VoIP desk phones are capable of doing many things that yesterday’s phones could only dream of.

To start with, programmable buttons, called soft keys, can be set to initiate any action. What’s more, the associated actions are clearly displayed (in pictures or words) so that you can keep track of what’s what.

These features alone add up to a phone that is as comfortable to use and as familiar as many of the PCs and other devices around.

Additionally, the integration between user-friendly VoIP phones and applications run on enterprise systems are a wondrous development. What this means for desktop VoIP is the ability to not only answer email, but access corporate databases and view video messages on your larger PC monitor.

That said, the quality of the interface and the application integration are critical for achieving the best results. If you’re more confused than enthused about the possibilities you may wish to perform more research on the available options.

There are generally 3 typs of Voip headsets you can get, which are:

1. Analog Voip headsets
2. USB Voip Headsets
3. Wireless / BlueTooth Voip headsets

Analog VoIP Headsets Analog VoIP headsets are any regular headset that connects directly to the sound card input of your PC or notebook. These are usually much cheaper, but of of course there are the irritating wires and they also usually last a shorter time.

A good entry-level analog VoIP headset is the one offered by Logitech, the Logitech 980158-0403 Internet Chat Headset (yeah, the guys that make the mouse and keyboards) at it’ll cost under 30 bucks. Just click on the image on the left for more details.

USB VoIP Headsets USB VoIP headsets connect directly to any USB port on your PC or laptop. The advanteg of using USB Voip headsets is the faster data transfer rate, meaning you can get better quality sounds.

The picture here is of the Sennheiser PC155 Traditional Binaural PC Headset with USB and Noise canceling from Amazon.com. You can also try Headsets.com where they have a 60 day money back guarantee, over 85 models, and free live advice.

If you’re travelling overseas a lot, you may want to consider the i2 Telecom VoiceStick which is a portable USB phone with headsets.

It looks just like any other ‘thumb drive’ or ‘USB disk’ but it also has a built-in Voip service that you can use to connect with any other i2 Telecom user. Of course, this means you’ll have to pay 12 Telecom about $4 a month for their VoIP service as well and you can’t use it with Skype, Google Talk or other services.

Wireless Headsets

Wireless or Bluetooth headsets are definately going to cost you more, but if you’re a heavy Skype, Google Talk or other PC based Internet telephony user it just might be worth it to go wireless.

Wireless headsets give you the freedom to move around your office or home so you’re not just sitting in front of the PC all the time. Perhaps the coolest looking wireless VoIP headset is the Plantronics CS50 Wireless Convertible Headset

The Plantronics CS50 Wireless Office Headset System brings the ultimate in mobility and sound quality for hands-free conversations to your phone. Totally wireless, the CS50 gives you up to eight hours talk time and the wireless convenience to roam up to 300 feet while having secure conversations.

You can check out a whole range of wireless VoIP headsets at Headsets.com where they have a 60 day money back guarantee, over 85 models, and free live advice. They also have a promotion for Plantronics right now, so click the banner below to try it out.

With Skype In and Skype Out, you can easily extend your Skype from just PC-to-PC calling to a whole new world of connectivity.

Early 2005, Skype introduced 3 new features that would bring this nifty little software to a whole new playing ground. With SkypeIn, SkypeOut and Skype Voice Mail, the world’s first working model of true Internet telephony took the next big step.

What is SkypeOut?

SkypeOut is a service by Skype that allows you to use Skype to call out to any regular mobile phone or fixed phone anywhere in the world. On the website itself, the company describes it as “…a low cost way to make calls from Skype to friends who still use those traditional landlines or mobile phones. That means calling anyone, anywhere in the world at local rates.”

To use Skype Out you’ll of course need an active Skype account, and a credit card. You can buy Skype Out in denominations of €10.00 (equivalent to $13.3) and top it up whenever necessary. Your purchase would give you credits which you can use to make phone calls to fixed phones and mobile phones at the rates mentioned on the website.

What is SkypeIn?

A reverse of SkypeOut, this feature will assign your Skype account with a real phone number that anyone can call. When someone calls this number, the call will be forwarded to your Skype account and you’ll hear your Skpe ringing. The number of the person calling, instead of a Skype account, will appear.

According to the website, “SkypeIn makes it much easier and less expensive for those of your friends, family and business contacts who are not necessarily connected to the Internet to call you”

This is a great tool for any business to use especially since you can instantly expand your business horizon to new countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Poland and Sweden. The cost for a 12 month subscription is € 30 and 3 months is € 10.

What is Skype Voicemail?

Another feature you definately need to get for your Skype is the Skype Voicemail feature, which allows people to leave messages for you when you’re offline, or already talking to another user in Skype. Currently this feature is free when you get SkypeIn, or you can just pay € 15 for 12 months and € 5 for 3 months if you don’t want SkypeIn.

Full Info On Skype VoIP

Guide to Marketing with Skype
Learn how you can turn Skype and VoIP into killer marketing tools for your small business or home based business.

Skype Voip Overview and Technology
General information on Skype.

Skype VoIP Headsets and Headphones
Recommendation on headsets, microphones and headphones you can use with Skype.

Alternatives to Skype
Some great replacements for Skype. Covers PC to Phone and Phone to Phone recommendations.

Skype Phone Adapters
Use a phone adapter meant for Skype VoIP to use a real phone while making Skype calls.

Other Info Related to Skype VoIP

Broadband Search Tool
No broadband or unhappy with your current one? Use our tool to find the perfect broadband solution.

Internet Telephony Basics
Learn about internet telephony in general.

VoIP Service Providers List
If you don’t want to use a PC to make internet phone calls, then see this list of great Phone-to-Phone services.

