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Originally Posted by Roy MM
Just wondering what you think the future holds for an outdated telephone communication network, that will be soon overtaken by "voip" type communications over the net, i can foresee that the age of the telephone is on a downward spiral .
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Before you write off the entire telephone network, bear in mind that our "outdated telephone communication network" supports the internet. Most people in the UK access the internet through either ADSL or dial up. Both use the telephone network. Also, you would probably find that most ISPs rely on a telephone company to provide their international data links (in fact, I think only the larger ones such as NTL use their own).
You may argue that the age of the handset is over. Maybe it is. On the other hand, most people don't want all the hassle involved in using a PC to make a phone call. It may well be cheaper, but do you really want the hassle of starting up the PC, waiting (sometimes) a couple of minutes for it to start up, then start up your VOIP software just to make a call? Picking up a handset is much easier.
Also, you can bet that when VOIP takes off, prices will go through the roof.
Actually, one question I have never seen an answer to. When VOIP takes off and the Telecoms companies are no longer able to rely on their revenue from calls, exactly HOW are upgrades to the network going to be financed? The only way I can think of is either more ISPs introducing caps, ISPs charging people for the bandwidth they use (on top of the monthly fee) or ISPs charging the VOIP companies for the bandwidth (in which case, the VOIP companies may well have to charge for calls).
Put simply, while I do think VOIP will happen, I don't think free calls ever will.