VOIP or Voice over Internet Protocol is not a new technology but its adoption in places like Bohol was not prevalent until recently. Using the Internet, telephone calls can be very low cost or even free and unlimited. This technology update is a first of a series of articles that will go into detail of the technology, how we can use it, and which ones should be used among the numerous options.

Perhaps the most popular VOIP service in use today is Skype and it uses a software that the user will install on the computer. Yahoo! also offers voice calls through its Yahoo Voice service. A late entrant in the VOIP arena is Google with its GoogleTalk service. There are more similar VOIP service providers but these three are the most commonly known ones. These services are free for PC to PC calls but have prepaid charges for PC to landline calls. The only disadvantage is that you are tied up to your computer. To use it, you have to turn on your computer and login using their software. Probably not an issue with proficient computer users but can be inconvenient for other users.

In the USA, VOIP has become mainstream with very large telecommunications companies engaged in the service. Because VOIP doesn’t require the user to be physically attached to the telco infrastructure, it is possible to subscribe to a VOIP service in the U.S., and then bring the VOIP device to Bohol. When plugged to the Internet, one can make VOIP calls now as if the caller was in the U.S. This service is provided by companies like Vonage and MagicJack and allows the user to have a U.S. number that can be called just like an ordinary telephone. The disadvantage of this type of service is that there is no local support and if there are issues with the devices used, it gets expensive sending the units to the U.S. for repair.

A new entrant to the VOIP market in Bohol is Momentum Plus (M+) which has launched its service recently in Bohol and has shown its commitment to provide good service by opening a local business center at J.A. Clarin Street, Tagbilaran City, near the city hall. M+ service is unique because it gives the user an option to join its network and get commissions on sales or simply as a regular VOIP user. It also allows cellphones to call M+ phones, allowing subscribers without Internet connection to be able to call M+ subscribers. Auza.Net is a subscriber of M+ as well as all the other services above although we no longer use Vonage due to its relatively expensive $29 per month bill. For more details on each of these services, please visit the following websites:

www.skype.com
voice.yahoo.com
www.google.com/talk
www.vonage.com
www.magicjack.com
www.mymplus.com/auzanet