VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol is exactly what is says. Instead of sending data (other types of non-voice data) over the Internet, using Internet Protocols (TCP/IP), voice data is transmitted. Geeky, huh!

You may be hearing mixed results from consumers of this service. Why? Unlike data, voice data requires an extremely timely deliver to be effective. Slow loading web pages or delayed e-mail delivery is an inconvenience. Slow voice data delivery can easily cause miscommunication (errors of varying degrees – recall the recent funny cellular commercials), perhaps making the service of little value and nearly useless. From a VoIP user’s perspective slow voice data delivery can cause frustrations identical to those experienced by cellular customers – low signal strengths, chops, fades, dropped calls, etc.

Does all this mean that VoIP is bad or a fad? Absolutely, NOT!

In the VoIP marketplace, we give preference to the Cable Internet companies offering VoIP over all other providers. Recalling that quality of service is highly dependent on timely delivery of voice data (just as it is on traditional landlines and cellular) cable companies are ahead of the competition when it comes to expertise and successful management of delivering video, data and now voice data signals. Unlike others, they can exercise more control over the delivery medium (the cable) than their competitors do. While others can deliver same quality service, they require additional mechanisms and considerations to ensure quality.

Regardless of the VoIP provider you choose, make absolutely certain that the router technology you use (whether customer owned or provided) employs what is known as QoS. QoS is acronym for Quality of Service, a software technology critical to voice packet processing that allows the voice data to “leap over” other data, thus giving voice conversations priority at the routing point (a.k.a. router, or last few meters) of your home or small office network.