Ways to Make a Broadband Phone Call

You already own a computer with high-speed Internet access and a telephone. Now you can make them work together to make a broadband phone call.

There are really two ways to do this; one is through software and the other is through hardware. To make a broadband phone call using software, your phone is connected to your computer and it must be on and running. Some complaints with these type of broadband phone calls have been voice quality and clipped sentences, where your voice is cut off prematurely on the receiving end.

Using hardware to make a broadband phone call, a special modem is needed into which you plug your regular telephone and use it as you normally would. Of course, you will need a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) provider for this to work. Even if you have a Direct Service Line (DSL) for Internet access, you will not need a separate telephone line to make a broadband phone call.

High-Speed Access is required

Making a broadband phone call requires a high-speed Internet connection and it will not work with dial-up ISPs. The fastest dial-up service at 56Kbs is not fast enough for the voice to be transmitted clearly. Advantages include lower long-distance charges as most VoIP service providers will charge a flat monthly fee for a set number of minutes, like cell phone services.

Hardware-based services will generally have a clearer voice quality and you can use your existing phones once they are hooked up to the hardware. If you are using DSL, special filters are provided for the phone line to protect against line noise.

A couple of disadvantages of being able to make a broadband phone call are the availability of 911 emergency services. Not all 911 call centers support them as the caller-ID functions are not available in all broadband areas. Another is available service in the event of a power outage.

Broadband, either hardware of software, requires electricity to operate. If the cable company has no power, you have no phone service. Your hardware-based service goes through a modem, which requires power as well. Traditional phone service has its own power provided by the phone company allowing it to work even when electricity is interrupted.

Many have kept a simple service landline in case of emergencies, but have switched to the internet to make broadband phone calls saving money on long distance charges.