While telephone calling using
Voice over Internet Protocol
(VoIP) has attractedconsiderable
attention in the business
community and among policymakers,
27% ofInternet users in the
United States – or 17% of
all Americans – have heard
of the service.
Of those who have heard of VoIP,
13% have considered purchasing
the service for homeuse. In other
words, at this very early stage
of VoIP’s life, 3% of
Internet users haveconsidered
adopting VoIP technology in the
home.
This means that approximately 34
million American Internet users
have heard of VoIPand 4 million
have given thought to using Voice
over Internet Protocol service
for hometelephone service. The
survey also found that 11% of
Internet users, or about 14
millionAmericans, have at one
time made a phone call over the
Internet. This figure includes
people who may have used VoIP at
work or perhaps have downloaded
free software that permits phone
calls between Internet-connected
computers.
Among the Americans who use VoIP,
these people seem willing to put
up with a few hassles in service
and quality as they generally
sing the praises of VoIP.
Comments on
the DSL Reports Web site
(www.dslreports.com) show that
many users have favorable
impressions of VoIP, even as they
point out problems that might not
be tolerated of “plain
old” telephone service.
Common complaints involve static
or delays in voice transmission,
and occasional problems with
calls when other users in the
house are downloading files on
the Internet.
