Chapter 1 C H A P T E R O N E Broadband VoIP Services Hacks 1­7 Voice over IP (or VoIP for short) is a technology that allows Internet Proto- col (IP) networks like the Internet to be used to enable voice communica- tion, similar in some ways to a telephone. Some folks call VoIP IP telephony--and the technology comes in many forms, from desktop com- munication software to automated message recording and fax integration tools. But in its simplest form, IP telephony enables you to place phone calls over the Internet rather than over a traditional phone line. This is a pretty big deal, since no long-distance charges or hefty federal access taxes are levied on Internet-based phone calls. Plus, IP telephony lets you integrate your desktop PC, your desk phone, and your cell phone in ways never before imagined. I'm anxious to share the details with you in this book. In the tradition of O'Reilly's Hacks book series, you'll be using short hacks, like the basic ones in this chapter, to learn about Voice over IP and com- puter-based telephony. I, and a number of my peers in the telecommunica- tions industry, have contributed some of the most useful, most educational, and coolest projects to VoIP Hacks. Hopefully, beginning right here in this chapter, you'll be saying, "I didn't know you could do that with VoIP!" VoIP-Based Phone Service Providers The Golden Age of broadband began with catchphrases like "surf the Web five times faster" and with promises of ultra-fast music downloads. But in the late 1990s, few would have predicted that VoIP-based telephony would be one of the biggest beneficiaries of once-hyped broadband technologies like cable Internet and DSL. Sure, web surfing at "the speed of light" and downloading music are great--but can they save you money? Legally? 1