How Does VoIP Really Work?
Michael Lemm
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. By using a VoIP phone and VoIP technology you can effectively use the internet to make phone calls. VoIP does this by placing the voice calls on network which encrypts the voice in data packets at one end and encrypts it in voice calls at the other end. In VoIP, encryption and decryption is from a analog signal (i.e. your voice call) into digital signal (data packets) and again into the analog signal.
You can make VOIP calls by a regular phone with VOIP adapter or even from your computer using a simple microphone. VoIP applications can generally be used with a simple microphone and computer speakers, but IP telephones or VoIP boxes can also be used, providing an experience identical to normal telephoning. Many VOIP manufacturers are designing phones which are specially meant to work with this technology, called SIP phone, and now extensively used by growing VoIP users.
In the past year, the quality and reliability of VoIP technology has improved to the point that vast numbers of users have abandoned their standard telephone contracts entirely, in favor of VoIP. Local as well as long distance calling is available for VoIP. Rates and plans can vary from one VoIP service provider to another VoIP service provider.
Advantages of using VOIP
Using VOIP you can effectively cut down your phone bills, since you just pay to your regular internet connection and small fees to your VOIP service provider. Setting up conference calls with VOIP is very easy.
You can even set up your own VoIP network and don't need any special equipment like PBX etc. You can call to any local telephone, mobile, long distance number or any international number through VoIP phones. More importantly, the person you are calling by using VoIP technology does not need any special equipment; just a regular telephone.
Many additional features like call forwarding, call tracing, reminders, caller ID are readily available in VoIP Phones. You can even assign a local telephone number to your VOIP phone set, and just need a fast internet connection to use your VOIP service anywhere in the world.
VoIP Dilemma
VoIP applications and services require data transfer in real time. During a call an interactive data voice exchange takes place. Unfortunately, TCP/IP is not well suited for this purpose. Sometimes you have to wait for a few seconds, to hear the other side answering. But with recent developments streaming the flow of voice signals has improved. PC-to-PC and PC-to-phone calling quality is still not as sharp as regular PSTN calls. However, with SIP phones and a reliable high speed internet connection there is little or no difference....and sometimes the quality is even better.
SIP Phones
SIP Phones are the phones which are specifically designed to work as VOIP phones. SIP phone can be considered as a network endpoint routing voice via its IP address. This allows a DID (direct inward dialing) number to move with a user. With SIP phones you can use advanced features like voice mail to email etc. Using a SIP phone also closely resembles a regular analog phone in look, feel, function, and ease of use.
FCC and VoIP
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates VOIP Services in the USA. They are in charge to create and promote telecommnuication regulations....such as VOIP services....to benefit consumers. In November, 2004 FCC ruled that individual States do not have the jurisdiction to impose taxes on VoIP services, which made the cost of VOIP services even more attractive in relation to standard PSTN phone services.
About the author:
Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including
Business-VoIP-Solution.
com. Michael also authors Broadband
Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up
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The latest information and news on VoIP :
Large RBOCs and ILECs are scaling back on VoIP equipment purchases, helping bring down the worldwide service provider VoIP market 8% sequentially to $816 million in 3Q08, says market research firm Infonetics Research in a new report.
Foreclosures, consumer cutbacks freeze carrier spending on VoIP (Network World)
Home foreclosures and a generally bad economy are driving down demand for wired phone lines, which will freeze much carrier spending on VoIP infrastructure until 2011, according to a new Infonetics report.
DeFi will serve up VoIP over WiFi on iPhone (Ars Technica)
VoIP over WiFi with a flat-rate monthly charge for both calls and the network?what's the catch? Provider DeFi says they can deliver it all: now to Nokia S60 phones, and soon to iPhones. Read More...
10 VoIP applications for your mobile phone (e-Consultancy)
Making calls on your mobile phone can get quite expensive, especially when calling internationally. Fortunately, there are now a number of great mobile VoIP services that make international calling from mobile phones dirt cheap.
China VoIP & Digital Telecom Inc. Releases Third Quarter Financial Results (P...
China VoIP & Digital Telecom Inc. released its 2008 third quarter financial results yesterday:
Net Quintum VoIP Gateways Achieve Certification for Microsoft Exchange Unifie...
Network Equipment Technologies, Inc. today announced that Quintum, now part of NET, has successfully completed Microsoft certification for Microsoft Exchange Unified Messaging for both the VX and Tenor lines of VoIP switches and gateways, confirming their ability to easily integrate a customer's existing voice infrastructure with Exchange Unified Messaging.
Regional Service Providers Continue to Select Nortel for Anywhere, Anytime Vo...
If customers think access to the latest voice and multimedia applications are only available in large, highly populated cities, think again. With a Carrier VoIP solution from Nortel(1)(NYSE: NT), designed specifically for regional service providers, customers in some of the most remote places in North America can enjoy the same VoIP services deployed in large metropolitan areas.
DeFi Global Access VoIP for iPhone coming (MacNN)
DeFi Mobile has announced the expansion of its Global Access VoIP service to include the iPhone platform. For a monthly subscription fee, users will have access to unlimited global calling, roaming, and long distance. The calls require a WiFi connection, but the company claims that its global partnerships extend the available access points to include private and commercial connections. Other ...
Sigma, BroadSoft Team For VoIP, Join Each Other?s Partner Group (Communicatio...
Sigma Systems is partnering with VoIP software developer BroadSoft Inc. to provide provisioning and fulfillment solutions to telcos and cablecos for hosted business VoIP services. Under the partnership, BroadSoft has joined Sigma?s Solution Partner program, and Sigma has joined BroadSoft?s Enabling Technology...
SIP-to-Cellular Gateway enables tariff-free calling. (ThomasNet)
Maximizing current telephony equipment and infrastructure, MultiVOIP® GSM model MVPGSM-2 lets users route voice calls between cellular GSM and SIP-based VoIP networks. Backup connection to remote VoIP sites is also provided in case of external Internet failure. There are 2 ports for communicating over SIP-to-cellular connection and one Ethernet interface for connecting to IP network. Calls can ...