IP telephony from a user perspective

Discusses issues of IP telephony. What can we expect from such communication methods, what kind of benefits does IP telephony bring, and what drawbacks can users expect in comparison to POTS telephony? Solutions for connecting VoIP (Voice over IP) terminals (ranging from PC phones to IP phones) and other functional entities of IP telephony, such as gateways and gatekeepers, are presented. Some IP telephony services are mentioned, and possible IP phone functions and applications, which any user would appreciate, are described. We conclude with an interesting questionnaire as a prediction of what users can expect from IP telephony.