The Potential Problems With VoIP-Based Systems

Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) allows you to conduct telephone conversations using the Internet instead of a traditional telephone line connection. If you decide to switch to VoIP, however, there are a few problems you may encounter.

Security

• An Internet connection is not as secure as a telephone line connection. Because you are communicating via the Internet, you may be vulnerable to hackers and identity thieves.

Bandwidth

• When you download something, you use downstream bandwidth. When you send an email or talk over a microphone to someone else, you use upstream bandwidth. Internet providers regularly provide much more downstream than upstream bandwidth. This can cause problems when using VoIP, since it requires as much upstream as downstream bandwidth to operate.

Regulation

• No regulation exists for VoIP technology (as of 2010). As it expands and becomes more popular, government agencies and other countries may choose to regulate the service. This could restrict the ways you use VoIP.