Are you new to the term Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)? If so, here is a simple explanation of how it works. VoIP technology takes the analog signals used by your traditional phone, changes them into digital signals, and then sends them over the Internet. How can this save you money? You are already paying for Internet service, when you combine your phone to your Internet you do not have to pay for space on the Public Service Telephone Network (PSTN). You are using the high-speed broadband for two applications, your phone, and Internet and pay only one low price per month.
VoIP technology is innovative and has the potential to change the way the world communicates. No longer is there only one way to call someone. With VoIP technology, you have three different methods you could consider for making a call.
The easiest method is by using an adapter that you connect your traditional analog phone into and then connect the adapter to your computer. This will then transform your phone into a VoIP phone. Several providers such as Vonage and AT&T are offering those who choose their service this adapter free of charge. It is very easy to set up: you take it from the box, connect your telephone to the adapter and then the adapter to your computer and you are ready to make calls. Some providers may also send additional software, but that is simple enough to install.
If you prefer you can purchase an IP phone that resemble traditional phones but instead of having a connection that would go into the wall, they come ready to connect to your computer. They are equipped with all of the hardware necessary to work immediately with the VoIP technology.
For those individuals who enjoy chatting with their friends and family on the computer you can also take advantage of VoIP technology. Providers offer free or low-cost software that you download. Then the only other equipment that you need is a sound card, high-speed Internet connection, microphone, and speakers. You can call anyone via computer-to-computer free except for the monthly rate that you have agreed to with the provider of your choice.
If you are interested in trying VoIP technology, research the various providers and the plans they offer. You will be amazed at what you are able to do with this new technology. Gone are the days when you could not talk to friends and family due to the high cost of the call. Now you can talk to them for as long as you like and relax knowing your phone bill will not skyrocket with long distance charges.
Posts Tagged ‘IP Phone’
New To VoIP ? – Learn The Basics Of Voice Over IP
January 2nd, 2010Hands On With the Underlying Power and Potential of the Voip Technology
November 12th, 2009Era of VoIP technology ushered in 1995 by Israeli computer scientists in 1995, which succeeded in establishing the first computer to computer voice connection. All you have to do is that you have to install a soft ware onto your computer. The software digitizes and compresses the audio signal before sending it over the Internet in data packets. VoIP allows data and voice streaming within a particular network stretched all around the world. VoIP converts your voice into digital data by dividing the analog sound signals into separate steps that is assigned with different number value. This digital data is compressed and split up into packets of about 1500 bytes that can be transferred over the Internet. As well as the voice data, these packets hold information about their construction within accurate order, about their origin and their destination. At their destination, these packets are decompressed and converted from digital back into analog.
However, VoIP was originally developed to provide voice communication between computer users in different locations. Now, it has started to substitute existing telephone networks and some people and businesses are opting to VoIP instead of traditional phone line. You may have used this service unknowingly since many companies use VOIP to route long distance calls through a circuit switch into an IP phone, and another IP phone at the other end receives calls for another local circuit switch.
H.323 is an approval from the Telecommunications Sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) it characterizes the protocols to provide audio-visual communication process on any network. H.323 was initially commenced to provide a method for transporting multimedia communication over local area network but later it evolved to address the growing requirements of VoIP networks. H.323 is now used in IP-based videoconferencing, VoIP, and Internet Telephony. Most VoIP phone systems involve endpoints, which give an edge to the extra usefulness of the VoIP. These endpoints act as-
H.323 data streams and signaling originate and cease in VoIP terminal either it may be in a multimedia PC with a H.323 recommendation or an IP telephone. This terminal support audio communication, along with video and data communication. A VoIP analog telephone adaptor compresses and decompresses the voice and carries voice communication between VoIP networks and traditional circuit-switched networks. A gatekeeper is a very useful routing and central manager of all endpoints within a VoIP network. A multipoint control unit can be used in both ways, integrated with a terminal, gateway, and gatekeeper or detached; it enables conferencing between two or more endpoints.
By: Anupam Agnihotri
VoIP Technology – Pros and Cons
September 20th, 2009If you are familiar with VoIP, the acronym for Voice Over Internet Protocol, then you know that it is one of the latest and greatest ways of communicating. Instead of making a phone call using the telephone, people can now communicate by voice over the Internet. But is VoIP truly all that it is cracked up to be? Lets look at both the pros and cons of VoIP technology.
There are many benefits to VoIP. The only requirement you need is a broadband connection with either DSL or cable. If you have this, you can use VoIP. If you use VoIP through a PC-to-PC connection, then your calls are free anywhere, as long as, the receiver of the call has VoIP also. In addition, most VoIP providers offer unlimited calling plans for calls made within a certain area, for one monthly fee. There would be a nominal charge for calls made outside this area. In all cases, traditional phone service is much costlier. Most providers also offer extra premium services such as caller id, without additional charges.
Another benefit, with the integration of voice and data, is that there is a need for only one system. This makes for easy installation and saves money. An IP address, or number identifies each IP phone, and it is known by this address no matter where it is plugged in. The only thing required would be a broadband connection. This makes for easy moving or addition.
Along the lines of easy transportability, phones can be utilized anywhere as long as they are connected to an IP network. This assists telecommuting and international offices. All of these relate to cost savings. They are also very light and easy to carry.
There doesn’t appear to be any downsides to this new technology or does there? One of the biggest problems with VoIP is that it is run by power. If there is a power outage, your communications are down. This is unlike traditional phone service, where you can still use your phone without the aid of electricity.
There are also problems with dialing emergency 911 numbers. Normally when an emergency call is placed, the call is traced back to the sender and routed to the nearest 911-communication center in that area. In the case of VoIP, numbers cannot be traced to a location. If you are unable to talk, that 911 call will be useless, as it will not be capable of leading rescuers to your sight.
Voice quality, in general, is efficient, but when you get into cable broadband, high traffic times could result in poorer qualities. Since the data is broken down and transmitted, sometimes a packet of data is delayed and will be dropped. This will result in silent periods.
You may also need to update your phone equipment since VoIP may only work with newer phones. Depending on how many phones you have to replace, this could be an expense.
The fact is that VoIP still has some kinks to work out. It is anticipated that these bugs will be resolved sometime during 2007. They are temporary annoyances, which will be soon be eradicated. As you can see, VoIP’s benefits far outnumber its negatives. From all aspects VoIP is the phone of the future, but the future may very well be here and now.
By: Matthew Hick
