VoIP Explained
Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP, is one of today’s hottest and most confusing new technologies. Because of all the confusion and complexity, Teleco has written this page to inform and educate you. We hope you find it helpful.
VoIP consists of 2 major technologies….
Making Calls Over the Internet
This is the most common use of VoIP. It is also called VoIP lines or trunks. If you have a high speed internet connection, like cable modem, DSL, or T1, you can use your high speed connection to make phone calls on the internet. There are many companies like Vonage, Lingo, and VoiceWing (Verizon) that offer VoIP lines. Cable companies also offer VoIP lines, but only if you have their cable modem service. So, to boil it down, instead of getting your dial tone from Verizon over the traditional phone network, you get your dial done from your internet company. Any phone system made (even an old one) can take advantage of VoIP lines. You do not need an IP based (IP PBX) or even IP compatible phone system.
The advantage of VoIP lines are:
Lower Bills. Usually you pay a flat monthly rate and all your calls in the USA and Canada are free
You can take your number with you. If you move around the corner or across the country with VoIP you can keep your existing phone number even if you move to a different area code.
Multiple area codes. You can get phone numbers from different area codes or even overseas numbers.
Portability. You can move the VoIP router with you and take your service easily with you. You can even set it up to use your laptop and a WiFi connections to make calls from anywhere you can get high speed internet access.
Features. VoIP lines come with Caller ID, Call Forwarding, and lots of other great features.
The problems with VoIP lines are:
Quality is not as good as traditional phone service, but it’s close and getting better all the time.
Set up can be very challenging.
Depending on how fast your internet connection is, it may be possible to make several calls at the same time over the internet. However, the more calls you make at once the slower your internet connection will be and the poorer the sound quality of your calls will be.
Faxes, modem, and alarm systems don’t work well over VoIP lines. Sometimes they won’t work at all.
If you need a lot of lines, the cost of the high speed internet connection may outweigh the savings.
There are some minor technical issue using VoIP lines and Automated Attendants and Voice Mail systems.
If your internet access goes down, all your phone lines go down too.
VoIP lines normally don’t work if the power does out, but you can set up back up batteries.
Right now the Government does not tax VoIP service. If that changes VoIP may not be price effective anymore.
Connection Remote Workers or Remote Offices….Voice over IP Stations.
This is the 2nd major use of VoIP. You can “connect” to your office phone system from anywhere there is a high speed internet connection. Using a special VoIP telephone or a Laptop “soft phone” you can work from home or a hotel and it’s just like being in your office. You have access to all your phone system features including the intercom, paging, all outside lines, voice mail, and even your extension can ring on your VoIP phone. Best of all, you don’t lose the use of your computer. 1 high speed internet connection can run your VoIP phone and your PC at the same time.
With this same technology, you can link multiple office together into one seamless phone system. You can even share lines or the one voice mail system. You can even run your entire phone system over your office LAN or WAN without separate voice wiring (often called Pure IP or IP Based telephone systems), though that is very expensive and complicated and is best suited for very large companies with full time IT staffs.
Voice over IP is very exciting and more and more people are using it everyday. You need an expert to help you understand if VoIP is right for you. The experts at http://www.teleco4.com can help people in the New York and New Jersey area migrate to VoIP and sell and service NEC and Toshiba business telephone systems.
About the Author
Over 10 years in the telephone system and network services field. An expert in both telephony hardware and services.
How to make a voice – Part 1
Before you make a voicover demo, as with any other skill, be sure and practice, practice, practice. The current marketplace for voiceover talent is very competitive, and is occasionally overshadowed by the number of famous voices given first choice. Take heart however, there are great opportunities in radio and regional television advertising. If you dream about working as a voiceover actor, then make a demo and go for it, but don’t quit your day job right away.
Since you have only once to make a first impression, you want to locate a recording studio that will offer you the time and service that you need. You will need rehearsal time, and a producer besides the engineer to help you focus your material. An appropriate sound track is a critical part of your final demo, and that should be part of the deal you make with that studio. They will do what they call ’sweeten’ your voiceover material with fabulous musical cues so that it sounds very professional.
