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voIP Basics
What is voIP?voIP stands for "voice over IP". In simple terms, it means a phone call originating from a regular telephone (such as in your home), cell phone or even a computer is routed over the internet. The party receiving the phone call can also be speaking on a regular telephone, a cell phone or through a head-set connected to a computer. A few well known examples of voIP is Skype(tm) or Google Talk(tm). What is a DID?DID stands for Direct Inward Dial. For SoftTouch, a DID is a local phone number across the United States or in more than 40 countries. When someone calls the phone number, the call is sent over the internet to a computer running SoftTouch. SoftTouch then answers the call and the caller is able to use the phone dating system. What are the advantages of voIP?voIP allows SoftTouch to be used on a global scale. Imagine having local phone numbers in thousands of cities across the US and the world. It doesn't matter where you locate your SoftTouch server, you can receive calls from worldwide through the internet. You are not tied down to establishing phone service in one city. You can think and market globally for a fraction of the cost of traditional phone service. The possibilities are endless. Is it really that easy to get started with voIP?Yes! There are countless companies that can provide you with a local phone number (DID) in the cities you choose. Some of the companies can provide numbers instantly through their web sites, while others can provide numbers within a day or two. How do the DID companies make their money?Depending on the company, they may provide DID services by the minute or a flat rate per month. Companies charge as little as $.003 per minute. DID phone numbers in more rural areas are likely to cost more per minute or month. One thing you need to pay attention to is how many "channels" they provide with their DID number. You can think of a channel as a phone line or a simultaneous caller you can have calling into your system. If you want 50 people to be able to call at exactly the same time, you would need at least 50 channels available. Many companies will limit the number of channels on low-cost, low-volume DIDs to 1 or 2. Some may routinely offer 20 or more channels. Per month DIDs are likely to severely limit the number of channels. You will likely need to acquire DIDs that are metered by the minute. Per minute DIDs won't likely limit the number of channels as that's how they are making their money - pure volume. Make sure you understand exactly what the company's DID plan offers. The most important thing to remember is that you don't need to choose the first company you come across. Shop around for the best rates. What happens if I don't have enough channels on my DID?If you don't have enough channels supported by your DID phone number, your callers will likely receive a busy signal. In any case, the call will not reach SoftTouch. Can you recommend DID companies?Yes. Below is a short list of DID companies. There are many on the internet. Idv.net (recommended, ask for Steve at x303)
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