The future of the telephone

[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Just wondering what you think the future holds for an outdated telephone communication network, that will be soon overtaken by "voip" type communications over the net, i can foresee that the age of the telephone is on a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 .

[Mal]

Well, seen as that a lot of people don't have a computer yet to use voip, the telephone will be around for a long time.

Plus mobile phones will be around as well, as that's more convenient than lugging around a laptop.

[Roy MM]

Originally Posted by Mal

Well, seen as that a lot of people don't have a computer yet to use voip, the telephone will be around for a long time.

Plus mobile phones will be around as well, as that's more convenient than lugging around a laptop.

I did say future, not today, i think the phone (stand alone) will be obselete sooner rather than later in the this society, it will be all commuications via the net for free.

[danielf]

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Just wondering what you think the future holds for an outdated telephone communication network, that will be soon overtaken by "voip" type communications over the net, i can foresee that the age of the telephone is on a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 .

You seem to forget that ADSL users connect to the net using their phone line. I think there's some life left in this outdated network.

[Mal]

Originally Posted by Roy MM

I did say future, not today, i think the phone (stand alone) will be obselete sooner rather than later in the this society, it will be all commuications via the net for free.

It would be far into the future then

I think there still would be a market for a stand alone telephone.

[Graham]

There is an effectively world-wide infrastructure in place, that's not going to go away in a hurry!

[Stuart]

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Just wondering what you think the future holds for an outdated telephone communication network, that will be soon overtaken by "voip" type communications over the net, i can foresee that the age of the telephone is on a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 .

Before you write off the entire telephone network, bear in mind that our "outdated telephone communication network" supports the internet.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.

[kronas]

BT is replacing its infrastructure costing billions of pounds to make it a full IP based network to carry VOIP and data services, BT wants to provide technology where you plug in a device and use it on their network such as internet displays, even a mobile phone eseque handset will be available to plug in to your pc and make calls...

edit:

Internet Telephony or Voice over the Internet or Voice on the Net †“ Mainly used by residential users with PCs (and perhaps USB handsets). PCs with telephony software dial up to the Internet where calls bypass PSTN tolls, but have no guarantee of end-to-end voice quality. BT PC2UK and BT Netchat are examples of this type of product.

Voice-over-IP †“ Traditional digital TDM phones connected to a PBX which itself is connected to a gateway, which turns TDM speech into IP for transport over an IP VPN or ATM WAN. MM VOIPâ₠¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s sister product, BT VoIP Port is an example of a VoIP product.

IP Telephony (IPT) †“ IP Phones on the desktop, IP applications, IP transport of voice, video, and data over a privately owned IP VPN or ATM WAN. IP PBX hosted by a Carrier, or Service Provider, or Customer, often located within the enterprise. Cisco's Call Manager is an example of an IP Telephony product.

http://www.btglobalservices.com/en/p...edia/faqs.html

[ian@huth]

VOIP will change communications but it will be invisible to many users. Most users will not have it supplied via a computer sat by their desk. Think about the telephony required by large companies with switchboards. Mobiles may take over from fixed landlines in many cases but the outrageous cost of many mobile calls are holding this back.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Roy MM

it will be all commuications via the net for free.

Well apart from a 3p connection charge you can already get unlimited UK phone calls for free through http://www.call1899.co.uk or http://www.call18866.co.uk/

[Richard M]

VOIP, I use this every day in work - it's wonderful.

[Millay]

AS BT said on the money programe last week, in the next few years they will cease to be a voice and data provider, and will purly be data, be that a telephone handset, computer connection, fridge connection etc..

So the telephone handset itself will be around for a long time to come its just the technology behind it will change, Its not going to be about if you have a data connection (modem adsl etc) it will be about how you use that data connection, thats the change....

[SMHarman]

^ as he said
BT are planning a IP based telephone network, handsets will become VOIP handsets but this will to an extent be transparent to the end user, or as visible as the move from analogue cordless to DECT cordless.
ADSL already provides them with an IP network to the home.
BT are already contracting an IPcentrex to manage their 2000+ call centre staff.

I use VoIP and its a hell of a lot clearer connection than using standard,You do not need a pc to use VoIP there are handsets in place and available now that use a internet connection no need for a pc (although most users(pc owners) will use as a form of messenger)

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by kronas

BT is replacing its infrastructure costing billions of pounds to make it a full IP based network to carry VOIP and data services, BT wants to provide technology where you plug in a device and use it on their network such as internet displays, even a mobile phone eseque handset will be available to plug in to your pc and make calls...

I did say I think it would happen (it is). I don't think the free calls will for long though (even though they are now).