William Morder via tde-users wrote:
So Linphone (for example) is maybe where I ought to move in the future for my phone. I already have it installed on both smartphones and my laptop, but none of my contacts use it.
Well, Linphone is a SIP client, where you can configure your SIP account and do phone calls.
There is a way to use VOIP/SIP phones not just to call other users of Linphone, but like an actual phone, to call regular numbers. But one must get a monthly service, which is inexpensive, and of course internet is necessary for them to work. But if I can get internet wherever I am going, then this will work.
Yes this is because you use an interconnect to Telcos networks.
I am curious how this change will happen. As things stand now, VOIP/SIP only works with internet. What about the old folks who still have their landline, haven't figured out how to work a cell phone, and are afraid to go online?
the change is transparent for the customer and it already happened. Most of the Telcos use their internet network to operate the SIP/VoIP part in transparent way. The landline (your phone) is connected to a modem and the modem does have the SIP account associated with your phone number, so when I call your phone number the switch (voice switch) will route the call to your SIP account and the modem will signal via the phone. So all the magic is under the service and the user can still use his/her phone.
I don't have the time to google now good articles, but it is explained already at numerous places.
There are still some ADSL/ISDN switches involved, but AFAIK the issue is they consume much more power and cost more (licenses and support)
BR