Section 1.4. Redial

1.4. Redial

Internet Telephony is a disruptive technology for several reasons. First, it sprang up without government funding and restrictions. Second, for the most part, it bypasses the strong traditional telephone companies completely. Third, the pricing of Internet Telephony can be so cheap as to be free. In fact, when you pay the extra cost to get broadband service, you might start demanding several Internet Telephony company options as part of the package.

Everyone (Internet companies, startups, existing cable companies) are attacking the traditional voice telephone market using packetized voice connections over the Internet. You're getting in on this technology wave early, but you'll have plenty of company over the next three years. In five years, someone not talking over the Internet will be the old fogies, and all the cool people (you and I and millions of our friends) will be using the Internet to prove every day that Talk Is Cheap.