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The advent of Internet technology, especially with a high-speed connection, has saved time, effort and expense in many ways. One of those ways is through the use of Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, which allows you to make a call through your computer rather than with a regular phone or cell phone.

VoIP even allows you to call from your computer to a standard phone or cell phone, instead of just to another computer.

There are many different companies that allow you to do this, and they vary in cost and amount of service they give you. For instance, one very popular service is Skype. Skype does offer some free services, or you can pay a minimal amount per month to receive even more benefits.

You will need one important piece of equipment in order to use most VoIP services, a headset. These come in various sizes and designs, and cover a large price range. Some will hook directly into a USB port, while others will hook into other ports on the computer. Because of the speed of USB, this kind of connection is recommended.

When shopping for a headset, select one that is comfortable and adjustable. You should be able to adjust not only the headband, but also the microphone. The earpieces should be well padded and fit snugly enough over the ears so that you aren't distracted by other sounds in the room or house. If the headset is uncomfortable, you will find that you won't have as good a calling experience.

Prior to making any calls, with the headset plugged in and the VoIP software installed, take the time to set it up properly. There are generally three main parts of the setup that are individually controllable, though none is really less important than the others.

First, adjust the volume for the headphones. You will want to hear clearly, but without so much volume that it hurts your ears to listen to it. The microphone volume is also adjustable, and again, you will want to avoid the temptation of turning the volume up. Also, if the microphone volume is too high, it may pick up background sounds. The delay is also adjustable, usually. Setting the delay too short can result in your voice coming out sounding garbled to the person you are talking to. However, setting it too long can cause uncomfortable pauses in the call.

Most VoIP software comes with both tutorials and the means to make the adjustments right from the software. Some of the better brands of software will have preset levels that will usually be pretty close to ideal.

If you set the software up and don't hear any sound on the headset even after double-checking to make sure they are plugged in, don't panic. Check "Sound" in the Control Panel and make sure that your headset is listed correctly. This may need to be changed, if the change isn't made automatically by the computer.

A final tip; don't have the microphone too close to your mouth. Headset microphones are sensitive and they can easily pick up the sound of your breathing. Usually adjusting it so that it is a little above your mouth will work, but you may want to test it to make sure that you aren't hearing your own breathing. If you can, the person you are calling will be able to as well.

The world of VoIP is just getting better, as are the headsets that can be used. Already, though, they can save you time, effort, and money. That last should be stressed, because they can save you substantial amounts of money.

Learn more about this author, Rex Trulove.
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