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Susan-Says®: It’s a New World of Cost Effective Communications. By Susan Wilson Solovic, CEO SBTV Your computer may soon become your favorite form of communication – and I’m not just talking about emails. More small and mid-sized businesses are turning to the Internet for Voice over Internet Protocol. This high-tech system also known as VoIP or IP telephony uses a combination of hardware and software to allow the Internet transmission of telephone calls instead of traditional circuit switched copper wiring like a traditional telephone. With VoIP a digital signal travels over the Internet then is converted back at the receiver’s end so you can speak to anyone with a regular telephone number. It is estimated that 30 percent of U-S businesses may move to VoIP within two years and more than five million homes will be using the technology by 2007. The simplest and cheapest way to use VoIP is through computer-to-computer calls. These calls can be free. The only thing you need is the software which can be found for free on the Internet, a good high-speed Web connection, a microphone, speakers, and a sound card. Except for your monthly internet service fee, there is literally no cost for making these calls, no matter how many you make. But this system is not practical for most businesses that need multiple telephone handsets. There are many Internet-based business networks that offer Internet based phones. These phones can be connected with traditional land-line phones, fax machines, and cordless phones. Many small firms are finding a VoIP network offers lower costs and increased flexibility for all types of calls. Intra-office calls can be routed through a VoIP network. Because the quality of sound is comparable to and in some cases surpasses that of analog service, some international companies are using VoIP to route international calls through the branch of their company nearest the call's destination and then completing it on an analog system. This allows the company to pay local rates internationally and while utilizing the same intra-office VoIP network they would if they were calling someone at the very next desk. Dorothy Attwood of SBC Communications says, “In the I-P world, the individual user is able to tailor and customize their use of that network to what is most important to Notwithstanding any provision in any documents available here, you are permitted to download an entire, unchanged copy (including any copyright notice and author attribution) to a computer and make a print copy of internal use. This material is intended to provide a general overview and does not purport to provide all specific requirements for any person. MasterCard provides this material AS IS for the convenience of its members and cardholders. them. So for example, what is important for a business is to access their e-mail and all of their communications while on the road…an I-P platform offers them the ability literally anywhere in the world to use their laptop as if they were sitting at their desk.” VoIP offers users the opportunity to customize services, features and functions. Calls can be sent to several phones at once, simultaneously or sequentially, so if you are not at the office, the call will go to your home and your cell phone. Choice also comes from being able to use different devices to send and receive voice communication. Your PDA, laptop or MP3 player will be as useable as a phone. Some VoIP service providers allow you to check your voice-mail via your e-mail, while others allow you to attach voice messages to your e-mails. This opens a new world of options to small business. Notwithstanding any provision in any documents available here, you are permitted to download an entire, unchanged copy (including any copyright notice and author attribution) to a computer and make a print copy of internal use. This material is intended to provide a general overview and does not purport to provide all specific requirements for any person. MasterCard provides this material AS IS for the convenience of its members and cardholders.