VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a technology that converts analog signals, such as those used to transmit your voice when you are making a phone call, into digital signals that can be transferred over a high speed broadband Internet connection. VoIP has numerous practical applications, but the broadband or Internet phone has had the largest impact on home and business life.
VoIP allows you to make telephone calls over the Internet, often bypassing a telephone company entirely to make free or cheap calls using your computer, your broadband Internet connection, and some specialty software and equipment. VoIP systems allow you to place free or cheap long distance phone calls to anyone else in the world with a similar set-up and a broadband Internet connection. Because of this, and the fact that the protocol has so many advantages over a traditional, analog telephone system, telecommunications experts predict that VoIP will one day replace analog phones entirely.
Types of VoIP: ATA, IP Phones, and Computer-to-Computer
There are three types of VoIP set-ups that can be utilized to make Internet phone calls using your broadband Internet connection:
- ATA: You can turn your analog telephone into an Internet phone with an ATA, or analog telephone adaptor. The ATA is an analog-to-digital converter that you plug into your traditional phone. The ATA will convert the phone’s analog signals into digital ones which can be transmitted through your broadband Internet connection.
- IP Phones: IP Phones are specialized broadband phones that look like traditional analog phones. They often come with fun features, such as video displays. However, instead of plugging into your phone jack, the IP phone plugs directly into your router or Ethernet connection and transmits digital signals through your broadband connection to another IP phone.
- Computer-to-Computer: This is the cheapest way of using VoIP, as oftentimes you can find VoIP software which will allow you to make free long-distance phone calls. All you need for this set up is some type of VoIP software installed onto your computer, a microphone, a sound card and speakers, and you can make calls to anyone else in the world with the same software.
Benefits of VoIP: Simplicity, Flexibility and Free Internet Phone Calls
VoIP has many benefits, including simplicity, flexibility, and free or cheap phone calls. Setting up a broadband phone is simple. All it requires is a high speed broadband Internet connection and some specialized equipment, which, in most cases is cheap and widely available.
The system, once set up, is also very flexible. Since VoIP transfers information along a broadband Internet connection, frequent travelers can carry their IP phone or laptop computer with them wherever they go and have access to the same number without expensive roaming or cellular charges.
Finally, if you choose to go with a computer-to-computer system, it is easy to find software clients that you and your friends or business associates can download for free or a nominal fee, and avoid monthly or by-minute phone plan charges. With so many benefits to going VoIP, it is easy to see why switching to a broadband Internet connection and a VoIP system is beneficial to you, your family, friends, and business associates.
