This technology is available now. At least two dozen hardware vendors are offering so-called "Telephony gateway servers" (TGS) for providing voice communications over TCP/IP networks. Also, all major network hardware manufacturers like Cisco, 3COM , Bay Networks and others either have or plan to have "voice over TCP/IP" features built in their equipment.



Here is how it works. A customer dials his ISP with his regular phone over the regular Plain Old Telephone Services (POTS). He is prompted to enter his Personal ID Number (PIN). After the authentication he enters the long distance number he wishes to reach. Then the Telephony Gateway Server (TGS) sends all this information to the ISP member of the ISP-NETWORK that is closest to the destination of the call. The TGS at the site of this ISP dials the destination phone number. After the connection is established both parties are talking over the Internet. Neither of them needs anything more than a plain old telephone. The originator has to have an account with an ISP providing such services. The destination must be covered by an ISP member of the ISP-NETWORK.

Two things are essential in this scenario. First, there must be a well-developed NETWORK of ISPs covering reasonable part of the globe. It wouldn't make much sense to your customers if you told them you only cover Boston and Paris. Second, the services must be cheap but not free. Obviously a good billing solution is needed to make sure everyone in the ISP-NETWORK will be properly compensated for the services provided to others.

Fortunately RODOPI will take care of both. With our large number of installations worldwide, we are laying the foundation for pretty nice coverage. Although there is no guarantee that all RODOPI owners will participate we do not see a reason why most of them wouldn't. Needless to say, that being a billing software, RODOPI will be able to handle care of all billing including charging the end user.