| ign="center"> | | | | designed to be as simple as possible so that new |
| Most everyone has heard of the Voice over | | | | users can learn to use its features in the shortest |
| Internet Protocol, or VoIP. It is a way to use a | | | | time possible. Most features may be activated |
| computer that is connected to the internet like a | | | | with one mouse click. |
| phone. Newer model cell phones like the | | | | Non-gamers are coming up with new uses for |
| Blackberry Storm can also use VoIP to allow | | | | Ventrilo all the time. It can be used as a friends or |
| users to make very inexpensive and sometimes | | | | family talking network so that far flung families |
| free calls. | | | | can speak to each other one-on-one or in groups. |
| Ventrilo has taken VoIP a little further. It allows | | | | Businesses can use Ventrilo to help working |
| someone, who we'll designate the server, to | | | | groups whose members are in different |
| create a group of people that can communicate in | | | | geographic locations to easily communicate with |
| real time as if in a conference call. This can be | | | | any or all other working group members. |
| done for an actual conference call in a business, or | | | | A group of friends who met online through a |
| as a group of friends getting together to talk, or | | | | forum or a blogging group could set up their own |
| as a platform for radio call-in shows. But Ventrilo | | | | Ventrilo network to enhance their friendships or |
| may be best known as a tool for gamers. | | | | to easily discuss common interests. For someone |
| There are many so-called massively multiplayer | | | | interested in a specialized topic, say, lace making |
| online role-playing game (MMORPGs)such as World | | | | or Russian cinema, finding people close by who |
| of Warcraft, and Lord of the Rings online in which | | | | share those interests may not be easy. Ventrilo |
| players can team up and use Ventrilo to | | | | can bring people together who may never have |
| communicate among themselves in real time. | | | | found others who share their interests if it |
| Usually the players wear microphone headsets so | | | | weren't for the internet. |
| that their hands are free to work the game | | | | For those who prefer to communicate by chat |
| controls while they confer and strategize. | | | | (or those with hearing impairment who cannot use |
| One reason Ventrilo is so popular among gamers | | | | Ventrilo as a voice communication tool), Ventrilo is |
| is that it has excellent sound quality and uses a | | | | also a reliable tool for internet relay chat that can |
| minimum of CPU resources so that it doesn't bog | | | | be set up and used easily. |
| the users' systems down. The user interface is | | | | |