Internet Phone & Video Services(i.e., VoIP)

CAT Web Site: sir-web.org/computer/

Topics To Be Discussed

Landline alternative companies◦ Examples: Vonage, Via:talk

VoIP Adapters (no or low monthly bill)◦ Examples: MagicJack, netTalk

Computer based systems (softphones)◦ Examples: Skype, Google Talk/Chat

Mobile phone based systems◦ Examples: Truphone, Skype apps

Video & Conference Calling

Voice over Internet Protocol

VoIP – “Voice over Internet Protocol”Uses Internet rather than landline cable to transmit voice and video signalsAdvantages of VoIP:◦ Lower cost (or free) phone service◦ Inexpensive domestic & overseas calling◦ Video calling capability◦ Phone & video conferencing

Telephone vs. VoIP Network

InternetVoIP

Adapter

DSLModem

VoIPProvider

Public Switched Telephone Network

Router

VoIP Phone Systems

Unlimited free calling for domestic callsTypical free services:◦ Voicemail◦ caller id◦ call waiting◦ online message playback◦ Etc., etc.

Low cost international callsCost less than a standard telephone landline

VoIP Connection Setup

Potential Issues with VoIP Phones

Voice signal qualityEmergency 911 CallingFax handlingRetention of existing phone numberLoss of AC power = Loss of phoneLoss of Internet feed = Loss of phoneCustomer service

VoIP Phone Companies

Main advantage vs. other VoIP alternativesBusiness quality systems◦ Better signal quality◦ Better customer support

Main disadvantage vs. other VoIP alternatives• Typically they are slightly mores costly

IP Phones vs. Adapters

IP Phones are specifically designed to work with VoIP technology◦ Ethernet ports to connect voice/dataLandline phones work with VoIP, if you use an “Analog Telephone Adapter”◦ Converts voice to VoIP call◦ Can be used to connect to your existing phone

system◦ Voice quality may not be as good as IP Phones◦ Some features, such as caller ID, may not work

Leading VoIP Phone CompaniesVonageLingoVoip.comBroadVoiceViaTalkAT&T U-verseComcast Digital VoiceEtc., etc. (100s)

VoIP Company ComparisonCompany $/Mo. Setup Comments

Vonage $26 $0 Most popular VoIP, great call quality

Lingo $10-22 $0 $10=250 min., $22=unlimited

Voip.com $8.33 $0 One of the lowest cost VoIP

BroadVoice $10 $0 Good for lot of international calls

ViaTalk $11-17 $0 Long list of features

Skype $3 $170 Pricey phone, no 911

AT&T $31 - Basic phone service for comparison

Internet Phones

Video Calling Systems (free)ooVooSkypeYugmaVbuzzerEkigaTokBoxEyejotSightSpeedGoogle ChatYahoo MessengerAOL Instant Messenger

Video Calling Systems

One-on-One

Conference Call

Video Calling ComparisonCompany Comments

ooVoo Similar to Skype, desktop sharing, can join via browser

Skype Most popular, easy to use, up to 640x480, 30fps

Yugma Focused on multi-users, desktop sharing & mark-up

Vbuzzer Calling, faxing, video conferencing

Ekiga Linux’s alternative to Skype, complete software

TokBox Simple & we-based, group conferencing up to 200

Eyejot Browser based, spam-free, create/receive video

SightSpeed Excellent video quality but outdated interface

“Do it Yourself” Adapters

MagicJack Plus

netTalk Duo

Ooma

Obi w/ Google Voice

FreeTalk “Connect.Me”

MagicJack Plus

Matchbox-sized device Works as stand-alone device or via PCLow cost: $70 + $30/yr after 1st yearFree USA calling, low cost international callsYou get a new phone numberNumber porting available ($20 + $10/yr)Portable: Use in hotel (need Ethernet cable feed or laptop for Wi-Fi)Smartphone app availableWhen buying- try to sell you “extra” servicesCustomer service is difficult to deal with

netTalk Adapter

• Similar size & features to MagicJack Plus • Low cost: $70 + $30/yr after 1st year• Free USA calls, low cost international calls• You get a new phone number• No number porting available• Portable: Use in hotel (need Ethernet cable

feed or laptop for Wi-Fi)• Smartphone app available• Better customer service than MagicJack

