Before reading this article, I had heard about VoIP, but had never really had any clear idea of what it was or how it worked. Now I feel like I have a grip on what VoIP entails, how it works, as well as the implications it holds for forms of communication that are already in existence – cable, telephone networks, etc.
VoIP has some really cool things working in its favor. Perhaps the most obvious is that there are ways that you are able to make phone calls for free, provided you know how. That is easily one of the biggest upsides to VoIP. Another advantage is how it uses a lot less resources than the current system of telephone networks.
At the same time, VoIP has some major disadvantages that also need to be taken into account. First, and perhaps most obviously, you need to be around your computer/laptop to use it in that manner. Aside from just needing to be around the computer, what would happen in a power outage? No computer means no VoIP. Also, as the article mentions, just like anything running on a computer, it would be susceptible to virus and other computer-related woes.
I feel that at this point in time at least, VoIP is not really posing much of a threat to already established communications technologies like cable and telephone networks. This is because if you look at the conveniences that cellular phones and cable have provided us, the convenience that VoIP provides pales in comparison. Sure, it might be free, but you can carry a cellphone with you anywhere you go. I feel that VoIP will continue to grow and evolve as a technology, and it might possibly end up replacing landlines somewhere down the line, but as of now, I really don’t think it is much of a threat to existing technologies.
Questions:
1.) How do you feel about adopting VoIP?
2.) Will VoIP ever pose a threat to cellphones, which seem to be the dominant form of telephony now?
February 27, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Jim- I agree with you in that VoIP does not present a direct threat to traditional phone at this time. I see it more as a fun new thing you can do in addition to using a regular phone. I don’t see this technology really “replacing” traditional lines for a long time (at least 15 years or so). Hopefully by then they will find ways around the “woes” you talk about in your article!
February 27, 2007 at 8:10 pm
I agree that it is not a threat to households, but what about businesses? I think businesses are grasping this in a big way and they are going to be the most affected by this as time goes by.
February 27, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Hey Jim, Whats going on? It is true that VoIP isnt having a major affect on phone companies, however, i believe that companies are anticipating the emergence of VoIP and are adapting to the internet phone. Maybe we’ll see some new marketing strategies or new standards of pricing when VoIP comes out full blast in the next few years.
February 27, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Hey Jim, I agree that it’s just as easy to make a call on your cell phone. I reach for my cell phone when I call my friends on the other side of the country, because it is just as easy and I won’t get charged for the long distance call. But I also think it will be interesting to see when computers get smaller who will be more willing to use VoIP.
February 27, 2007 at 8:22 pm
I agree that VoIP is not currently posing as a threat to telephone companies. There are still many things that have to be fixed, including the power outage problem and computer dependency that you discussed. And until companies find solutions to these problems, VoIP will not be able to take over.