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3. Services

    3.1. What is already used over IPv4?

The IPv4 is mostly used for non-real-time data transmission. During the last years there have been invented a lot of new services that use the IPv4. Also many of the traditional services are nowadays using Internet. Internet has revolutionized e.g. the source of information. It is possible to read newspapers or web pages from different companies or sport events, or get translations to some other language etc. The search services help to find the right place to look after the needed information.
Communication has also become much easier after IP network has spread out almost everywhere in the world. E-mail is faster and easier way to communicate than traditional post. The possibility to be connected to your own computer from other places can be very useful. With FTP it is possible to transfer files. Commerce, marketing, entertainment like music and games, banking services etc. has get a new dimension from IP, in fact Internet already affects many parts of our lives.

There are some real-time applications also over IPv4. For example phone calls and videos can be transmitted over IPv4, but there are some problems that reduce the quality of service. The biggest problems are delays and the network congestion that has more effect on real-time traffic. The only effect from network congestion on non-real-time traffic is that the transfer takes longer to complete, but real-time data becomes obsolete and will be dropped if it doesn't arrive in time. 

    3.2. What will be available over IPv6?

The integration of voice and data and the possibility for real-time transformation will be the major factors in creation of new services that will be available over IPv6.

        3.2.1 IP Telephone

IP telephone, voice over IP, means that voice and fax calls are transmitted over an IP network rather than over the public switched telephone network. IP telephone will provide new services beside the normal phone calls. It is possible for example to send voice mail or to send faxes at very low cost (at local call prices). Actually one of the main reasons for that the IP-calls are predicted to become a great success, is lower expenses. Since access to the Internet is available at local phone connection rates, an international or other long-distance call will be much cheaper than through the traditional call arrangement. The Internet use packet-switched mode, so the capacity is allocated to a data transfer only when it is required. 

        3.2.2 Video telephone

One of the services available in IPv6 in addition to voice calls will probable be video telephone. It will make possible even for the home users to make multi-user calls or videoconferences in relatively cheap price. Users could for example discuss together in a group where to go and what to do. If the phone is wireless it would be interesting for example to be able to show the others with a picture how does a place look like. For offices IP multimedia conferences will offer much better quality of service than current videoconferences in cheaper price. Since IP telephone will not reserve all bandwidth from the user's line he can access to data using the same line as call or conference. At the same time user can access remote databases in the network. 

        3.2.3 Everywhere

In the predictions there will be IP everywhere in the future. The researchers on the field say that Total Network Immersion, where people will be continuously on-line and most apparel will be equipped with smart sensors, will be true in near future. We could have intelligent weighing scales and fridges that would make diet violation impossible. IP telephone terminals can be entertainment centres. Radio, TV and video services could be used over IP network from home or with mobile phone. Microwave ovens, TVs, stereos, sauna heaters, washing machines etc. will use IP. The IPv6 gives the possibility to control the machines even with spoken commands. People will be able to control different medias and different types of terminals from their web browser and that gives a lot of possibilities for new services. The opportunities are unlimited.