To paraphrase the great George Michael:

VoIP is natural – VoIP is good
Not everybody does it
But everybody should

Why would we paraphrase George Michael? Why not is the better question. You see, at VoipTechChat, we strive to be different. We don’t want to just talk about a 1979 Chevy Malibu… we want to talk about cooking with a 1979 Chevy Malibu. We’re not going to talk about a Buick LeSabre… we’re going to talk about jumping a Buick LeSabre that you could call it the General Lee. 

What was the question again? Oh yeah…. so what’s VoIP?

First of all, ask your self this question… Do you know what is Http?

Now, this is going to be like one of those Choose Your Adventure books, where you get a different answer based on your selection. But at VoipTechChat, we’re kind of lazy, so we’re just going to go ahead and post both answers here in the same post… but you’re on the honor system to only read your choice.

So… the question was, do you know what is http?

NO, I do not know what is http:

Ok… don’t worry. Most people don’t. It’s ok. We don’t think any less of you — we promise. For the record, if you’re reading this, you’re using a web browser… and http is the computer technology that allows this page to display. No biggie… the bottom line is even though you don’t know what http is, you still used it. Wow… pretty deep isn’t it? Alas, VoIP is the technology that allows your phone to use the Internet. But, since you don’t know what http is and you still visit websites, you can relax… “Forget about it.” Voip is internet phone. It works like a regular phone, but uses the Internet instead of the house wires. And that’s all you need to know.

YES, I know http. I am a Dungeon Master and I own 3 pocket protectors:

Sweet! Well, my 20 sided friend, VoIP is an acronym standing for…. wait for it… Voice Over Internet Protocol. Wow… pretty amazing, huh?

Voip works by digitzing your voice, sending it over the Internet to the destination, and then having it return to audio on the other side. You know star trek? (of course you do) Well, VoIP is like a transporter — for voice. The transporter on your end is a special phone (or adapter) that takes your voice, turns it into digital “packets” and then sends it on it’s way… and it also turns other digital packets into voice… allowing you to have an actual conversation. It’s pretty cool.

So, Voip is digital, internet phone service. To use Voip, you need 4 basic things:

1. Electricity
2. Internet (Generally high speed internet)
3. A VoIP phone or adapter
4. A VoIP service provider

That’s it? Yes, that’s it. Pretty sad really.

We will now open the forum for discussion…

First question comes from Mike in the hills of Oregon: Fred and Patrick. Love the show… long time listener… first time caller. Anyway, I don’t have electricity, can I still use VoIP?
  

No. You need electricity. Sorry. Please don’t mail us any more special packages by the way.

Mary from Utah asks: Patrick… I love your stories… huge fan… if I don’t have Internet, can I still use the Internet Phone?  

Hi Mary… um… well… Internet is pretty important for VoIP. Without the Internet, it would just be VoP. And nobody wants to use VoP. So, no, you cannot use an Internet Phone without the Internet.

Have a question for Fred and  Patrick? Ask it now… watch… we’ll really respond.