Voip.org

There are a lot of fallacies out there about VOIP, ranging from opinionated technologically challenged hog-wash to downright ignorant statements. Here are my top 5 Myths about VOIP.

1. The sound quality is poor.

Several years ago I would have joined you on this point, however, in 2010 and beyond the sound quality just keeps getting better and better as technology has improved and networks (and Providers) have cleaned up their acts on what they deliver as a "service". VOIP users today are enjoying close to crystal-clear communications that are almost in par with traditional fixed line telephony.

2. The service is unreliable.

Private users utilising VOIP for their calls report fewer and fewer dropped calls or service gaps than those using traditional cell phone or fixed line services. Ok, this obviously depends on a) which country you are in b) the service provider you are using and c) whether or not you are connected via a hotspot at the airport, city hotspot on the street or your neighbours wi-fi you've managed to hack into! Most people forget that they share their pipe with that download of the complete series of "Friends" they found on net ;-)

3. Setting up VOIP is too complicated.

My mother is computer illiterate, 64 years old and used to run her mouse over the actual PC display when I told her to select a program on the display... ..and she uses VOIP. For the most part, the difficulty lies in getting an internet connection. Once that is done, anyone with the knowledge to install software on a PC or Laptop will know how to drive VOIP. VOIP providers have spent time expanding their customer service and customers who felt intimated by technology can count on round-the-clock service and support centers to help answer their questions about VOIP installation, troubleshooting or general use.

4. Nobody is using VOIP for their calls.

Say again? On the contrary, more and more people are switching to VOIP for their personal and business use. VOIP usage is growing at a great and steady rate. With the advent of Smart Devices enabled with VOIP, these numbers will just continue to grow.

5. You can't use a cell phone with VOIP

Admittedly, one of the biggest challenges facing the VOIP industry was giving people the ability to use their mobiles with VOIP. Dual handset capability which allowed the user to seamlessly switch between their mobile phone's network and a wi-fi network. Today, Smart Devices bring a whole new spectrum to this argument. This year, the landmark decision to allow Skype to run on i-Phone should give you an indication of how much demand there is for VOIP on mobile devices.

What are your experiences with Myths associated with VOIP? Please feel free to share.