Seeking talent ordered up by the advertising vendor, a producer will quickly see if he needs you, or not, and it’s not usually negotiable. As with any other job application, it’s very important to present yourself with confidence. You should seek out a recording studio that is recommended by someone, or one whose reputation is well known.
Primarily a voiceover actor needs to speak clearly, and with a style that is natural and easily maintained. The demo material should be spoken artfully, but not exaggerated, in whatever the primary language of the person recording. Producers and directors most often prefer voice actors to speak their primary language, rather than seek out someone faking it. If you think you want to do narrative voiceovers such as books on CD, you will have to maintain a strong voice for a long period of time, rather like an athlete.
To begin with, the internet is a great resource for new voice talent. Google the term voiceover to find a bunch of agency websites with demos of the talent they represent. Listen to them over and over again, and note the material used as well as the gender of the talent. There’s more than one way to vocally animate any message. Read outloud to yourself,and find someone to read opposite you to practice multiple voiceover ads. In the final analysis, a director will tell you what he needs from you if you’re hired. Although many directors will accept some input from the talent.
The most ideal scenario would be if you can take classes in addition to reading about voiceovers, as well as listening to demos online. Together, these will increase your learning curve, and you’ll be ready to do your demo a lot sooner.
Remember the first 7-10 seconds is all that a producer will need to make up their mind, so put your best vocal efforts right up front. Make sure the sound track behind you is properly adjusted so as not to drown you out. The demo should not be longer than 2-3 minutes at most.
If you can sing or yodel, or speak in tongues, put that information on your resume, the one that should accompany your MP3 file on CD. You have your first demo. Now you need to market yourself. Good luck.
International Calling Cards Comparison
Many people all around the globe pay more for making international calls. You may tend to spend more money for the same to stay in touch with your beloved ones. However, now you can pay reduced rates with the help of calling cards. There are numerous international phone cards present in the Internet. You may then have the confusion to select the best. International calling card comparison can help you select the best one.
Callcentric calling card is one of the best cards that allow you make calls from your ordinary cell phone. It offers you the most affordable way to make long distance calls. The rates offered by Callcentric are lower than most of the other providers. A comparison chart based on market data shows that Callcentric offers services at relatively cheaper rates to most of the countries.
You are able to use the calling card feature of Callcentric by dialing into Global Access number or Personal dedicated access number. The Personal dedicated Access numbers may include per-minute surcharges. However, the calling card feature is included in low Pay Per Call rate of Callcentric, despite the rate plan you have selected.
The access and authentication to the calling card feature is offered in some ways, depending upon the calling card feature. For instance, if you have global access number, then the authentication feature is provided via Account number and PIN. If you have personal dedicated access number, then PIN or Caller ID is sued for authentication.
With Callcentric calling cards, you are able to place calls anyplace in the world to any ordinary telephone or cell phone. You can get a phone number in over 35 countries to access calling card feature. The calling card offers variety of plans like free phone calls, free PC calls, unlimited phone calls at cheaper rates and many more other services. It includes 4 main types of rate plans that include Callcentric IP freedom plan, Callcentric Pay per call, Callcentric North America Unlimited, and Callcentric World Select. The IP Freedom plan is free for lifetime and you are allowed to make calls to Callcentric members living anyplace in the world absolutely free. There are no hidden charges or no transfer via wire required. The procedure to adapt this feature is very simple. You just need to buy a telephone adapter or download software to connect to Internet. You may not get these features and benefits from other calling card providers.
Callcentric calling card features an exciting Pay per Call plan that allows you make more calls. This is extremely useful if you are not sure about the frequency of making calls. There is no monthly charge. You can make international calls at relatively low rates. You can make calls from your PC to any Callcentric member without any charge.