Ooma Adapter

Adapter box (not as small as MJ or NT)Different pricing ($200 + $3.78/mo. tax)Free USA calls, low cost international callsCan use landline as backupNumber porting available ($40)Better voice quality than MJ or NTSmartphone app availableGood customer service

Obi Adapter

Obi is an “Unlocked” adapterMay be used with Google VoiceCost: $50 + $0/mo.Can handle 5 Phones (Ring Load)Smartphone apps availableAnother similar option to Obi: “VoSKY Call Center”

VoIP Adapter ServicesFeature M. Jack netTalk ooma Obi

Free calls to US & Canada yes yes yes yes

Free calls to identical devices yes yes yes yes

Voicemail to e-mail yes yes no yes

Free 411 Directory Assistance yes yes no yes

Enhanced 911 service yes yes yes noConference calling yes yes yes yes

Fax friendly yes yes yes noVideophone capability w/ PC no yes no yes

Cost – Purchase device $40/$70 $70 $200 $50

Cost – Per year (after 1st year) $20/$30+ $30+ $45 tx $0

Voice quality * good good best+ best-

* Voice quality tends to be very subjective and depends on specific conditions

Calling Rates ($/minute)

Call to: MagicJ netTalk* Google Skype* AT&T*

China 2¢ 2¢ 2¢ 2.3¢ $3.49

France 2-18¢ 3-22¢ 2-10¢ 2.3-21¢ $1.49

Italy 2-28¢ 4-30¢ 2-15¢ 2.3-31¢ $1.49

Japan 2.5¢ 4-19¢ 2-11¢ 2.6-18¢ $3.49

Thailand 10¢ 9¢ 2-3¢ 6.5-12¢ $3.49

UK 2-23¢ 2-25¢ 2-10¢ 2.3-26¢ $1.49

USA 0¢ 0¢ 0¢ 2.3¢ 39¢

* Calling plans available at a monthly fee that will reduce $/min. costs

CR Phone Service Ratings *

* Consumer Reports, May 2011

VoIP Softphones

No adapter neededPC or smartphone app requiredSoftphone examples:◦ AOL Instant Messenger◦ Google Chat/Talk◦ Skype◦ Windows Live Messenger◦ Yahoo! Messenger

Google, Google,

Google Voice

Google Talk

Google Chat

- Phone mgt. system

- PC app

- Browser app

Google Voice

Unique & free phone management systemRequires Gmail accountMany of useful featuresYou need to get a new phone number orPort one of your existing numbers ($5-10)No “911” access ◦ Use CallCentric for E911 service at $1.50/mo.

Excellent “User Quickstart Guide”:www.uaf.edu/files/rural/GoogleTalk-Quick-Start.pdf

Google Voice FeaturesUnique & free phone management system1. Google Voice with your existing number

• Google Voicemail –Voice mails in your inbox as text email• Voicemail transcription – Read what your voice mail says• Custom Greetings – Caller can send voice mail greetings• International Calling –Very low cost international calling plans• Notifications – Read your voicemails via email or mobile sms• Share Voicemails - Sharing features like you can embed, download

and forward voicemails2. Google Voice with Google Number

• One Number – Single number which can ring all your phones• Free SMS – Share, receive and archive text messages online• Block Calls –You can block unwanted or advertisement calls• Record Calls –You can record phone calls and store online• Conference calls –You can make or receive conference calls• Screen Callers –You can check callers ID before receiving the calls

Google Voice Options & FeaturesGoogle Voice Lite (No GV# needed)

One voicemail for all your phonesVoicemail transcriptions & forwarded via e-mail/SMSCustom voicemail greetingsFree domestic and low cost international calling

Full Google VoiceGet a custom Google phone numberCall forwardingCall recordingCall blockingConference callingFree SMS

