VoIP, acronym for Voice over Internet Protocol, is a common term used for a group of technologies involving transmission. This protocol is used to deliver voice communications across the internet protocol networks such as various packet switched networks like the internet.
VoIP is often referred to as Internet telephony, or IP telephony, and even voice over broadband. This protocol basically is a type of communication service that involves facsimile and voice messaging techniques and applications that are transmitted via the internet. These do not take help from the public switched telephone network (PSTN). The voice signal that is actually in analog form is first converted into a digital format and then the signal is translated into a format compatible with the internet protocol so that they can be successfully transmitted via the internet. This is the technique used at the transmitting end. At the receiver end these internet protocol packets that are received as digitized signals are converted back into analog form and sent to the receiver.
VoIP is a widely used technique of modern times. You can get connected to VoIP service providers by three primary ways: by an Analog Telephone Adapter, by using the Ethernet or Wi-Fi technique and by means of a softphone or a digital phone. VoIP has many advantages which have made it a successful service. It has high bandwidth efficiency and the cost of transmission is quite low. It also enables the performance of tasks and provides such services that are difficult to be implemented using PSTN making them highly flexible.
However VoIP is prone to internet attacks or what we commonly say that data can be hacked by experts and hence it is not a very secure technique. This problem has been taken into consideration and the government and certain military organizations are now using Voice over Secure IP (VoSIP) to protect data which is a modified version of VoIP
By: Joanne Greco
Posts Tagged ‘Internet Telephony’
What Exactly is VoIP?
January 3rd, 2010VoIP Technology Makes Communication Easier
November 7th, 2009
VoIP is an acronym of Voice-over Internet protocol. VoIP is known as the protocol that optimized for a transmission voice through out the Internet access. The technology of VoIP is viewed as a digital audio system. Using speech data compression techniques, VoIP can reduce the data rate.
Since the first computer network was established, Voice over Internet Protocol has been the most interesting item. It is the technology where the voice data was being transmitted through the Internet access. The growth of VoIP technology is being very rapid. In 2008, the revenue of U.S. Company of VoIP industry itself reaches up to $3.19 billion revenue with 24.3% growth. VoIP is known as the unlimited call that cost lower than using public switched telephone networks, or PSTN. Using VoIP, people will get the unlimited services in calling. People are able to transmitting more than one telephone call that exists in the same broadband connection.
The voice transmission over the internet, used by VoIP, is soon referred to as IP telephony, Internet telephony, broadband phone, or even voice over broadband. This technology brings efficiency in time and sometimes free of charge when people used the unlimited VoIP service of VoIP to VoIP phone calls. Other than that, people are still able to use VoIP to PSTN, or in the contrary. There are two types of services for VoIP to PSTN, which are direct inward dialing and access numbers. Those types are connecting the caller directly over the VoIP user. The accessibility of PSTN to VoIP is as good as voice transmission between VoIP. Even though, this technology may cost sometimes. The innovation of this technology brings many benefits; especially this voice transmission technology may reach in the world wide. So then, it is very easy to contact with other people around the world by using VoIP with lower cost.
By: Dita Nadia
Introduction to VoIP Technology
October 28th, 2009
Voice over Internet Protocol, also called VoIP or Internet telephony, is the transportation of voice conversations over the internet or through any other IP-based network rather than the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
Protocols which are used to carry voice signals over the IP network are commonly referred to as Voice over IP or VoIP protocols. Some cost savings are due to utilizing a single network to carry voice and data. Users that have existing underutilized network capacity can use VoIP at no additional cost. VoIP to VoIP phone calls on any provider are typically free, while VoIP to PSTN calls generally costs the VoIP user.
There are two types of PSTN to VoIP services: DID (Direct Inward Dialing) and access numbers. DID connects the caller directly to the VoIP user, while access numbers require the caller to input the extension number of the VoIP user. Access numbers are usually charged as a local call to the caller and free to the VoIP user, while DID usually has a monthly fee. One can also find DID that are free to the VoIP user but charge the caller instead.
Key features of VoIP:
VoIP can facilitate tasks that may be more difficult to achieve using traditional networks, such as:
• Routing phone calls over existing data networks to avoid the need for separate voice and data networks.
• Incoming phone calls can be automatically routed to your VoIP phone, regardless of where you are connected to the network. Take your VoIP phone with you on a trip, and receive incoming calls whenever you are connected to the Internet.
• Free phone numbers for use with VoIP are available in the USA, UK and other countries from several organizations.
• Call center agents using VoIP phones can work from anywhere with a sufficiently fast and stable Internet connection.
• Many VoIP packages include PSTN features that most Telcos normally charge extra for, or may be unavailable from your local Telco, such as 3-way calling, call forwarding, automatic redial, and caller ID.
• VoIP allows users to travel anywhere in the world and still make and receive phone calls.
Flexibility:
• VoIP service users can make and receive local phone calls regardless of their location. For example, if a user has a US phone number and is traveling in Europe and someone calls the US phone number, it will ring in Europe. Conversely, if a call is made from Europe to US, it will be treated as a local call. Of course, there must be a connection to the internet, for e.g. Wi-Fi, to make all of this possible.
• Users of Instant Messenger based VoIP services can also travel anywhere in the world and make and receive phone calls.
• VoIP phones can integrate with other services available over the Internet, including video conversation, message or data file exchange, in parallel with the conversation, audio conferencing, managing address books and passing information about whether others (e.g. friends or colleagues) are available online to interested parties.
By: Waqas Taimoor
