In the business world they call it data convergence, homeowners call it amazing. The buzz is all about the merging of voice, data and video into one service that streams down your broadband internet connection. Now you can watch TV on your PC, and answer your phone using your remote control.
Heres what data convergence means to consumers
In the old days, you needed a different service provider for your cable TV, telephone and Internet service. Then telephone companies began providing high-speed Internet access followed by the Cable TV providers who couldnt resist jumping into a hot market.
Today, most people can get all three technologies delivered by one vendor, but thats not always the best choice. It makes both economic and technological sense to get your television and Internet service from the same provider but, so far at least, cable TV companies are falling short when it comes to providing top-notch technology for their Voice Over IP (VoIP) or Internet telephone service offerings.
Essentially, the VoIP services offered by cable providers replaces POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service), at a lower cost, but most of the features that they offer...