Google Voice “Call Forwarding”

Select phones that you want to have calls forwarded to

My Google Voice number

Google Voice – Calls to You

Internet

Google Server

Public Switched Telephone Network

Call to your GV number

Voicemail is stored & available on GV Server

Internet

Google Server

Google Voice – Calls from You

Google Server

Public Switched Telephone Network

Domestic or international phone

Google Talk

PC/Smartphone applicationRequires Gmail AccountFeatures◦ Voice calls (to friends online)◦ Instant messages (IM)◦ Transfer files ◦ Leave voicemail messagesNo video call capability

Google Chat

Browser application inside GmailRequires Gmail AccountFeatures◦ Voice and video chat◦ Instant messages◦ Group chat◦ Phone calls to any landline or mobile phone

Local Number Porting (LNP)Keep your existing phone number Cancel your land-line accountPort all calls to this number at another phone (VoIP or cell number)Some VoIP services require you purchase LNP from themCost: $6.99/month (typical)With LNP for VoIP phones, 911 Operators may not automatically receive◦ Calling phone number◦ Calling location

VoIP Quality of Service (QoS)1. Latency: Delays in transmission2. Jitter: miss-timed info packets3. Packet Loss: lost info packets4. Router/Adapter “hang-ups”

Things you can do to improve QoS:• Sufficient Internet bandwidth• Enable “Quality of Service” setting on router• Enable “Background Services” in Windows• Computer firewall (“allow” VoIP access)

VoIP Quality of Service

Some VoIP systems are better than othersVoIP techniques to improve QoS:◦ Voice compression◦ Wire-speed (prioritize voice packets)◦ Adaptive redundancy (packets)

No “stand-out” best QoS winner but:◦ Ooma gets generally good marks◦ Although all systems have some bad reviews, they

all also have many satisfied customers

Test Your VoIP Quality

Web Site: myspeed.visualware.com

Call Quality Comparison

Skype

SkypeFree voice/video calls to other Skype usersMaximum Video Resolution:◦ VGA (640x480) at 30 fps (min. 0.5 Mbps)◦ HD (1280x720) at 22 fps (min. 1.2 Mbps)◦ Automatically optimizes video call qualitySoftware on PC or Smartphone neededSmartphone works via Wi-Fi or 3G/4GLow cost fee to call non-Skype phonesConference calling (up to 8 connections)Can not call emergency numbers

Skype Video

FreeTalk “Connect.Me”Use land-line phone for Skype callsFreeTalk “Connect.Me” adapter ($50)Also use your phone for landline callsEmergency 911: Available via Packet8 for $1.99/monthAll calls at Skype rates◦ Unlimited domestic calling for $4.50/mo.◦ Low international rates

FreeTalk “Connect.Me”

Router

Skype

Apple “Facetime”

iOS 4 Application (Apple)Free video calls between iOS4 devicesSimple to use – Just like making any other call from address bookVideo up to: 320 x 240 at 10 fpsBoth devices must be in a Wi-Fi areaMay be projected on HDTV via HDMI cable or Apple TV “AirPlay”

Mobile Phone AppsUse to make data-only phone calls (doesn’t affect your “minutes”)Use Smartphone to make free domestic & low cost international phone callsApps available for:◦ Vonage (audio)◦ Skype (audio & video)◦ ooVoo (video)◦ Paltalk (audio & video)◦ MagicJack (audio)◦ netTalk (audio)◦ Google Voice (audio)◦ Etc….

Google Voice on iPad

Use your Wi-Fi iPad to send/receive callsNeed Google Voice accountMust be in Wi-Fi areaTwo good apps:◦ Talkatone (for voice) - free◦ GV Connect (for voice, SMS integration) - $2.99

Free calls (no “plan minutes”) and low cost international calls

Google Voice “Tricks”Friends/relatives in another state:? Get GV# in their area code and forward calls to your home numberTired of all your phones ringing simultaneously? Set up specific times when each phone will ringSend missed calls to your Gmail inbox so you don't forget to call backRecord incoming calls by pressing “4”Set your Skype Caller ID to your GV#Switch phones while in a call: hit “*” , your other phones will ring and then pickup another phoneAvoid cell phone “minutes”: Make your GV# one of your “Top 5” or “Faves” and then use “Click2Call”

The End……………...

