How does VoIP work? Like many people, you may have already heard of VoIP. If you weren’t born in this decade, you may still wonder what it really is. What can VoIP do for you and how exactly is it useful?
Basic Concept
VoIP stands for voice over internet protocol. These days, it is considered an alternative to the typical method of communication involving telephones. Instead of using telephone sets that transmit analog signals, VoIP converts these signals to digital chunks. These are reconverted to audio data when it reaches the recipient. The entire transmission happens over the internet. Although VoIP technology is still far from being preferred and considered standard, some people think that VoIP will eventually replace telephones. It could very well be the next step in communications technology.
The Specifics
So how does VoIP work exactly? VoIP is best understood by understanding typical phone calls first. Regular phone calls make use of what is called circuit switching. When you make a call, your call is passed through a series of switches starting from your phone carrier. Once the other party answers the call, the circuit between the two of you is opened.
Instead of circuit switching VoIP uses packet switching. In this technology, your voice is converted to little packets of data. These packets of data come with their instructions of where they should be sent. They are then sent through a variety of possible routes. They take the nearest router and are passed on to succeeding routers until they reach the recipient. When the packets are received, they are reassembled into a form that can be understood.
Advantages of VoIP
VoIP can offer all the features and benefits of a phone service. Its advantage over traditional phones is that VoIP calls can be made from almost any part of the world. Wherever there is an internet connection, you can have VoIP. The technology can provide cheaper calls than standard telephone technology. This is mainly because VoIP does away with costly circuit switching.
Disadvantages of VoIP
VoIP can be fast, convenient and cheap. It has, however its own disadvantages. These disadvantages are basically due to: (1) the current reliance of present systems on telephone technology; and (2) the shortcomings that plague computer technology.
Telephone Connections – Such services for example as security and cable still rely on telephone connections. Unless the whole country or world agrees to switch to VoIP, these services are likely to stick to their old methods.
This is not the biggest concern though. Since VoIP relies on internet technology, it is also susceptible to the problems that confront the internet and computers. You can therefore expect such problems as viral attacks, crashes and stolen packets.
Now you know the basic answer to how does VoIP work. In reality, this piece of technology does hold a lot of potential. Like everything else, the old ways of communicating over long distances can change. VoIP is the first logical shift that can be taken. It may take a long time however, before VoIP can become a fully integrated and snag free system.
By: Torrie Cantor
Posts Tagged ‘Decade’
How Does VoIP Work? Understanding The Basics
February 28th, 2010VoIP Phone Systems – There’s a Fly in the Ointment
February 14th, 2010
The keystone that will lock in VoIP as the successor to TDM technology has yet to be hefted into place. It may in fact take another decade before we see the full potential of VoIP phone systems. The keystone we are referring to is the deployment of standards based IP infrastructure by the public carriers.
VoIP phone systems are seemingly ubiquitous. Sexy new VoIP PBX systems and VoIP business solutions are announced almost every day. The technology is credible and past issues including voice quality have been sorted out. What’s the catch?
The catch is that the benefits realized by users of VoIP business phone systems relate mainly to internal communication. Organizations with distributed national and international operations gain the most from implementing VoIP phone systems. They achieve savings because their internal communication doesn’t go via PSTNs and they achieve significant savings as a consequence. Conversely, organizations that don’t have remote operations, work from home employees or a mobile workforce need to be far more creative in making a business case to justify a VoIP deployment.
The greatest pain for business is associated with external not internal communication. Most businesses have more customers than employees. To service, retain and acquire them a business must make an increasing volume of external phone calls. As most VoIP services interoperate via PSTNs employing TDM technology they are not using end-to-end VoIP services. Before that can happen the carriers must upgrade their infrastructure from TDM to VoIP technology.
Are the carriers about to upgrade their infrastructure any time soon? It’s unlikely. Collectively Tier 1 carriers have an enormous sunken investment in Class 4 and 5 switches. They work just fine and will probably continue to work for at least another decade. No matter how cheap the replacement VoIP gear, its more expensive than hardware that’s already installed and on the balance sheet.
Tier 1 carriers also have an investment in existing business models. These models are based on using TDM infrastructure not packets of data. Change is inevitable, but it always involves risk. The carriers have demonstrated time and again that they are risk averse, at least when it comes to tinkering with their main source of revenue. It’s been a topic of discussion for more than a decade, but there’s little evidence of change.
It’s also significant that there is little or no agreement on standards for carrier VoIP. There are even differences between carriers on how they handle SIP trunking and Caller ID. In the absence of enforceable standards between carriers there is little prospect of reliable VoIP peering between carriers any time soon.
For now and the immediate future, enterprise users of VoIP phone systems must reconcile themselves to enjoying less than fifty percent of the potential upside available from their VoIP business solutions. At some point the carriers will replace their infrastructure and agree on standards for IP-based carrier services, but it may take the entrance of a new breed of carrier before that comes to pass.
By: Chris H Green
VoIP Technology Best Solution For Phone Calls
November 7th, 2009
Do you have a close friend or a member of your family staying In Romania? Are you keen to know how to make cheap calls to that place? Then let us share some vital information with you.
In the past, international call was an expensive affair which made it difficult for people to hear the words of their loved ones for weeks and months. To be freed from call charges, people went back to telegrams and airmails. No longer can these sources of contact leave a person confident about their loved one being safe in that place. Undoubtedly the sound of voice offers much relief to people who are immediately updated about the wellbeing and status of a family member who may be residing at a distant location.
With the advancement of satellite and wireless technologies, communication has for sure become much easier. VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) is the latest buzz in the world of technology. This is in fact just another method of keeping in touch with your near and dear ones. Mobiles too have become increasingly common. Even a decade back mobile phones were a luxury item owned only by rich people. The concept of VOIP was unheard of. However times have changed for sure. One can now easily make calls to any country and at a much cheaper rate. Romania is not an exception!
Since VOIP and mobile phones are technologies that are available to anyone readily, land line suppliers have had to make adjustments to their services, rates and availability to be in the competition and draw new customers. Land line rates have been adjusted and anyone now can have the package of distance calling package included in the monthly bill.
Land line distance suppliers, along with these changes created many other ways to let their customers use their services of long distance. This is a step taken by them just to retain in the business. The prepaid calling cards have compelled many of the providers to reevaluate their rates and programs. The providers have also started to offer new methods to guarantee more efficient service. Most of the providers nowadays offer prepaid cards to people at very cheap rates.
The technology of VOIP is the biggest factor that has influenced setting up of the new competitive call rates both for mobile and land line services. VOIP competes directly with land line services and offers its subscribers facilities to make cheap calls to Romania and all the countries around the globe. VOIP does not even charge their subscribers for long distance fees. Traditional technology is not used with voice over internet protocol. This is the reason why the long distance fees are not absolutely essential. VOIP functions with the help of modems and internet connection and is almost similar to the process of instant messaging.
This therefore is the best solution to anyone who wants to make long distance calls to any country including Romania. Try out VOIP or select the right mobile calls service plan. Make sure you select right as this will ensure that you remain in touch with your loved ones at a minimum price.
By: Erick John
