Week 5---VoIP

If you are like me...when you see "VoIP" you are probably thinking "hmmm what does that mean?" I am going to fill you in on what VoIP stands for. At least to the best of my ability.
VoIP=Voice Over Internet Protocol...basically it is communication by text chat, voice, and video over high-speed Internet connections.


In the Hendron text, I read about 3 types of VoIP: Gizmo, Skype and iChat. I will try and give you a better understanding on all 3.
Gizmo-(http://www.gizmoproject.com/) offers free connections between computers and free calling from a computer to a phone. Gizmo works on the Jabber network...meaning that users can communicate with others who have Google Talk accounts. It is available for Macintosh, Linux, and Windows. To talk to others you need the following: high-speed Internet connection, a microphone, and speakers or headphones. You can play sound effects during your call, record conversations to a digital file, even pinpoint locations on a map. Say you are conducting an interview and decide to record your conversation. You can edit that interview and then turn it into a podcast. The biggest advantage to Gizmo is the cost--the interview taking place online is free.

Skype-(http://www.skype.com/) allows you to make free phone calls from your computer. This is probably the most popular version out right now. I have seen it used on the Today show, E!, Oprah, Millionaire, and CNN. Skype adds the ability to correspond through a live video chat. Skype has a unique feature that allows numerous online users(I believe it is 100) from very different locations join together on discussions. This feature is known as "Skypecasts." Whoever creates the skypecast is considered the moderator and is in charge of the discsussion. This would be great in jr. high and high school classes. Skype is available for Macintosh, Linux and Windows.
Check out this website for more information on Skype-http://www.amperordirect.com/pc/r-skype-voip/z-reference-skype-faq.html

iChat-(www.apple.com/macosx/features/ichat/) This is where VoIP services were first available. No wonder I had no clue! I am not a Mac person. I have always owned a PC. Every computer with Mac OS X includes iChat. iChat includes video that works with AIM (America Online Network) and Jabber network. iChat can support up to 10 voice connections at once, and 4 users in a video chat. A disadvantage to iChat is that there is not a record function within the program. You can establish a chat then switch to GargageBand (software application that allows users to create music or podcasts) to record the interview. I am not sure how to this so you can check out this website for videos on iChat: http://technorati.com/videos/tag/ichat
Another disadvantage is that iChat is not cross-platform like Skype and Gizmo.

Out of all 3, I would probably choose skype or gizmo. Not just because I am a PC person either. I would think that you could benefit more from using skype or gizmo because they both work on Macintosh, Linuxm and Windows. Which would you choose?


The following information is from http://www.fcc.gov/voip/.

"Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), is a technology that allows you to make voice calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line. Some VoIP services may only allow you to call other people using the same service, but others may allow you to call anyone who has a telephone number - including local, long distance, mobile, and international numbers. Also, while some VoIP services only work over your computer or a special VoIP phone, other services allow you to use a traditional phone connected to a VoIP adapter."

Hendron, J. G. (2008). RSS for educators: Blogs, newsfeeds, podcasts, and wikis in the classroom. Washington, DC: International Society for Technology in Education.