Ways to Use VoIP Technology
Mike Bell
Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, uses your broadband
internet connection to place phone calls. By converting your
voice (or analog) signal into a digital signal, this makes for a
more efficient way to talk on the phone and can save you money.
There are three ways you can use VoIP. You can
either connect using your regular phone and an adapter, a
special internet phone, or download software and use your
computer. Here are the methods, in greater detail:
Using your home phone. If you would like to
switch from your regular phone line to VoIP, many people opt to
continue using their home phone. To do this, you must use an
analog telephone adapter, or ATA. This device converts the
analog signal (your voice) to a digital signal. Once the signal
is converted, it goes through the internet connection. When
shopping for a service provider, ask them if they include this
adapter with their packages. Most do.
Connect using an IP phone. When using a special
IP phone, you don't need a separate ATA. Everything you need to
use your broadband internet connection as your telephone service
is included with the hardware. Instead of using a regular phone
jack and connector, it uses an Ethernet connection to plug into
your router.
Connect using your
computer. If your computer has speakers, microphone, a
sound card, and a high speed internet connection you can use
your computer for VoIP. Companies offer free or low cost
software downloads which allows you to use your computer to make
phone calls. Using this method is either free, costing only the
price of your internet connection, or nearly free. Earthlink's
Vling software is both free to download and free to use. The
only hitch is that you can only talk with other Vling users.
About the author:
Mike Bell is the webmaster of http://www.VoIP-Journal.com, a
site devoted to providing users with VoIP news and information.