Voip Networks

[Booldawg]

Does anyone run one? If so what hardware do you use and what quality is the audio.

I dont know alot about them so just have basic questions;

Can you phone mobile numbers (here and abroad) from your home phone over the VOIP?
Also international numbers - can you phone them?

[Mosaic]

Skype is an example of VOIP.
Once you have a VOIP setup all calls are free within the network. But they aren't really free as you have to buy your internet to begin with, but you aren't paying more for voice calls / phone calls.
However, the problem with calling landlines and mobile phones is that you are going outside your VOIP network.
Skype makes this easy by providing simple subscription levels that allow you to call any landline in the world. Not sure about mobiles with skype but if you use the internet on your mobile - say like an iphone or galaxy - then you can skyp as described above.

[Booldawg]

thanks mosaic - isnt Skype a 'closed' voip network though, eg only available to other Skype users?

I was more interested in an open Voip network that would give me access via my home telephone. Looking at the network diagrams a voip adaptor sits between your router and home phone.

[dickythecook]

If you buy Skype credit, ie open an account you can call most phones worldwide mobiles as well. You can even text mobiles using the messaging system, hold a video phone call if you have the webcam. Prices are pretty good too

[MatthewHaney]

Yes. VOIP means: voice over internet protocol, allowing you to use the internet to make phone calls. The nice thing about this is you can make calls to anywhere from anywhere for next to nothing. Businesses and individuals used to pay through the nose to call overseas. HTL [ http://www.htl.london/ ]helps businesses cut costs using VOIP services. Everyone, including individuals, save using VOIP phone services.