched networks. At the time, the | | | | The popularity of these services continues to |
| technology to connect these two networks was | | | | grow, and advancements are constantly being |
| not available, which made it impossible for a PC to | | | | made. Work is being done to improve the ability |
| call a regular telephone number. | | | | for the phone lines to identify locations for 911 |
| PC to PC calls still were quite popular, especially as | | | | calls and to improve the quality of the voice |
| instant messaging programs became | | | | transmissions. However, many people use these |
| commonplace. Chat rooms with voice capabilities | | | | services now because they find they can actually |
| were added, and many people began using their | | | | save money over traditional phone services. |
| computer to talk to their friends instead of utilizing | | | | Internet telephony has come a long way from its |
| a traditional telephone. | | | | beginning and the technology will undoubtedly |
| The problem was that although you could talk to | | | | continue to improve. |