The Top Telephone

In the food chain of electronics, nobody is at the top. Something better always shows up to do away with the former champions. Cassette tapes ate the 8 track, VHS devoured BETA, and then DVD's did away with tapes entirely. And in the new century, CD's are about to get stomped into the playground by mp3 players, especially those shiny iPod's. So it's very logical that our oldest, most standard service of the household with be next - the telephone.

Three things have to happen before a previous product or service is passed over for something new and improved, not just by a few fringe enthusiasts, but by the population at large.

1. People are looking for something original they haven't had before.
2. Improvements are available with a new product that weren't previously available.
3. The cost is reasonable enough, so that it can become the standard equipment and not just a luxury item for a few.

The VoIP (Voice over internet protocol) communications technology already meets these three criteria overwhelmingly, even though its development has only just begun.

1. It is just like being there in person, but unlike being there in person, it can happen whenever, or as often as you want. You won't need to waste time looking at motionless pictures, or go through the difficulty and wait of traveling half way across the country, or even the world. Talk face to face, anytime you want to. It's just that simple.

2. In addition to the new video features, everything people are used to would still be available: caller id, call waiting id, call waiting, voice mail, call forwarding, conference calls, last call return, call blocking, do not disturb and everything we already know and love from the telephones of today. And even more features besides could be added to this list.

3. Not only would these features be cheaper than the megabucks you currently pay to your local phone company, they would save you hundreds of dollars a year. Now that is an amazing deal!

So step right up, consumers and homeowners, and see the next innovation. You've already seen the iPod - now witness the VoIP! All the phone companies are already getting ready. The big internet companies such as Yahoo, Google, and AOL are tripping over each other to get their own versions into the market. Amazingly, 70% of all households will have VoIP in four more years, according to the Wall Street Journal! That's not even a whole decade away!

With all this in mind, the only person to conceivably overlook this newest phone technology would be someone who spends their days trying to find that favorite song on an 8 track. If this is not you, then you might want to catch up on some of the news about the latest phone services for your home.