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VoIP at $15 a Pop
AndersBrownworth writes: "Creative has released what they are calling the VoIP Blaster, a $15 USB device (2 for $20) that lets you plug in a normal POTS type telephone and make Voice-over-IP calls to anyone on the Internet. Creative has some closed source software with it that they manage to sneak per call charges in with, but ignoring that one can install the open source fobbit software and do point-to-point unmetered VoIP calls to anyone else with a G.723.1 codec VoIP phone. I just got off a NC to CA call placed from behind a firewall and the quality rocked. It sounded far better than a cell phone. The Fobbit software is fairly solid on FreeBSD and Windows with a couple bugs in the Linux port." This device has been out for a while now, with mixed reviews, at least with the included software, but it's nice to see this effort to turn off the meter.
Hopefully the general public won't be scared away from VoIP because of the ease in which anybody can record a very clear conversation with considerable ease. Also, wouldn't anybody be able to pose as someone else by manipulating their IP address?
According to the Creative website, you are only charged if you try to call a POTS line. This is handled by a third party service that can connect you to pots lines all around the world. Currently long distance calls to US pots lines are $0.05 per minute. Mexico City is $0.15.
"Grandma? Can you hear me? GRANDMA! ITS ME! YEAH!NO IM USING THE INTERNET TO CALL YOU... THE INTERNET! THE I-N-T-E-R-N-E-T!!!!"
Fortunatley this wasnt a VOIP quality issue, grandmas hearing aid had just went out.
Why use USB?
When considering the rise of broadband technology and the convergent devices and the emergence of IP based DTV/VOD Systems the logical conclusion would be to use a network technology (i.e Ethernet) rather than USB. This offers the practical advantage of allowing the POTS phone(s) to be plugged directly into a broadband connection, without the requirement of a PC next to the phone.
Regarding call charges, these are probably break-out charges from the Internet into the Telephone network. A necessary service for this device to be used practically, i.e. calling an ordinary Phone.
Sure, read commercial software licenses. It's
:)
pretty much the same but in a more formal manner
expressed.
I agree that this paragraph is really
to flashy as an opening. It keeps people
back and should not be displayed that way
Nevertheless.. I'm considering buying some
VoIPs and use the risky soft. X Window System
comes also with the warning it can blow your
monitor..
Geert
Who, come to think of it, is one of the biggest boosters of VoIP. Hmmm...
sPh
useless only to those that dont have a use for it already. I just ordered 20 of these things and I am placing one,a P-200 box with a floppy linux solution, and a el-cheapo phone at eacho of my T-1 Z ends. Voila... FREE telco lines to every location for technical phone calls to deal with the hardware at the other end back to master-control.
The money I spent on the devices+computers+time to setup is less than ONE real VoIP phone... I'm gonna get another Outstanding Perfoemance award this quarter all due to linux.. (Yes, I mention that at the meeting, it pisses off the MCSE's that have yet to get One OPA)
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Only for VoIP-to-PSTN calls, that require servers to handle the switching.
but ignoring that one can install the open source fobbit software and do point-to-point unmetered VoIP calls to anyone else with a G.723.1 codec VoIP phone.
Which are free with the Creative software. This software won't save anyone a dime in call charges.
What it adds is support for firewalls, and allows you to use the device without registering with a credit card. It loses the ability to do PSTN calls.
A good chunk of international traffic is already converted to IP. All of the major US carriers have contracts with ITXC (http://www.itxc.com) which sends your voice traffic over the internet, and then attaches to local network at the destination. They constantly test a variety of paths to keep QoS at levels where you (the user) have no idea it's not circuit-switched. So VoIP with QoS is not only possible, it's already here and in use. And the best testiment to the quality of the product is the fact you can't tell when you are using it. Not exactly a great marketing slogan...
My VoIP Blasters just arrived last night, and I had a few hours to play with one of them.
