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All options require you to buy minutes either through a dealer or online. After this you need to sign up for a new account.
What are the differences between the four dialing options?
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YOU Soft Phone |
BT100 series IP Phone |
ATA |
WiFi Mobile Phone |
| Hardware |
Computer |
BT100 series IP Phone |
ATA box and standard phone or fax machine with telephone jacks |
WiFi Mobile Phone |
| Dialer |
Download and save YOU Soft Phone dialer on your computer |
IP phone dialer |
Standard phone dialer |
Mobile phone dialer |
| Broadband connection via router or modem |
YOU Broadband |
YOU Broadband |
YOU Broadband |
YOU Broadband |
| Free Calls |
YOU Soft Phone to YOU Soft Phone is free |
IP Phone to any IP Phone is free |
No free calls |
No free calls |
ATA - The simplest and most common way is through the use of a device called an ATA (analog telephone adaptor). The ATA allows you to use a standard phone to make VoIP calls. The ATA is an analog-to-digital converter. It takes the analog signal from your traditional phone and converts it into digital data for transmission over the Internet. You simply crack the ATA out of the box, plug the cable from your phone (that would normally go in the wall socket) into the ATA, and you're ready to make VoIP calls. Some ATAs may include additional software that is loaded onto the host computer to configure it.
IP Phones - These specialized phones look just like normal phones with a handset, cradle and buttons. But instead of having the standard RJ-11 phone connectors, IP phones have an RJ-45 Ethernet connector. IP phones connect directly to your router/modem and have all the hardware and software necessary right onboard to handle the VoIP call. Wi-Fi phones allow subscribing callers to make VoIP calls from any Wi-Fi hot spot.
Computer-to-computer - This is certainly the easiest way to use VoIP. All you need is the software, microphone, speakers, a sound card and an Internet connection; preferably a fast one like you would get through a cable or DSL modem.
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