"The new contract goes into effect in December so rates might change," Kinchla says. "The vendors have become very protective and inflexible...we had trouble this time."
Exploring Alternatives
The technology--currently used by Internet companies that offer free long distance services--could offer cheaper and more reliable phone service.
Kinchla emphasizes that the new technology is still untested here, even if it "makes a lot of sense."
"It's very, very immature," she says. "It has a long way to go before you could make sure it works, and works well, but it looks convincing that this is the way things are going to go."
Gates Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering H. T. Kung says he agrees that voice-over IP might be a good long distance alternative--on an adequately equipped network.
"As long as network bandwidths are sufficient, Internet telephone
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