:)
The long and short of it is, if your only making calls in North America (from North America) its a waste of time and money. Theres enough flat rate/unlimited calling plans that will be cheaper, and better quality. I have a 1.5mbit/640kbit DSL line and making a call 400km's away up here in Canada was not that great. I would guess the latency was around 150-200ms, and even though I could hear the other party crystal clear 99.9% of the time, they complained my voice was "choppy" and it would miss the first/last bit of whatever I said. (silence detection I assume)
The Windows software is a little clumsy as well, it seemed difficult to control it entirely from the phone, without touching the computer. I'm guessing PC to PC calls (less latency,and not gateways in between trying to minimize network bandwidth) would be much better with this device, as I think the main problem was with InnoSpheres network.
There is something really cool about your cordless phone being plugged in to your computer and dialing 192#168#1#1, only to have the phone connected to that computer ring.
Open Source Time and Attendance, Job Costing a
I've been using the Creative VoIP for a while so let me share my experiences. I bought my first units >9 months ago and between me and my friends to whom I've recommended this we've purchased 25 units. (I'm not kidding.) Because it isn't available globally, I've had to personally purchase most of them and ship it to globally. It used to be $20 a unit then.
They are currently being used in the US, UK, India and Australia. Most of them are on POTS* 33.6 kbps Dial-up. I have a unit at home on DSL and one at work. Any one of my friends can connect to the net and call me. I also take one with e when I travel Internationally since it is cheaper to dial into the net locally and use this to make calls to the US!
The software allows you two modes of operation, PC to PC, which is between two VoIP units and PC-Phone which requires you to set up an account before you can proceed but allows you to call any POTS phone. The unit includes a Card for $5 worth of calls. although it says it expires on November 5th 2001, it still works. (Not a bad deal, if you consider you can purchase 2 for $20 and get $10 worth of calls)
When making PC-PC calls, there is very little lag. Occasionally, from the dial-up end, there will be a break of a second or two and the next bit will contain both the current and lapsed conversation overlaid together.
PC-Phone calls to the US are quite good, with a slightly higher lag. I often receive calls on my mobile phone and that increases the lag a bit, with compression on both ends! Calls to the UK are just as good. Calls to other countries are much more expensive and the lag is greater.
I've noticed several questions being asked why is this required, Why cant you use a headset/mic & free software.
Compared to any of the net services such as Net2Phone, Dialpad, etc., The quality is much better. I often get quality that is equal to long distance calls (figures, since the Telcos use compression to, some of the IP based). It is also much convenient to be speaking into a phone rather than a Headset/Mic. If you have broadband and are connected to the net always, you can use it like a regular phone. Pick-up and dial. anyone who wants to speak to you just has to call your number and it will ring. You have a choice of phones, I personally use it at home with a 2 line cordless, one for POTS and the other for VoIP. A friend I gave it to uses it connected to the office EPABX.
The unit is not perfect and has it's drawbacks. Although I've never had to call support, the word is it's bad. This could be because it's just an OEM product Creative re-brands. Email support, which I have used, is decent but takes 2-3 days for an answer. It's is handled by the OEM manufacturer InnoMedia. They also provide the PC-Phone service called Innosphere. Because it uses different ports each time it makes a connection, it is difficult to get it working behind a NAT/Router or a Firewall. When I need to use it in the Office, I temporarily open up the Firewall. It is not H.323 compliant. It works with Windows only. There is no driver for Linux or the Mac. Both users need the same hardware to talk**. And of course, your computer has to be on at all times.
There are other alternatives. Aplio (http://www.aplio.com/) makes a self contained unit which has an inbuilt Modem and Ethernet connection. No computer required, just a phone. It however costs $200 - $300. What would be nice is if all the different VoIP providers would standardize on a common interface to allow you to talk to using a different device. Just like email or POTS.
I have just started experimenting with Fobbit (http://www.fobbit.com/). A person I recommended VoIP to is using it (VoIP & Fobbit) to provide calls between two users across the company VPN. There is also a project for VoIP Blaster integration into Open H.323 at SourceForge (http://sourceforge.net/projects/voip-blaster/)
Spock
PS:-
*POTS - Plain Old Telephone Service
**InnoMedia, the manufacturers, have a software equivalent called BuddyTalk (http://www.buddytalk.com/). Although at launch time it was not compatible with the VoIP unit, when I contacted them last year, they told me that they were working on a new version of both the BuddyTalk and VoIP software that would allow communication between both platforms and also work behind NAT/Routers and Firewalls. It was to be out 'Real Soon Now'.