Skype (pronounced either “skaip“, “skyp” or “skypee“) set a whole new standard for pc-to-pc VoIP when it was launched in 2003. Many times referred to as a “disruptive technology” it would soon become an industry standard, weaving tons of opportunities for other providers and related services.

PC-to-PC internet calls are nothing new. In fact before Skype VoIP came along with a really successfull version of it, many have tried and failed.

Skype VoIP was born out an idea by Janus Friis and Niklas Zennström, the same people behind the success of Kazaa. From the success of KaZaA’s P2P (Peer-to-Peer) technology came the idea of using the same file-sharing platform to instead, run voice chat applications via the Internet. The idea of being able to make calls across the web, at no cost, from wherever you are, is undeniably attractive.

How Does Skype Work?

The Skype VoIP phone is based on a software application that you can download and install on any Windows or Mac based PC. Other than a micro- phone and headphones, it has no need for any other hardware. Skype itself looks like any other instant messaging (IM) service like AOL Messenger or Yahoo Messenger, exept that it has a softphone, which looks like the image here.

As a matter of fact, most instant messengers also have PC-to-PC applications nowadays, but these are merely ‘also-rans’ for Skype which is far superior in both voice quality and stability.

Skype VoIP is a form of PC-to-PC VoIP which means that you’ll use your PC or laptop (notebook) which has an Internet connection to call another person who is also running a Skype softphone application for free. With recent additions such as SkypeIn and SkypeOut it can also make PC-to-Phone calls, which means that you can call regular fixed or mobile phone anywhere in the world for a small fee.

To use Skype optimally you’ll need:

1. A PC or laptop running Windows, Mac OS X or Linux.
2. Broadband internet connection
3. Headsets or a pair of headphone and microphone

(If you’re using Skype VoIP in the corporate environment you’ll definately need a headset)

To download and use Skype VoIP you can just click on the image below and you’ll be taken to their download page.

Full Info On Skype VoIP

Research on Marketing with Skype and VoIP
Learn how you can turn Skype and VoIP into killer marketing tools for your small business or home based business.

Skype In and Skype Out Services
Learn more on these brilliant additional features you can get for Skype.

Skype Headsets and Headphones
Get a new headset and enjoy better experience in Internet telephony.

Skype Phone Adapters
Use a phone adapter meant for Skype VoIP to use a real phone while making Skype calls.

Other Info Related to Skype VoIP

Broadband Search Tool
No broadband or unhappy with your current one? Use our tool to find the perfect broadband solution.

Internet Telephony Basics
Learn about internet telephony in general.

VoIP Service Providers List
If you don’t want to use a PC to make internet phone calls, then see this list of great Phone-to-Phone services.

A list of USB Skype Phone Adapters you can use for Skype, Google Talk and other PC based VoIP service.

If you’re using a microphone to talk on Skype, Google Talk or other PC based VoIP service, you may notice a slight echo as the result of sound leaving your speakers and entering your microphone.

Using a Skype phone adapter would solve this problem, and give you a more ‘regular phone’ type of experience. Here are some of our recommendations:-

Skype Smart Phone Box The Skype Phone Box is easy to use and works with any standard PC. You simply connect it between your phone and PC, and Phone Box is ready to use.

One of the most popular forms of Internet telephony or IP telephony is PC to Phone. How does PC to Phone work? Well that’s simple; you make calls from your PC to another person’s phone.

In order to enjoy PC to Phone, you must first be equipped with these:

1. Speakers and microphone / Headset
2. Broadband internet / high-speed Internet
3. PC to phone “softphone”
4. A PC (duh)
5. USB Phones - optional

Headsets / Speakers / Microphones

All calls you make will originate from your PC, so make sure that is already equipped with a sound card, speakers and microphone. An alternative to that is to get yourself nice little voip headsets I personally prefer headsets because they allow you so much more mobility.

If you’re feeling like giving yourself a treat, invest in Plantronics. These headsets are completely wireless and gives you maximum freedom to move around, usually to a distance of 5-10 meters, and they look ultra cool too!

• More info on VoIP headsets

Broadband & High-Speed Internet

You will also need some from of broadband, the “broader” the better. Although there are some PC to Phone that can run quite well with a dial-up modem, generally broadband gives you the best quality.

If you do not have broadband, and not planning on getting any, then remember that you will most probably have to dedicate all your Internet bandwidth to making that call, every time you use PC to Phone or Net-to-Phone.

• More Info On Business Broadband Solutions

Softphone

A softphone is basically a software on your pc (looks like a remote) that has dials on them. You’ll need to use your mouse to dial your destination number, and the softphone then connects to the service provider, who connects you call to the fixed line phone or mobile phone you’re calling.

Remember that PC to Phone Internet telephony is NOT free. You’ll have to bear the “half-leg” charges, and these would generally be more if you’re calling a mobile or international number.

I recommend the SkypeOut feature for getting the best out of PC to Phone.

Skype has its own softphone that you can use to call to regular phones. It comes installed with every Skype download (which is FREE) and you’ll need to use it when dialing to a regular phone.

• More info on SkypeOut
• Read more on VoIP cost savings

USB Phones

USB Phones connect directly to you PC’s USB ports. They look and work like ordinary phones.

However, they are merely a physical thing that really connects to and uses the softphone on your PC to initiate the call.

A good thing to have if you just cant make calls unless it looks like a phone

Advantages & Disadvantages of PC to Phone

PC to Phone / Net to Phone is an excellent choice to help you lower your business phone bills, and get a host of extra value-added services. However, PC2Phone has it’s advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages