Soliant's system, which would carry voice over the existing data network, would essentially pay for itself, Simensen explains. Instead of data riding on a voice network, voice rides for practically free over the data network. Some analysts disagree with that premise, though. While most data networks are 90 to 95 percent reliable, the phone network is 99.99999 percent reliable. Providing the reliability expected for voice entails reinforcing the infrastructure, which in turn increases the cost.
Internet telephony exists in a relatively primitive form today.
Early Internet telephony software had 240-millisecond delays. The company PBX would then route the call to the Internet. For example, you can expect the software and hardware necessary for Internet telephony to come preinstalled on a PC or in a conventional phone. According to telecom analyst Taylor, IP telephony could supplement the existing phone network but not replace it. The key challenge is to integrate IP telephony with the existing phone company.