Callcentric North America Unlimited is a unique feature that you may not notice in other international phone cards. This plan is especially meant for people who make calls to USA and Canada frequently. The plan allows you to make as many calls as you wish and requires you to pay only $19.95 per month. There are no hidden charges associated with this calling card feature. Along with these benefits, you can enjoy making free calls to other Callcentric members all over the world free.
Callcentric World Select plan allows you to make calls to anyone from many countries. Over 35 countries are covered in this group.
Voice Actors for Your Audiobook – Where to Start?
Familiar with Google? Actively using their search engine to conduct keyword searches online?
As good as Google and their contemporaries are for finding generic subject matter, they are no match for finding niche search queries or specific answers to your questions about narrators, voice-overs and voice actors.
Here’s how my friend James used a voice talent niche search tool to quickly help him meet a tight deadline…
It was lunch hour on a Thursday, and James, based in Boston needed to find a voice actor to record 10 minutes of voice-over for his sales presentation. He had to present on the following Friday morning, so timing was critical. He had to find a voice talent, and fast.
James knew what he wanted – an authoritative male voice in the 30 – 45 year old range with a Boston accent, but he was having difficulty locating someone who matches all of his requirements in spite of searching on one of the larger search engines.
After a series of frustrating dead end searches, James turned to one of his colleagues, Crystal, and asked her what she’d do.
Crystal had used a specialist voice talent search tool previously, and found it a much more efficient way to find a good voice resource. So that’s what she advised James to do.
Using the specialist search engine tools to find voice talent allowed James to conduct a more robust search, giving him search options such as voice gender, keyword, location, union status, and language.
Already 20 minutes into his lunch, time is of the essence. James thanked Crystal for her advice, and headed over to the voice talent website she suggested. From there, James discovered, much to his delight, that he can find voice actors quickly via 3 unique ways.
Firstly, by searching the voice actor database.
Secondly, by browsing the Featured Talent Categories, all of which are specific to a given application for voice-over.
Thirdly, by posting his job requirements and have qualified voice actors reply to his job posting, complete with a sample of their voice, a proposal, and a price quote. All of the replies are hosted conveniently online and can be viewed by other members of his team to help make a decision.
Best of all, there is an option for James to have his job approved immediately – just by setting the Response Deadline to today’s date – saving him time and money. This express job posting option is just what James needed to get responses from talent quickly and complete his project for his Friday morning presentation.
At about 12:27 p.m. James left his desk to microwave his lunch. Ten minutes later, he returned to his desk, opened his email, and saw the following message:
“Dear James,
Your voice-over job has been approved! Talent are being notified and will answer within minutes…”
James was astounded! He hadn’t been away from his desk for longer than 15 minutes, and already there were 26 responses from talent with Boston accents awaiting him in his account, all with a sample of their voice, a proposal, and a price quote for his review.
After listening to several demos, James identified the voice actor who he would like to work with.
After a quick consultation with some of his co-workers, they gave him the thumbs up to move ahead with Boston Sean.
Boston Sean was exactly what James was looking for and more. Not only is his voice perfect, but Sean is able to record the voice-over by 3 p.m. and promised to deliver the files before the end of the working day.
Paying Sean was straight forward – he prefers PayPal, so the entire project was completed and paid for on the same day.
As soon as he was awarded the contract, Sean got to work on James’ sales presentation, and ahead of schedule, an email appeared from Sean in James’ inbox letting him know that the files were ready.
James reviewed the voice-over, and was delighted with what he heard. He picked up the phone and dialed Sean’s number, thanking him profusely for his professionalism and for the creative interpretation of his script.
The next day, the sales presentation went off without a hitch, complete with the voice-over recorded just the day before by the voice actor, Sean.
The room erupted with cheers, the audience exclaiming “What a success! Where did you get that voice?”
The outcome was that James knew he’d found a real winner in Sean, and they now work together regularly. Sean has also gained referrals from James to other colleagues in related markets.
It all began because James asked Crystal for help, and she referred him to a specialist voice talent search engine web site. He couldn’t have done it within his deadline without her help and the site that she referred him to.
