Talk is cheaper

Entrepreneur, June, 1998 by Heather Page

Similarly, Delta Three (www.deltathree.com) offers savings of up to 50 percent off international calls placed on its Global Internet Protocol Network. Phone-to-phone conversations run approximately 29 cents per minute. Service is offered to five international destinations: Bogota and Cali, Colombia (45 cents); Hong Kong (28 cents); Israel (33 cents); and Sao Paulo, Brazil (48 cents). Customers must dial a toll-free number and enter an access code before dialing the destination phone number.

Delta Three offers discounted PC-to-phone services for voice calls over the Internet as well. You can download its free software, Internet Phone Lite, from the Web. Delta Three's Global IP Network serves more than 200 international destinations. A call from a PC in Moscow to a phone in New York costs 12.5 cents per minute using Delta Three, compared to the more than $2 per minute traditional carriers charge.

Although these new services are limited, experts believe they're a sign that Internet telephony is finally gearing up for the masses. For now, they're probably most useful for growing companies that want savings on frequent calls to specific areas.

Another sign that Internet telephony is preparing for prime time is the development of new standards, Muller says. While many Internet telephony products still require that both parties use the same software, this is changing, thanks to standards that allow compliant software to communicate. Products adhering to the G.723.1 international standard for Internet telephony applications will be able to interoperate, making them easier to use on a larger scale.

JUST THE FAX

At many companies, faxing contributes to high telecommunication bills. Because charges are based on the duration and distance of the call, costs can add up fast. Just like long-distance calling via the internet, faxing over the Internet slashes expenses. E-mail-to-fax gateway services allow you to send faxes this way.

For example, FaxSay's (www.faxsav.com) FaxLauncher Pro allows users to send faxes via the Internet from any Windows application; documents are delivered to receiving fax machines just as if faxed from a standard fax machine. There's a $29.95 activation fee and a $4.95-per-user monthly service fee.

Another e-mail-to-fax gateway service to consider is JFAX. Unlike other gateways, JFAX offers a receive only fax-to-e-mail service. Establishing a JFAX number allows users to receive faxes and voice mail messages via e-mail. This may eliminate your need for a fax machine while allowing you to pool your incoming communications so they're easier to manage. Service is currently limited to approximately 50 cities worldwide. You can sign up for JFAX through its Web site (www.jfax.com) or by calling (888) GET-JFAX. A private phone/fax number costs $12.50 per month (plus a one-time $15 setup fee).

The same problems that occur with Internet voice communications can also apply to faxing. If time is of the essence, be aware that Internet faxes can be subject to long delays - so you won't want to use Internet faxing services for high-priority documents.