Internet Telephony for Dummies

by Briere, Daniel D.; Hurley, Patrick J.; Wetzel, Rebecca

• ISBN13: 9780764501746
• ISBN10: 0764501747
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-07-01
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc

Summary

Tells how to use the Internet to videoconference, make phone calls, and tune into Internet audio and video broadcasting stations

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(8)
Part I: Internet Telephony and Video, Unplugged	9	(118)
Chapter 1: What's Internet Telephony and Video?	11	(8)
Chapter 2: Internet Telephony 101	19	(22)
Chapter 3: Getting Yourself on the Internet	41	(14)
Chapter 4: Getting Outfitted for Internet Telephony	55	(12)
Chapter 5: Getting Outfitted for Internet Video and Multimedia	67	(10)
Chapter 6: Getting Your PC Set Up for Internet Telephony	77	(22)
Chapter 7: Getting Your Mac OS Computer Set Up for Internet Telephony	99	(16)
Chapter 8: The "Now Ready for Real-Time" Audio and Video Players	115	(12)
Part II: You Make the Call: Using Internet Telephony Products	127	(120)
Chapter 9: Using Microsoft NetMeeting	129	(22)
Chapter 10: Using the VocalTec Internet Phone	151	(32)
Chapter 11: Using Intel Internet Video Phone on Your PC	183	(14)
Chapter 12: Using Netscape Conference	197	(20)
Chapter 13: Picture This: Using CU-SeeMe 3.0	217	(30)
Part III: Internet Telephony: Not Just for PCs Anymore	247	(28)
Chapter 14: PC-to-Telephone Gateway Services	249	(6)
Chapter 15: Telephone-to-Telephone Gateway Services	255	(6)
Chapter 16: Using Internet Telephony in Your Corporate Intranet	261	(8)
Chapter 17: Using the Internet for Faxing	269	(6)
Part IV: The Part of Tens: Hip Stuff from the Internet	275	(50)
Chapter 18: Ten Ways You Can Use Internet Telephony and Video Now	277	(6)
Chapter 19: Ten Hot 'Net Sites Where Video Is Used Today	283	(6)
Chapter 20: Ten (Plus One) Tricks to Sounding and Looking Good on the 'Net	289	(6)
Chapter 21: Ten (Or So) Good FAQs and Mailing Lists to Check Out	295	(4)
Chapter 22: Ten Good Publications to Read to Follow This Topic	299	(4)
Chapter 23: Help File: Ten Common Problems and How to Fix Them	303	(8)
Chapter 24: Ten Neat Things You Can't Do on the Net -- Yet!	311	(6)
Chapter 25: Ten Things About to Happen with Internet Telephony and Video	317	(8)
Part V: Appendixes	325	(14)
Appendix A: U.S. National Internet Service Providers	327	(2)
Appendix B: Gateway Hardware Vendors	329	(2)
Appendix C: About the CD	331	(8)
Index	339	(19)
License Agreement	358	(2)
Installation Instructions	360
IDG Books Worldwide Registration Card	Back of Book
Introduction	1	(8)
About This Book	2	(1)
Where to Go from Here?	3	(2)
Part I: Internet Telephony and Video, Unplugged	3	(1)
Part II: You Make the Call: Using Internet Telephony Products	4	(1)
Part III: Internet Telephony: Not Just for PCs Anymore	4	(1)
Part IV: The Part of Tens: Hip Stuff from the Internet	4	(1)
Part V: Appendixes	4	(1)
Icons Used in This Book	5	(1)
Conventions Used in This Book	5	(2)
Feedback, Please	7	(2)
Part I: Internet Telephony and Video, Unplugged	9	(118)
Chapter 1: What's Internet Telephony and Video?	11	(8)
Sending Your Voice and Video over the Internet	12	(3)
Who can use it?	13	(1)
Just whom may I call?	14	(1)
Where Is It All Going?	15	(1)
Why Do It over the Internet?	16	(3)
Chapter 2: Internet Telephony 101	19	(22)
How the Heck Do I Communicate over the 'Net?	20	(11)
