^^^Summary

Voice over IP - a form of implementing voice telephony service - an alternative to switched telephone networks, utilizing existing internet connections.

This technology potentially offers a leap frog advantage to communities that have no established switched telephone network in place.

There is a number of commercial suppliers of VoIP service in the developed world, but complete telephone system setups can be realized with open source software (e.g. Asterisk ) and older hardware. Software can turn internet connected PCs into VoIP telephones, but there are also VoIP handsets available.

Currently rapidly evolving.

^^^Advantages

• completely Internet Protocol based telephone systems possible - no need to establish a switched telephone and an IP network. For example a wireless IP network can now provide phone and internet service to a whole building/campus/community.

• can be implemented with older hardware and open source software

• calls are free regardless of physical distance (apart from internet connection fees - rapidly dropping all over the world) - compare this with high international rates, especially in developing countries

^^^Disadvantages

• fairly new technology, not neccessarily rugged

• can currently not offer the availability of service guarantees of a switched telephone network

• quality of service currently not comparable to switched networks (latency problem, number portability)

• standards currently being shaken out

^^^See also
Communication

^^^References

Wikipedia Voice over IP entry
Wikipedia Asterisk PBX (Private Branch Exchange)

worldchanging.org articles mentioning VoIP
worldchanging.org article: VOIP As Revolution
worldchanging.org article: Inveneo - solar and pedal powered communications system

Summary of Africa - VoIP Telephony report
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Where does this information apply to?

The USA? A region of the USA?

contributed by Garry Peterson on Nov 24 1:06pm

I'm wondering if this is spam that was inadvertantly added as a topic.

contributed by Jacquelyn Hossfeld

I second the spam motion, though I don't feel I have the authority to remove this. Do I?

contributed by Ethan Timm on Aug 10 9:21pm

I second the spam motion also - took the freedom for a first rewrite. Will add material later. Anyone got info on VoIP usage in developing countries? Seems to me that many people use VoIP apps in Internet cafes (specifically the commercial Skype) to keep in contact with their relatives?

contributed by Bjorn van der Meer on Aug 11 2:21am

From what I remember, African villages are starting businesses with cell phones and this is too far advanced for many developing areas. I will delete it from the Taxonomy but not entirely from the Wiki.

contributed by Jacquelyn Hossfeld