Skype

1. Explain 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages of VoIP technology vs. the PSTN or traditional POTS service?

Advantages:

One of the biggest advantages of VoIP phone service is the low cost. The basic monthly fee and the cost per minute is lower than traditional copper POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) as provided by the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). This is mostly due to the lack of government control and taxes for anything related to the internet. Unfortunately, lack of government regulation also equates to lack of quality as you shall come to understand later.

Another advantage of VoIP phone service is free calling features. Whereas the traditional copper line phone companies charge for features like caller ID, call forwarding, voice mail, call waiting and distinctive ringing, VoIP service providers typically provide these features free of charge.

Also since VoIP utilizes newer computer systems more advanced calling features are available which cannot be obtained via traditional copper POTS lines. An example is a videophone. A videophone provides 2-way video and audio over high-speed Ethernet connections.

Disadvantages:

You must have high-speed internet access in order to obtain VoIP phone service. This may be via DSL (digital subscriber line), T1, cable modem via your local cable TV provider, FiOS (Fiber Optic Service) via Verizon or your local phone company, or some other method of high speed internet access.

You must buy or obtain a device called a VoIP adapter, also known as an ATA (Analog Terminal Adapter) or obtain a VoIP card for your business phone system in order to use SIP trunks.

If power is lost to the VoIP adapter or if your internet connection is lost due to a power outage, you will be without phone service. As opposed to copper POTS lines which by federal law are required to have 48 hour battery backup and generators in place in case of a long term power outage. Anyone having traditional phone service that’s...