CAT Web Site: sir-web.org/computer/

Supplemental Information

Test your VoIP Internet connection quality: myspeed.visualware.com or bandwidth.com/tools/voipTest/Good VoIP comparison site: www.voipreview.orgAnother VoIP comparison site: www.whichvoip.comGoogle Voice “User Quickstart Guide”:www.uaf.edu/files/rural/GoogleTalk-Quick-Start.pdf

Number Porting to Google VoiceThis tutorial will guide you through the process of porting a non-mobile number to Google Voice. Once your number is ported, you can eliminate the monthly fee and use this number on the OBi with Google Voice.

Since Google does not support porting non-mobile numbers to Google Voice directly, this requires a two-step process that we will describe in greater detail below. In essence, you will first port your number to a mobile service number and then the mobile service number (previously the original number) to become your Google Voice number.

Important Note: Google Voice cannot be used to place or receive emergency services calls.

Requirements: An unlocked mobile phone (with SIM card access) and a pre-paid SIM card from T-Mobile available here (link).

1. Check if your number can be ported or transferred to T-Mobile. Click here to check.

2. If your number is eligible for transfer, buy a prepaid SIM card from T-Mobile here (link)or at any authorized T-Mobile dealer. This will cost approximately $3 to $7. Select the image to the right to purchase from Amazon.

3. When you receive the prepaid SIM card, activate the SIM card using the instructions included in the package. You will choose a new (temporary) number and PIN. Insert the SIM card into an unlocked phone and a test call — call in and out.

4. Call T-Mobile's activation department at 1-800-937-8997. Request to port your old number to your new prepaid SIM account.

5. In 1 to 3 days, you will receive confirmation that the number port is complete, check to see that the number is working properly — E.g. Your old number is now the mobile number.

6. Go to your Google Voice account and request to port your T-Mobile number to Google Voice. The request to port link is found in, "Voice Settings." Look for the "Change/Port" link (click here for example screen shot). Google will charge a one-time fee of $20 for this service. You will need to provide your T-Mobile account number which is your ported number, e.g. 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx and your PIN. Note: Use your newly ported, original number —not the number you choose when activating the SIM card. Google will call the mobile number for activation purposes, so be sure to have your unlocked phone in which you inserted the prepaid SIM card.

7. In 1-3 days, Google will email you to confirm the porting is complete.

You may now start using your old number with Google Voice on your new OBi!

Google Voice LiteVoicemail SetupSet up Google voicemail for your mobile numberGoogle Voice Lite lets you set up Google voicemail for your mobile phone number. This allows you to have all your voicemail in one place, with transcriptions, access to your past voicemails, and voicemail sharing options.If you'd like to set up Google voicemail for your mobile number, follow the steps below:

1. Click the gear icon link at the top right corner of the page. gear icon2. Click Voice settings.3. Click Add another phone and enter a name and the number for your mobile phone.4. Click Save.5. You will be prompted to verify your phone number. Click Connect and Google Voice will call

your phone and you need to verify it by entering the code that appears in the 'Verify your Phone' pop-up window.

6. Once you've verified your phone, you'll have to choose your mobile carrier from the drop-down menu.

7. Follow the directions on the next screen and enter the code provided as if you were calling someone. Press the 'Call' button on your phone to finish setting up Google voicemail for your mobile phone.

If you need to deactivate Google voicemail for your phone at any time, click the Deactivate voicemail link and follow the instructions provided.Note: If you are having trouble configuring Google Voice as your voicemail service on Verizon you can make the switch manually by dialing these three activation codes:

*71[Your Google Voice number]*90[Your Google Voice number]*92[Your Google Voice number]

Google Voice Quick Reference