May 30 2008
Welcome to this week’s Voip Cast. In this week’s chat, we discuss topics such as Pink Floyd, Five Nines Reliability, Al Gore, Florida Fires, and more.
You can download this week’s podcast for FREE at these fine locations:
For more information on any of the topics covered, check out these great links:
May 29 2008
Investing 300 million dollars over 10 years, the Social Security Administration now leads the US Government in telephony technology – simply switching to Voice over Internet (VoIP). The contract was awarded to Nortel. At first, the figure 300 million boggled us. Then, using the complex mathematical equation of 300 million dollars divided by 10 years, we determined an average cost of 30 million dollars a year.
Before you flip out and say to yourself, “My goodness (we’re keeping it G-Rated), 30 million dollars a year on phones??? What is our government thinking?”
Shocking as it may seem, we at Voip Tech Chat applaud the Social Security Administration’s decision. Sure, as huge (again easy with the fat jokes please) fans of Benjamin Franklin, Patrick and Fred often are publicly vocal and critical of decisions made by the US Government. Yet, when a good decision is made, we try to be equally supportive.
Let’s look at this more closely…
May 28 2008
If you are reading this article thinking that we’ll discuss cookware or the latest Rachel Ray recipe, you’ve come to the wrong place. At VoIP Tech Chat our mission is simple — we’re here to chat about VoIP. Think of it as Coffee Talk, without the coffee or infatuation with Barbara.
Sometimes, to discuss VoIP, we must discuss what VoIP is not — in this case, VoIP is not POTS.
POTS is the common nickname and acronym for Plain Old Telephone Service - you know, the “traditional” phone jack in your wall. The POTS system uses technology that is basically unchanged since the early 1900’s. The wires may be upgraded, sure there’s more features, but the telephone technology in use via POTS is essentially the same technology introduced before there were airplanes, highways, or even household refrigerators.
Background, aka Trivial Knowledge that Patrick would call Interesting
The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell, who along with Thomas Edison, created a method of transferring voice over long distance through the use of connecting wires. Basically, one telephone would be physically connected to another.
May 28 2008
When we see “government study,” we’re often immediately sent into a digression of thought. What would possibly motivate an official to take tax-revenue and give it to a group of government employees to learn about something of this nature. And then, we usually get so frustrated that we turn to the bottle for answers. This being said, more often than not, a study that you could never imagine as needed will generally provide at least one or two interesting results.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) exists (in theory) “to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability.” For more than 60 years, the CDC has pursued malaria, studied plagues, eliminated polio, fought small pox, and even studied cell-phone usage. Um… studied cell-phone usage? Yeah, that one caught our eye, too.
At first, we were under the belief that maybe the CDC had investigated the rumors of cell-phone brain cancer or something to that degree, but as John Pinnett would say, “Nay Nay.”
May 24 2008
As VoIP enthusiasts, we’re often forgetful that not everyone speaks in acronyms. So in today’s post, we would like to introduce you to Voice over Internet Protocol’s Quality of Service — or, VoIP QoS.
Remember, that in a nutshell, VoIP is telephone over Internet (for more details, check out our What is a VoIP? post). Now, a huge part of Internet Telephone is the quality of your Internet service. If we were to ask you, “Mr./Ms. Voip Tech Chat Reader, how good is your Internet connection,” what would you say?
May 23 2008
If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute. It’s been heard in Florida, Michigan, California, Texas, and basically every location imaginable. It’s most likely an evolution of a Mark Twain quote, “If you don’t like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes.” Well, it’s time once again for Fred and Patrick to blatantly steal from others and apply it to VoIP. So, with this amazingly long-winded introduction, we say…
If you don’t like the current telephone technology, wait a few minutes.
Imagine the technology we use and take for granted today. And now think how kids today believe that the old phone you have plugged into the wall is as antiquated as an 8-track tape (if they know what that is).
Continue Reading »
May 23 2008
Knock Knock. Who’s There? Voip Tech Chat. Voip Tech Chat who? New Podcast from Voip Tech Chat y’all.
There’s a party going on over here. A celebration to last throughout the year. So bring your good times, and your laughter too… ’cause we’re chatting Voip with you.
It’s that time of the week again. Where instead of sleeping, Patrick and Fred are posting the latest podcast of Voip Tech Chat. And, as always, you can get listen to our chat using any of these fine, luxurious methods:
But wait! There’s more!! If you act now, you can also learn more about the following topics discussed in today’s Voipcast: Continue Reading »
May 16 2008
Mentioned on the May 15th “Special” Voip Tech Chat, visitng the Social Security Administration website can help determine the popularity of a name. How can the government help determine popularity?
Using the most accurate and advanced tools available (listen closely — you can hear Fred and Patrick laugh heartily), the US Government provides an accurate rank, by basically checking the birth year, sex, and comparing that to the top 1000 names registered with the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Unlike Google, the SSA doesn’t apply any fuzzy logic or comparison techniques. (On a side note, Fred and Patrick love fuzzy logic more than non-fuzzy logic. We find it more cuddly and lovable) We digress… What we mean here… is searching for Fred and searching for Frederick will provide two different results.
Frederick and Patrick have been steadily declining in the last 15 years. That being said, Patrick is a much more popular baby name.
Most popular baby names in the 1970’s? Michael and Jennifer
The 1980’s? Michael and Jessica
The 1990’s? Michael and Jessica
The 2000’s? Jacob and Emily
Go know.
But, don’t take our word for it… check out the SSA’s Popular Baby Name website today. It’s no Voip Tech Chat, but it’s a good waste of time nonetheless.
May 16 2008
In this week’s voip cast, we have a special guest in Fred’s studio — Patrick!! Patrick joins Fred for a face to face voip chat with topics covering Tom Petty, Kid Rock, Earth Day Birthday, and a hammer.
Did you know that Paula Abdul had a hit with Rush, Rush? Not Fred, he lost a hammer thinking it was Hush, Hush.
Check out the newest voip tech chat on your computer, mp3 player, or ipod. Download it today from:
May 07 2008
This question reminds us of the famous quandary, “What is the Ultimate Answer to The Great Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything?” Which of course, as we all know, the simple answer is 42.
This digression is brought to you courtesy of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy which was a great book, a horrible movie, and a decent mini-series on the BBC… but this, our friends, will be discussed in a VoipTechChat in the future… perhaps over a great meal at the Restaurant at the end of the Universe.
We tell you that story to tell you this story:
911 with VoIP has a simple answer and it has a much more thoughtful answer as well. The simple answer is that normally, 911 with VoIP works great. The in-depth answer of course, is not so simple. Continue Reading »
