The question comes to mind, why would you use VOIP in place of the telephone? And the first thought is, VOIP works with a computer and an Internet connection and it allows you to make phone calls to anyone else who has a computer for zero cost. You can talk to anyone locally, anyone interstate or anyone internationally using VOIP.

Every computer has the potential to act as a telephone. If you were in a school and all the phone lines were being used, then your wireless connection computer potentially could be used to make those calls. In the future it may be possible for whole classrooms of student to have the potential to have up to 30 phone line happening.

VOIP also allows you to share material on the screen and talk at the same time but also be a hands free environment so it makes it a lot easier to type when you’re not holding a handset.

Programs such as Bridgit are freely available for DET. They use VOIP when you use desktops or laptops. It is also used for web conferencing software. Skype is another popular tool and it is one of many that uses VOIP for talking with the addition of a webcam that could also allow you to have visual images of the person on the other end.

VOIP is an exciting new option for schools.