Transmission control protocol (TCP)	21	(1)
User datagram protocol (UDP)	21	(1)
A new addition: Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP)	21	(1)
Moving your data from here to there	22	(1)
Understanding general Internet issues	23	(8)
How Does an Internet Phone Call Work?	31	(4)
Connecting across the Internet	31	(3)
Combining the best connection features: Directory services	34	(1)
Getting a Handle on Internet Conferencing Standards	35	(3)
Why worry about standards?	35	(1)
And the standards are	36	(2)
Gateways to the World	38	(1)
Extra Credit: Fax over the 'Net	39	(2)
Chapter 3: Getting Yourself on the Internet	41	(14)
Getting onto the Internet	41	(7)
Figuring out who the providers are	42	(1)
Getting ISP support for telephony and video	43	(1)
Picking an ISP	43	(3)
Choices, choices, choices	46	(2)
Gauging Your Telephone Line Requirements	48	(7)
Being analog	48	(1)
Deciding on digital (I want my ISDN now)	49	(1)
Getting and paying for digital service	50	(2)
Getting a direct connection	52	(3)
Chapter 4: Getting Outfitted for Internet Telephony	55	(12)
Setting Your Standards	56	(1)
When in Doubt, Go with the Best	56	(8)
The golden digital signal processing (DSP) rule	56	(3)
TCP/IP network and node address	59	(1)
10MB hard disk space	60	(1)
Connectivity hardware	60	(4)
Microphones and Speaker Options	64	(3)
Here's talking to you, kid	64	(1)
What did you say?	65	(2)
Chapter 5: Getting Outfitted for Internet Video and Multimedia	67	(10)
Getting Video on Your System	67	(2)
Here's Looking At You, Kid	69	(6)
Digital video output computer cameras -- the Connectix QuickCam and Color QuickCam	70	(1)
Analog video output computer cameras	71	(2)
Camcorders and general-purpose video cameras	73	(1)
Video capture cards	74	(1)
Taking a Look at Video Standards	75	(2)
True Motion video standards	75	(1)
Videoconferencing standards	76	(1)
QuickTime and Video for Windows	76	(1)
Chapter 6: Getting Your PC Set Up for Internet Telephony	77	(22)
PC Minimum System Requirements	77	(1)
PC Recommended System Requirements	78	(1)
More on What You Need to Make Your System Work	78	(5)
486 or Pentium processor	78	(1)
8MB RAM	79	(1)
Windows 3.1 or later	79	(1)
TCP/IP -- Winsock 1.1 or better compliant	80	(1)
Sound cards	80	(3)
VGA card of 256 colors	83	(1)
Older PCs	83	(1)
An Introduction to PC Internet Telephony Programs -- WOW!	83	(3)
Microsoft NetMeeting	84	(1)
Netscape Conference	85	(1)
Intel Internet Video Phone	86	(2)
VocalTec Internet Phone	88	(1)
CU-SeeMe	89	(2)
WebPhone	91	(1)
FreeTel	92	(1)
Voxware TeleVox	93	(1)
DigiPhone	94	(1)
Speak Freely	94	(1)
Other PC programs	95	(1)
Installing Internet Phone on your PC	96	(1)
Installing Other Programs Is Just As Easy	97	(2)
Chapter 7: Getting Your Mac OS Computer Set Up for Internet Telephony	99	(16)
Mac Minimum System Requirements	100	(1)
Mac Recommended System Requirements	100	(1)
More On What You Need to Make Your System Work	101	(3)
68030, 040, PowerPC	101	(1)
8MB RAM	102	(1)
System 7.0 or greater	102	(1)
SoundManager 3.x	102	(1)
TCP/IP-Open Transport or MacTCP installed -- Open Transport 1.1.2 preferred	103	(1)
Sound cards not needed	104	(1)
Mac Internet Telephony Programs	104	(8)
Netscape Conference	104	(2)
CU-SeeMe	106	(1)
Internet Phone for Macintosh	107	(1)
PGPfone: say what you please	108	(2)
An old favorite with a new name: DigiPhone for the Mac	110	(1)
