ADSL

 ADSL allows users to access the Internet through a wireless router. Whereas before ASDL technology was readily available connecting to the Internet required wires attached to the computer running to a modem. Particularly in companies this could be annoying and unsightly because before ADSL was brought out when a new office was fitted out wires would need to be run from every single computer through the wall or along the floor to a single modem to be able to connect to the Internet. Because an individual modem was required per computer due to its low speed connection this could also become highly expensive. ADSL means that only one wireless router is required per office, reducing cost and clutter as well as being much faster.

In the home ADSL has become commonplace. Nearly every home now has a wireless router allowing all forms of electronic communication equipment to connect to high speed Internet. Devices such as laptops, PC’s, iPhones, iPods and Playstations can all connect to the Internet through an ADSL router. This allows large families with 3 or 4 laptops or computers between them to connect to the Internet at the same time with ease. Before this was possible a single modem would have been required per device, which again is costly and if there is only one modem per household trying to get on the Internet could be a struggle.

A downside to ADSL is that it can be interrupted and ultimately disrupted by the simplest of radio transitions. If an individual only has an ADSL router to connect to the Internet then ADSL is perfect and serves it’s purpose. However, if an individual has several wireless devices such as stereos or TV’s that submit wireless signals to speakers etc the ADSL signal can be interrupted and simply stop working. Because of the price people pay for ADSL this can be highly annoying and un-practical. ADSL can also be interrupted by other ADSL transitions that are near by. For example, if a neighbor has a strong ADSL wireless system it could affect your own ASDL system, which again is highly un-practical.

Another issue with ADSL is that due to the way it uses the frequency spectrum. The deployment of ADSL can present some issues. It is necessary to install appropriate frequency filters at the customer's premises, to avoid interference with the voice service, while at the same time taking care to keep a clean signal level for the ADSL connection.

VoIP

VoIP technology uses a broadband Internet connection to make phone calls rather than a conventional phone line. Because it is using your existing broadband connection it is a cheaper and more efficient way to make phone calls, this is done by converting your voice signal into a digital signal. VoIP can be used in 3 ways, connection via a regular phone or adapter, a special Internet phone or by downloading software and using your computer.

VoIP can be used to record phone calls, which means that it can be applied in the radio industry to record telephone interviews. Because of it’s efficiency and cost effective method VoIP can be used in a business environment as a conferencing tool. As of 2007 it was reported that 20% of businesses in the US already used VoIP. VoIP allows business professionals all over the world to connect with each other using their existing phone line, whereas state-of-the-art conferencing equipment can be expensive. However, if a business or individual is switching to VoIP from a regular phone line a downside can be that they will most probably not be able to keep their phone number. It’s not impossible but unlikely, as most VoIP providers do not have the ability to provide local numbers and therefore cannot allow a user to keep their old number which can be important to major business and large radio shows.

Another negative of the VoIP technology is that there is a minor glitch, which as a result means that not all VoIP providers have the ability to register your address and number with the emergency services. This means that if the emergency services were contacted using a VoIP system and the caller was unable to tell the operator their location help would be unable to reach them because they would not know where to go.

Security risks and worries are becoming increasingly prominent where VoIP is concerned. In its early days people were not highly concerned about security issues ad they were mainly focusing on its functionality, reliability and most importantly its cost.  Fraudsters are now turning to VoIP as a tool to gain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details. This is known as Vishing, or VoIP Phishing. Just like regular phishing a party calls faking to be trustworthy organisation such as your bank and request confidential and often critical information. This is become an increased risk as VoIP starts to become more commonplace within society, however this sort of criminal process can take place via regular phone lines, mobile phone lines and email so is not an isolated issue simple involving VoIP technology.

Skype is the most well-known computer application that uses VoIP technology to allow uses to make calls over the Internet. Calls can be made to traditional landlines and mobiles at a fee but all calls made to other users within the Skype network are free. Skype has become so popular because it allows users to take advantage of the additional features, such as instant messaging, file transfer and video conferencing. Skype uses a proprietary Internet telephony (VoIP) network, called the Skype protocol.

