Peer to Peer technology (P2P) first came into focus through companies
like Napster and Kazza, who developed file sharing applications that
would allow users to share their own files, as well as search for and
download files of other users on the network. Instead of relying on a
centralized client server relationship, a peer to peer network gets
it’s strength from each individual node, adding bandwidth and
processing power with each new member for the good of the many.
Much like the Borg of the later Star Trek episodes, peer to peer can
scale indefinately without the use of expensive central servers, and
from a cost standpoint -resistance is futile!
Peer to peer Internet Telephony is, like Napster, a software
application that you download on to your computer from a peer to peer
VoIP service provider. The softeware, or soft phone as it is called, is
free to download and calls to or from anyone on the network are free.
The only hardware you need is a headset, or a microphone and speakers.
Internet telephony headsets are cheap and come in USB or can plug
directly into your sound cards.
For those with web cams, many providers allow you to make video calls
to others on the network for free. Services offered with this
technology go above and beyond the Telco’s, with conference calls, call
forwarding, instant messaging and chat - peer to peer Internet
telephony literaly turns your computer into a telephone/vidiophone
communications center.
Like the traditional VoIP providers, calls within the network are free
worldwide, but calls to a PSTN number will usualy cost you if it is an
option. You can in some cases, have different numbers in other
locations so that people can call you from a land line even from other
counties toll free. Even if you do have to pay to get on the PSTN, the
rates are so much cheaper than a telco.
Just like the other forms of VoIP, developers have had some
technological hurdles to overcome. Quality of Service, NATed firewalls,
and centralized directories of members using a dynamic IP address are
just a few. Also, as calls and instant messages are routed through the
public Internet, encryption is a must for any user.
Internet Telephony in Ecommerce
Probably the best known company and indeed a pioneer of peer-to peer
Internet telephony is Skype. Originaly founded by Niklas Zennstrom and
Janus Friis, two of the innovators behind the P2P network Kazaa, Skype
was bought by eBay in late 2005 for 2.6 billion dollars. With over 100
million users according to eBay, it’s safe to say that Skype is the
industry leader in peer to peer Internet telephony. Ebay would like
Skype to evolve into a “customer service” application, allowing
potential buyers to communicate directly to Ecommerce enabled web sites
online and in real time.
Peer to Peer and the Gaming Comunity
Another area where the peer to peer idea has taken off is the online
gaming community. PeerMe is a peer to peer internet telephony company
that caters to gamers, offering PC-to-PC and PC-to handheld voice
communications, instant messaging, and peer-to-peer file transfer over
public Internet connections. They have recently partnered with game
distributor Boonty, offering a broad selection of downloadable games in
many languages. Gamers can form communities, evaluate and purchase
games, and communicate with friends via voice and text online in real
time.
P2P Internet Telephony for Small Businesses
The cost effectiveness of a decentalized peer to peer voip solution has
not been overlooked in the business community. Market leader Avaya has
developed the one-X Quick Edition line of SIP telephones that is a non
server based IP PBX system. Connected to your LAN, each phone contains
the software necessary maintain the PBX, and knows about every other
phone on the network. An ideal solution for small businesses with many
branch offices, the stay at home telecomuter, call centers and customer
service centers.
Over at the Gizmo Project they have developed a business software
solution that supports the open source Asterik PBX software, and has
free calling to anyone on the Gizmo peer to peer network. Under the All
Calls Free plan.employees make free calls to the landlines and mobile
phones of co-workers in 60 countries.
The biggest advantage of a peer to peer internet telephony solution is
the economical start up costs (usualy the price of a headset), and the
ability to turn your computer into a world wide communications center.
While a “Soft Phone” and a headset is the norm for most providers, hand
helds and IP desk phones are rapidly gaining ground in P2P internet
telephony. Peer to peer networking for online communication - a
technology coming of age for web sites, gamers, and the small business
community.