Other products for the Mac	111	(1)
Installing Internet Phone on Your Mac: Easy as (Apple) Pie	112	(3)
Chapter 8: The "Now Ready for Real-Time" Audio and Video Players	115	(12)
How Live Audio and Video Products Work	116	(1)
Is it live, or is it on demand?	116	(1)
Hardware? Chances are, you've got it	117	(1)
What Are Your Options?	117	(3)
Low, low price	117	(1)
Plug-in versus helper	118	(1)
Multicasting -- the future of streaming?	119	(1)
Streaming Video Applications	120	(3)
Progressive Networks' RealPlayer	120	(1)
Microsoft NetShow	121	(1)
Vivo Software's VivoActive	121	(1)
Xing StreamWorks	122	(1)
VDOLive	122	(1)
Audio-Only Apps	123	(2)
DSP Group True Speech	123	(1)
Macromedia Shockwave	123	(1)
Netscape Media Player	124	(1)
VocalTec IWave	124	(1)
VoxWare ToolVox for the Web	125	(1)
Where to Start?	125	(2)
Part II: You Make the Call: Using Internet Telephony Products	127	(120)
Chapter 9: Using Microsoft NetMeeting	129	(22)
What Does NetMeeting Look Like?	130	(3)
Getting Yourself Configured	133	(4)
How Do I Make a Call?	137	(6)
Placing a call by using the ILS Directory	138	(1)
Calling directly	139	(1)
Speed dialing	139	(2)
Incoming!	141	(1)
Making adjustments	141	(2)
Breaking up is hard to do (Hanging up isn't)	143	(1)
What Else Can I Do with NetMeeting?	143	(5)
Application sharing	143	(1)
File transfer	144	(1)
Whiteboarding	145	(2)
Text chat	147	(1)
It's a Party: Multiparty Conferences	148	(2)
What you can and can't do in a meeting	148	(1)
Hierarchies, and stuff like that	148	(1)
How to set up a meeting	149	(1)
Putting NetMeeting to Bed	150	(1)
Chapter 10: Using the VocalTec Internet Phone	151	(32)
A Quick Peek at the Interface	151	(5)
Configuring Internet Phone	156	(3)
Fine-tuning your audio	156	(1)
Setting up your video	157	(2)
Making the Server Serve You	159	(5)
Connecting to the server	160	(1)
Getting into Chat Rooms	160	(4)
Initiating the Call	164	(3)
Messing around with video	165	(1)
Putting someone on hold	165	(1)
Hanging up	166	(1)
Finding out who's online	166	(1)
Saving Names and Making Calls	167	(3)
Using your Personal Directory	167	(2)
Tracking down someone you already talked to	169	(1)
Using the Session List	170	(1)
Making a Direct Call	170	(1)
Receiving a Call	171	(2)
Manual Accept	172	(1)
Automatic Answer	172	(1)
Blocking calls	173	(1)
What if you're already talking to someone else?	173	(1)
Other Neat Features	173	(5)
Using the Text Chat feature	173	(1)
Using the Whiteboard	174	(1)
Sending a voice mail message	175	(2)
Transferring files	177	(1)
Say Goodnight, Gracie: Quitting Internet Phone	178	(1)
Internet Phone for the Macintosh	178	(5)
Calling from the OnLine Directory	180	(2)
The virtues of being direct	182	(1)
Using the QuickDial feature	182	(1)
Getting back to work	182	(1)
Chapter 11: Using Intel Internet Video Phone on Your PC	183	(14)
A Quick Look around Internet Video Phone	183	(2)
Configuring Internet Video Phone	185	(5)
Establishing calling preferences	186	(1)
Getting listed	187	(2)
Setting your general preferences	189	(1)
Making Your First Call	190	(6)
Calling from a Web directory	190	(2)
Video fun	192	(1)
Placing a direct call	193	(1)
Remember to say "Hello"	194	(1)
Star 69 (Not the REM song)	195	(1)
Speed dialing your way to happiness	195	(1)
Ciao!	196	(1)
Chapter 12: Using Netscape Conference	197	(20)
Snooping Around	198	(1)
Setting Up Conference on Your PC	199	(3)