Last Week (22nd September)

Last lesson we researched the list of DCP's and made ourselves familiar with their meanings and what they do.

DCP's

HTTP– stands for hypertext transfer protocol and is a networking protocol for distributed, collaborative, hypermedia information systems resulting in http being the foundation of data communication for the World Wide Web. HTTP enables users to write Web browsers, Web servers, automatic page downloader’s, link-checkers, and other useful tools. HTTP means that web users can request information from a web server and the web server can provide responses to those requests. Every time we access a web site HTTP is used.

WAP – this is mainly used to access the mobile web from a mobile phone or PDA. It stands for wireless application protocol and is an open international standard for application-layer network communications in a wireless-communication environment. WAP supports activities such as music downloads and mobile phone emailing. WAPs that use displays and access the Internet run what are called micro browsers; these are browsers with small file sizes that can accommodate the low memory constraints of handheld devices and the low-bandwidth constraints of a wireless-handheld network. This is why basic mobile phone’s that access the internet using WAP produce simplified versions of the website.

GSM – is an abbreviation for Global System for Mobile communication. It digitizes and compresses data, then sends it down a channel with two other streams of user data, each in its own time slot. GSM is a digital mobile telephony system that is highly popular in Europe as well as other parts of the world. GSM enables users to make use of their phones for mobile communications and means that users can use their phones in places other than their country of origin. This technology provides users with high quality signal and speech channels resulting in network operators being able to provide their customers with cheap calling and text messaging options.

3G - is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobile telecommunications services fulfilling specifications by the International Telecommunication Union. 3G is the better know abbreviation of International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 and can also be referred to as 3^rd Generation. The services of this application include wide-area wireless voice telephone, mobile Internet access, video calls and mobile TV, all in a mobile environment. Meaning that all of this can be accessed using a mobile phone. Products such as the iPhone have embraced this 3^rd generation technology, making the most of its benefits.

MMS - Multimedia Messaging Service, or MMS, is a standard way to send messages that include multimedia content to and from mobile phones. An MMS is often referred to as a picture message because it allows the sender to send a photograph using their camera-equipped handset to another mobile phone that is equipped to receive MMS messages. MMS can also be used to deliver videos, pictures, text pages and ringtones.

GPRS – stands for General Packet Radio Service is a packet oriented mobile data service on the 2G and 3G communication systems global system for mobile communications. GPRS provides moderate-speed data transfer, by using unused time division multiple access (TDMA) channels in, for example, the GSM system. Objectives such as providing flexible services at relatively low costs can be met using GPRS.

Bluetooth - is an open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances using short wavelength radio transmissions. This can be done from fixed devices such as Bluetooth enabled computers and laptops as well as mobile devices such as mobile phones. Photographs, videos and audio files can all be sent via Bluetooth.

ADSL – stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line and is a form of Digital Subscriber Line technology. This data communications technology enables faster data transmission over copper telephone lines. ADSL is much faster than a conventional voiceband modem and enables wireless Internet access that can be used by laptops, computers, iPhones, the iPod touch and even the Playstation 3.

Broadband – is a high data rate Internet access and is typically contrasted with dial-up access using a 56k modem. Because dial-up modems are limited to a bitrate of less than 56 kilobits per second and require the dedicated use of a telephone line broadband has become a much more desirable alternative for accessing the internet. Broadband is much faster and does not disturb the telephone line when in use.  Rather than paying as you use most broadband packages are a fixed monthly rate, making it a much cheaper way to access the Internet.

VoIP - is a general term used for a family of methodologies, communication protocols, and transmission technologies that deliver voice communications and multimedia sessions over the Internet. Applications such as Skype use this technology to enable users to make voice calls over the Internet.