Telephone calls through broadband: this is the future of telephony. Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology represents a revolution in the way we communicate. Here’s an outline of three of the most common ways that VoIP can be used to make cheap phone calls. You’ve probably heard about new technology that allows people to use broadband to make cheap phone calls. Perhaps you already make calls or video-calls yourself from your computer. Whatever you know already, it helps to have a clear, basic grasp of how this exciting new generation of telephone services works and how it can be used. The technical name for making cheap phone calls using broadband is ‘Voice Over Internet Protocol’. Some people call it ‘Voice Over IP’, or even ‘VoIP’ (say “voyp”). Perhaps you’ve heard of ‘VoIP phones’. VoIP is, basically, the umbrella term for the technology for making telephone calls using the Internet and broadband. It uses audio systems to encode speech in a way that means that it can be transmitted digitally over an Internet Protocol network. There are many ways of using VoIP technology and a broadband connection to make phone calls. Here are three of the most common. 1. PC to PC The first, simplest and typically free way to use VoIP is ‘PC to PC’. For this, you’ll need to be at your computer, as will the person you’re calling. You’ll also both need a headset/microphone/speaker. And you’ll need either USB VoIP phone, which plugs into your computer’s USB socket. If you don’t have that, you can install or download a piece of software called a ’softphone’. This allows VoIP calling without dedicated equipment. Though this is undoubtedly the cheapest way to make VoIP calls, the call quality is often not great. And you’re tied to your computer. 2. PC to Phone The second popular way to use voice over IP is by using your PC or computer to call a normal landline or mobile phone. The advantage of this is that the person you’re calling doesn’t need to have signed up with the same service, doesn’t need all the equipment etc. You, though, will be charged for these ‘outage’ calls. And you are, as above, tied to your PC. 3. Phone to Phone A VoIP provider sends you a VoIP adaptor. You use this to connect your normal digital cordless (’DECT’) telephone to the broadband modem / router on your computer. Once you’ve installed the VoIP provider’s software (this converts the analog signal to a digital one), you continue to use your phone exactly as before, using your existing broadband connection to make cheap telephone calls. To call, you pick up your existing digital cordless (DECT) phone and dial as normal. Your computer doesn’t even need to be switched on. When their phone rings at the other end, they answer as normal. The beauty of this final method of using voice over IP is that your computer doesn’t even have to be switched on for you to use the VoIP technology and broadband to make calls. The person you’re calling doesn’t have to have signed up to the same VoIP provider. Nor do they need to have broadband, or be at their computer. In fact, they don’t even need to have a computer. So there it is – three of the most common ways in which you can now use VoIP technology to make cheap phone calls.
Posts Tagged ‘Internet Protocol Network’
VoIP (Voice Over IP) Explained
December 20th, 2009Voip Solution for Home or Business
December 18th, 2009The first steps in accepting VoIP technology as tomorrow’s communications infrastructure is ultimately understanding exactly what VoIP is, what your choices there are, how you may benefit from your selection, plus, how to select the best provider.
There is no question that VoIP is the next great revolution in voice communications. After reviewing the advantages, its clear that the expense of switching to VoIP is low compared to the savings it can bring.
Getting started with VoIP is often simple. Yes, it can provide cheaper calling, but the real value of VoIP is that it opens up the ability to add new and useful applications to voice communications. The major advantage is the cheaper price.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is simply the transmission of voice traffic over IP-based networks. VoIP has become popular largely because of the cost advantages to consumers over traditional telephone networks.
Telephone calls now can be placed either to other VoIP devices, or to normal telephones on the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network).
VoIP technology, by its very nature, is more flexible and extensible than traditional voice transmission technologies due to its distribution and architecture. VoIP may seem complicated at first glance, but the concept is simple: Any form of communication that travels through a conventional phone line—voice calls, faxes, voice messages and conference calls—can also travel in digital form through an IP (Internet Protocol) network. VoIP, on the other hand, transmits the voice as digital packets, just as e-mail and Web browsing is transmitted.
VoIP has many advantages, including: Lower cost. Providers offer more competitive pricing for a couple of reasons. VoIP is not regulated by the FCC and is not subject to the same taxes as standard phone companies. Providers offer software-based telephone features unimaginable on traditional wireline or even most wireless telephone networks. In addition, plans do not charge a per-minute fee for long distance. For International calling, the monetary savings to the consumer from switching to this technology can be enormous.
There are three methods of connecting to a VoIP network:
-Using a VoIP telephone
-Using a “normal” telephone with a VoIP adapter
-Using a computer with speakers and a microphone
Calls from a VoIP device to a PSTN device are commonly called “PC-to-Phone” calls, even though the VoIP device may not be a PC.
Calls from a VoIP device to another VoIP device are commonly called “PC-to-PC” calls, even though neither device may be a PC.
Like many new technologies, it has started its economic life by reproducing familiar services and features from the established products it is trying to replace; in this regard, VoIP providers promote PBXs, call routing, automated voice response, and other things businesses are used to looking for.
More and more businesses today receive their telephone service through the Internet instead of from the local telephone company lines. The primary reason for switching to VoIP is cost, as it equalizes the costs of long distance calls, local calls, and e-mails to fractions of a penny per use. But the real enterprise turn-on is how it empowers businesses to mold and customize telecom and datacom solutions using a single, cohesive networking platform.
VoIP’s potential cost savings are obvious when a business considers running all of its calls over the same IP network it set up internally for data, as well as over a phone line to its internet provider (which could be its phone company).
With today’s ever-growing awareness of the benefits of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), more and more enterprises are implementing or converting to VoIP. While challenges still exist in the adoption of VoIP, the benefits of this technology over traditional voice networks are many from increased productivity and operational flexibility, to greater cost reductions and investment protection.