Off to see the wizard	199	(1)
Options, options, options	200	(2)
Conferencing Know-How	202	(7)
Calling using the DLS system	202	(1)
Adjusting your call quality	203	(2)
Reach out and touch someone on the Web	205	(1)
Adding someone to your Conference Address Book	206	(1)
Calling from the Address Book	207	(1)
Using Speed Dial	208	(1)
Receiving a call	208	(1)
Sharing Is Caring	209	(7)
Better than a chalkboard, but no erasers to clap	209	(2)
Using Text Chat	211	(1)
Browsing the Web with someone else	212	(1)
Sharing files	213	(2)
Talking to the answering machine	215	(1)
See-Ya!	216	(1)
Chapter 13: Picture This: Using CU-SeeMe 3.0	217	(30)
The CU-SeeMe Interface	218	(3)
I've Got a Configuration, Jones	221	(8)
Setting things up	222	(1)
Editing your personal profile	222	(3)
Setting calling options	225	(1)
Testing it out	226	(3)
Videoconferencing for (And with) Everyone	229	(10)
Making a call from the PhoneBook	230	(3)
Looking, talking, making adjustments	233	(4)
Hanging up	237	(1)
Be direct!	237	(1)
Checking out who's online	238	(1)
Keeping Track of Addresses	239	(5)
CU-SeeMe and the Web	244	(1)
The WhitePineBoard	245	(2)
Part III: Internet Telephony: Not Just for PCs Anymore	247	(28)
Chapter 14: PC-to-Telephone Gateway Services	249	(6)
What's It All About?	250	(1)
What Do You Need to Use Gateways?	251	(1)
Who Offers Gateway Services?	251	(2)
IDT's Net2Phone	252	(1)
Global Exchange Carrier (GXC)	252	(1)
Killer Applications: Commerce and Call Centers	253	(2)
Chapter 15: Telephone-to-Telephone Gateway Services	255	(6)
What's the Deal?	256	(1)
What Kinds of Services Will Be Available?	256	(1)
Who Offers (or Has Announced) These Services?	257	(1)
What's Holding Back Development?	258	(2)
The Real Goal: Convergence	260	(1)
Chapter 16: Using Internet Telephony in Your Corporate Intranet	261	(8)
Why Use Internet Telephony on Your Intranet?	262	(3)
The bottom line is the bottom line	262	(1)
Productivity ain't too shabby, either	263	(1)
Internet telephony just plain works better on an intranet	263	(2)
An Easy First Step: Using Client Software	265	(1)
More Complicated, But More Sophisticated: Using Gateways	266	(3)
Chapter 17: Using the Internet for Faxing	269	(6)
Why Does It Make Sense to Fax on the 'Net?	270	(1)
How Does Internet Faxing Work?	271	(1)
How to Get Started with Internet Fax	271	(1)
Some Service Providers	272	(3)
FaxSav	272	(1)
NetCentric FaxStorm	273	(1)
Future providers	273	(2)
Part IV: The Part of Tens: Hip Stuff from the Internet	275	(50)
Chapter 18: Ten Ways You Can Use Internet Telephony and Video Now	277	(6)
Chapter 19: Ten Hot 'Net Sites Where Video Is Used Today	283	(6)
Chapter 20: Ten (Plus One) Tricks to Sounding and Looking Good on the 'Net	289	(6)
Chapter 21: Ten (or So) Good FAQs and Mailing Lists to Check Out	295	(4)
Chapter 22: Ten Good Publications to Read to Follow This Topic	299	(4)
Chapter 23: Help File: Ten Common Problems and How to Fix Them	303	(8)
Chapter 24: Ten Neat Things You Can't Do on the Net -- Yet!	311	(6)
Chapter 25: Ten Things About to Happen with Internet Telephony and Video	317	(8)
Part V: Appendixes	325	(14)
Appendix A: U.S. National Internet Service Providers	327	(2)
Appendix B: Gateway Hardware Vendors	329	(2)
Appendix C: About the CD	331	(8)
Index	339	(19)
License Agreement	358	(2)
Installation Instructions	360
IDG Books Worldwide Registration Card	Back of Book