VOIP or Voice over Internet Protocol is a term that is becoming increasingly common. You may have seen the commercial for Vonnage, this is one brand of VOIP. It is a technology that allows you to make voice calls using a high speed Internet connection instead of a regular phone line.

It’s hard to phantom all the communication changes we’ve experienced. I can still clearly remember the rotary dial phones, party lines and phone numbers that began with an exchange such as Juniper 8-3811.

I was first amazed by touch button phones and facsimile machines (faxes). It wasn’t until later that inexpensive phone cards and mobile technology came along. And, now our computers are turning into our phones.

VOIP is great if you make frequent long distance phone calls as it can drastically reduce your bill. It’s also wonderful if you run a small business and phone services make up a significant part of your overhead. Your computer in essence becomes your phone service. Yet, you can still use the computer while talking on the phone. Your service is typically connected to a regular telephone with an adapter and the phone rings just like it always did.

There are, however, some disadvantages that you may want to take into consideration.

• Some VOIP services do not work during power outages.

• 911 calls are handled differently than calls using regular telephone service

• Reliability and quality can suffer when there is too much network traffic

Combining phone and Internet services is definitely convenient and can indeed cut the costs. There is one question that remains though. Should the Internet be your only source of communication during an emergency? What happens when the Internet is down?

In emergencies, Internet service is often disrupted when power is out. So, what is your backup? If you no longer carry service on a landline phone, you just may be out of luck.

I have been in instances where electricity was down and wireless circuits were all busy. Placing a call through broadband or cell phones became nearly impossible. A landline allowed me to call home to let everyone know I was OK.

Also, be aware of connection issues with Internet services. Remember, they are using the same bandwidth that you use for the Internet. When bandwidth is tight, you may find inconsistent service. Repairs also become a bit trickier as wireless, internet, and phone services are all inter- related.

A common computer repair for my firm often includes phone, e-mail and wireless connections. We are becoming increasingly dependent on our computers. But, are we becoming too dependent? It’s a hard question to answer and one with many opinions.

Nevertheless, VOIP is a service to consider. Their have been major improvements in quality and it is becoming commonly accepted. Like any emerging technology, improvements are being made every day.

So what about me? I use a VOIP service for long distance and outgoing calls. But, I also maintain a landline.