VoIP service is an ideal means of sending telephone calls over IP networks. The Voice over IP works on the principle of converting analog signals to small packets of digital data and then sending them over a broadband internet connection that ultimately connects the users with the service providers. There are several advantages of using this service. The main reason why people acquire this connection is quite straightforward; the expenses incurred while making long distance calls using such a service is low as compared to the traditional phone line connections.
As VoIP service is based on the transfer of digital data, so the service provider can actually do a lot with this technology. Among the most prominent of the services that a service provider can provide are storing of incoming voice mails in the mailbox, sending of email attachments and 3 way calling. Let us consider a scenario in which the user is busy and wants not to be disturbed by any telephone calls. In such situations, the incoming calls can be stored in the voice mail of the subscribers. A person can also send a voice mail as an email attachment which can be accessed on a computer. Then there are plans where up to three people can involve themselves in conference calling. In fact, calling through Voice over IP is far from restricted. The service allows the user to talk to the entire family in one call. Then there are also the options of sending images, videos and voice to people with whom a person is conferencing.
The internet does not differentiate between calls made to a person living next door from calls to people living in another part of the world. The call charges remain the same; such is the benevolence of the VoIP phone service. It is the benefit in price rates that makes people opt for this service in the first place. Moreover the technology is simple and one only requires some simple tools to access the service. An Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) is provided by the VoIP service provider. This tool helps to convert analog voice to digital samples by use of Analog to Digital Converter. These digital samples are then compressed by the digital signal processors (DSPs). The DSPs make use of codecs for compression and eventually segment ‘voice signals’ to frames that are then stored as ‘voice packets’. The final process involves transfer of these packets in compliance with Voice Communication Protocol or Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).
When these packets arrive at their destination, they have to be decoded; the entire process is carrier out, albeit in a reverse order. The IP packets are decapsulated in compressed data forms. These data are then decompressed to retrieve the original data making use of the same codec that was initially used to perform the compression. The data is then sent through a digital to analog converter that converts it to the original analog voice format for the listener to hear the voice distinctly. So, VoIP service is actually based on a very simple format but requires fast internet service to ensure an effective and soothing calling experience. This becomes all the more important in the context of business VoIP service, wherein the quality of calls becomes a yardstick in determining the expertise of a particular organization.
By: Kristen Kiya
Posts Tagged ‘Incoming Calls’
6 VOIP Features That Attract People
December 22nd, 2009
VOIP is an advanced technology which has surpassed the telephone companies and the mobile companies. Its popularity is increasing enormously with an increase in its network coverage. It has proved to be an astonishing invention which has created a new mode of telecommunication by using internet. VOIP is an abbreviated form of Voice Over Internet Protocol.
Salient Features Of VOIP
The VOIP technology possesses many salient features which have attracted a large section of people towards itself.
1 – With the introduction of VOIP technology, the making of calls has become easy and cheap. You can easily make local, long distance, and international calls by using a broadband net connection which is a high-speed net connection.
2 – Its one of the significant advantages is the capability of directing the incoming calls to the VOIP service and one can easily get the details of incoming calls from any computer possessing internet by using VOIP system.
3 – It is a network that follows you wherever you go therefore you will never miss any of your important calls even if you are out of town.
4 – It has helped a lot in cost reduction because of the cheap call rates, the monthly telephone bills have cut down. Therefore, setting up of VOIP is very much beneficial economically.
5 – There are many value added services offered by the various VOIP service providers. For example, there is voice mail facility, 3-way conference, speed dialing, call forwarding, simultaneous ring, call waiting, caller ID, call return, caller ID block, anonymous call rejection, an interesting feature of do not disturb, and last number dial. All these services are mostly free of cost in their basic service plan.
6 – There is a facility of managing your VOIP account online from any corner of the world if there is an availability of a broadband internet connection.
Drawbacks Of VOIP Technology
The dark side of using VOIP technology has made the customer to reach the state of dilemma whether to go for VOIP technology or not. The major disadvantage of VOIP is that a problem can be cropped up by using VOIP technology and text messaging because it has been found that the use of this technology can lead to many security flaws.
Experts are working on the problem of security flaws, but have not come to any results yet. Therefore, one cannot rely completely on the use of VOIP technology. In terms of security, VOIP is not also completely supportive for their encryptions. Because of this weak point, it has become easy for the cyber attackers to impede the communication system.
How To Call Without VOIP
It is also very easy to make calls without possessing VOIP service by using an adaptor. This adaptor will be hooked up to a regular phone and to your VOIP in order to utilize the residential VOIP phone which can be a VOIP phone, landline, or cell phone. This adapter has proved to be very much useful for those who do not want to make investment in VOIP service.
Residential VOIP
Residential VOIP is a type of software which permits the downloading of technology on your computer to chat with anyone across the globe. In this system of communication, computer will be solving the purpose of the telephone. There is one specification in using residential VOIP service and that is the person whom you want to contact should also need to possess the software with same technology on his computer.
Therefore, after considering the both positive and negative aspects of the VOIP technology, you should come to an apt and appropriate decision whether to opt for it or not.
By: M. Jedediah
VOIP Technology in Call Centers
December 12th, 2009
To those who may be less familiar, call center technology consists of automated phone systems capable of answering incoming phone calls and performing outbound autodialing. A call center is a group of telephone agents who receive incoming calls and/or make outgoing calls. Software applications usually associated with calls centers are CRM (Customer Relationship Management) programs.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is a call center technology that allows call center to make and receive calls using the Internet instead of traditional phone lines. As a matter of fact, today, many call centers deploy VOIP technology in a bid to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency as also employ remote call center agents. Businesses worldwide have built VOIP into their call centers, because of the scalability, and VOIP enables call centers to adapt and grow along with business and technology needs.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) technology has come to stay. It has made steady progress in replacing traditional telephone lines in most businesses and even in homes. It is the technology of the future as more and more people are enamored of the features of VOIP technology and the concomitant benefits. For many businesses, reduced cost is perhaps the most compelling reason to adopt VOIP in the office. VOIP allows organizations to set up core operations in their main office, while operatingat many locations across the globe.
Ordinarily, a VOIP is a virtual communication warehouse for marketing, and to a lesser extent, customer relationship management (CRM) functions. Using software on your workstations along with a broadband Internet connection can result in significant savings on operational costs. The telephone communications through the Internet allows the VOIP staff to initiate and respond to any number of simultaneous telemarketing calls, phone orders, and customer inquiries. Essentially, a VOIP centralizes telemarketing, ordering and customer service functions for various manufacturing and service companies.
There are two different choices – one is to make your current equipment -enabled. The other is to build up a new system through a separate gateway. But there are greater gains in having VOIP technology native to your existing system. You can use your current equipment by adding a VOIP interface board or similar bridging device to your current system configuration. There are many manufacturers who offer these products.
While exercising this option, buy a product that is certified and capable of easy integration with your existing equipments. Please remember the vendor’s commitment to developing VOIP solutions for you is important. If you find it difficult, hire a professional consultant, who has already handled multiple VOIP deployments, to guide you through your project.
Since all telephone functions of are computerized, and since the Internet is by far more capable of handling multiple phone transmissions than a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a call center need not be unduly bothered about overburdened telephone lines. This is a huge advantage. A number of opportunities are presented once you have your call center on the VOIP technology.
By: Cyril Bird
