Comment How they really do it. (Score 1) 390
Working for a cable based ISP, (I can't say who but it's not comcast) I can tell you that the cablemodems that we use for our VoIP service does not use the "internet connection" to connect to the VoIP servers at the headend. The Cablemodem actually has three network interfaces, the RF interface (the coax screw on connector), the "Managment interface" which is a private address on the RF connection and the "User" interface (Ethernet and USB ports.
The Managment interface, when locked, is provisioned at a way higher speed than the customer is subscribed at, usually about 25-30Mbps. This interface provides the two-way communication for the VoIP service, headend communication, HITS, and firmware updating as necessary. The RF interface is bridged to the User Interface once the cablemodem has been hit and the modem authorized, at which time the customer's device (PC/MAC, router, etc) gets an IP address at the subscribed bandwidth. The VoIP traffic uses the managment interface's IP to link upstream to the VoIP server at the headend and never cuts into the customer's subscribed bandwidth therefore giving the VoIP traffic a "free and clear" connection all the way to the headend. The VoIP traffic never leaves the provider's network and hits the public internet.
Vonage on the other hand does not have the luxury of being on their network, but rather that of whatever broadband you are connected to so the vonage box (or other VoIP connection here) has to go through the internet connection at whatever speed they are provisioned at and then is subject to the latency and connectivity issues that the Internet is known for all to get to the switching office.
Now if Vonage started selling DSL or Cable Internet access and their voice service, I have no doubt in my mind that Vonage would easily become a heavy hitter in the Voice over IP market just like the cable ops are now. They would have the same bonuses that the cable ops have now, un-messed with connections to their switching gear provided that their customer equipment communicated over the CPE to their own headend or DSLAM.
It's not the technology that is flawed, it's how they're getting there that is subject to debate.
I'm not trying to bash Vonage or exalt the cable companies but trying to give an unbiased opinion on what is really going on when you pick up the phone on a vonage box versus that of your local cable company.
The Managment interface, when locked, is provisioned at a way higher speed than the customer is subscribed at, usually about 25-30Mbps. This interface provides the two-way communication for the VoIP service, headend communication, HITS, and firmware updating as necessary. The RF interface is bridged to the User Interface once the cablemodem has been hit and the modem authorized, at which time the customer's device (PC/MAC, router, etc) gets an IP address at the subscribed bandwidth. The VoIP traffic uses the managment interface's IP to link upstream to the VoIP server at the headend and never cuts into the customer's subscribed bandwidth therefore giving the VoIP traffic a "free and clear" connection all the way to the headend. The VoIP traffic never leaves the provider's network and hits the public internet.
Vonage on the other hand does not have the luxury of being on their network, but rather that of whatever broadband you are connected to so the vonage box (or other VoIP connection here) has to go through the internet connection at whatever speed they are provisioned at and then is subject to the latency and connectivity issues that the Internet is known for all to get to the switching office.
Now if Vonage started selling DSL or Cable Internet access and their voice service, I have no doubt in my mind that Vonage would easily become a heavy hitter in the Voice over IP market just like the cable ops are now. They would have the same bonuses that the cable ops have now, un-messed with connections to their switching gear provided that their customer equipment communicated over the CPE to their own headend or DSLAM.
It's not the technology that is flawed, it's how they're getting there that is subject to debate.
I'm not trying to bash Vonage or exalt the cable companies but trying to give an unbiased opinion on what is really going on when you pick up the phone on a vonage box versus that of your local cable company.
