VoIP Technology » Voice Signal

How Does VoIP Service Work?

admin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:28:03 +0000

VOIP technology is a one way of sending a voice signal also known as an analog signal in a medium which is digital, i.e, the internet. In practice, the process works like this when you have a standard analog telephone attached to your high speed internet connection with VOIP service. There will be an analog telephone adapter or ATA between the phone and the computer.

In order to place what would normally be a long distance call to a person who doesn’t have VOIP service you key in the number you want. The analog telephone adapter converts the touch tones into a digital format. The digital phone number is sent by the analog telephone adapter to the VOIP routing system at the service provider’s location. The VOIP service provider is located on the internet as well.

The VOIP service provider’s routing system identifies the recipient’s location and sends the call to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PTSN) at that location. The phone rings at the other end and the conversation can begin. Each time you speak, the analog to digital converter in the analog telephone adapter changes the voice tones into packets of digital information that can be transmitted across the internet. When the VOIP service meshes with the Public Switched Telephone Network at the recipient’s end, the digital packets which are the voice tones from you get turned back into an analog signal so that you recipient of your call can understand what you are saying.

The reverse process, i.e. the transmission of what the other person says to you is a mirror image of the first process. Their voice is transformed from analog to digital when it gets to the PSTN/internet connection. The digital packets are sent to the analog telephone adapter at your location where they are converted back into an audible or analog signal to be able to perceive the voice as that of your caller.

The technology to do the conversion from analog to digital and back again has been around as long as digital electronics. For example, your PC sound card converts digital CD information to analog signal needed by the speakers on your computer. The difficult part of the VOIP technology is the necessity to smoothly transmit the digital data over the internet and reassemble it in a continuous stream. This is know as the protocol.

When listening to voice transmission, there can be no gaps in the stream of digital packets or the voices will not be understandable. This part of the technology has only recently been available, but is actually equal or better in quality than you get with standard telephone networks.

The equipment available today that uses VOIP technology can be an analog telephone adapter for your head set through the computer. There are a few VOIP phones that act like a regular analog telephone but have the ATA incorporated into the phone. It’s actually a small dedicated personal computer in your telephone. These VOIP phones can be plugged into the computer with high speed internet connection or into the router.

By: Simon Ahtung

VOIP

admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:28:48 +0000

VOIP is an innovative and pioneering technique to make and receive telephone calls. It engrosses the transmission of regular phone calls over the Net. In the other way, VOIP is made used in order to send and receive voice through Internet instead of passing voice through the standard telephone network. Voice over Internet Protocol is shortly known as VOIP. The main and essential router of voice conversations for any IP stationed network is Internet telephony, Broadband telephony, Broadband Phone, IP telephony and finally Voice over Broadband. Organizations rendering VOIP services are generally pertained as providers. The protocols that are utilized to acquit voice signals over the Internet Protocol network are generally denoted as VOIP protocols. They can be easily reckoned as commercial actualizations of the observational Network Voice Protocol which was contrived for the ARPANET providers.

Functionality

There are certain VOIP functionalities that can alleviate several tasks and which would be difficult to a greater extent to accomplish using traditional networks:

• Inwarding telephone calls could be robotically routed to the VOIP phone, despite where it has been connected to the network. People can receive calls if they take over their VOIP phone at the time of their journey and also they can connect to the cyberspace if they want to surf in the net.

• Disengage telephone numbers for the utility with VOIP are accessible in countries like United States of America, United Kingdom. Few other countries avail it from institutions like VOIP User.

• People working in Call center who make use of VOIP phones can ferment from anyplace with a comfortable and libertine Net connection.

• Quite a number of VOIP service admits PSTN features where maximum telecommunication companies ask for additional charges. Sometimes local companies may not offer services like forwarding calls, caller ID, conference calls and automatic redialing.

VOIP services convert a voice signal into a digital signal that moves over the Internet. If a person trying to call to a veritable phone number, immediately the signal is converted to a regular telephone signal earlier reaching the destination. VOIP can permit the user to create a call directly from a computer or from a special VOIP phone or also through a traditional phone attached to a special adapter.

VOIP Requisites and Technology

• The major magnetism of a VOIP is the capability to minimize the expenditure, as telephone calls pass through over the data network to a certain extent than the phone company network.

• IP communications comprises business appliances which improves the quality of interactions to facilitate several features like integrated contact centers, unified messaging, and robust-media conferencing with voice, video and data.

• IP telephony includes the complete collection of VOIP enabled services together with the interconnection of telephones for interactive services like placarding and phone plans. It also includes some fundamental boasts like transfer, forward, conferencing and hold.

By: Nila Priya

What Exactly is VoIP?

admin — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:03:53 +0000

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

VoIP Carriers Bring You The Hottest New Technology In Telecom – VoIP

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:29:50 +0000

Understanding the new technology which has the power to not just touch your life but also to empower you and your business is extremely essential if you want to be the winner in the ongoing rat race. Telecommunication sector has come up with one such service which has changed the entire structure of telephony communication. Long gone are the days when there would be endless long white colored cables moving around your house to provide you with telephone service. VoIP call termination service has become a crucial link that interconnects you with the rest of the world through high speed Internet connection.

VoIP service converts the voice signal into small digital packets and transmits it over the Internet; much like the way your emails and other data like video et cetera is send via world wide web. VoIP service is taken to the end users through a number of channels called VoIP carriers. Voice over IP wholesale providers and VoIP resellers procure minutes from the Voip service providers of this technology and then the minutes are finally taken to the end customers.

One of the key reasons of its fast spreading popularity is that it helps you to curb your telephony expenditure by helping you save almost half of what you spend on your telephone calls as of present. The savings would in turn by humongous. Big bucks saved!

Another benefit of this service is that a VoIP carrier can assist you in sending voice, data and video through a single network namely the internet. This enables optimum utilisation of a network thereby increasing the efficiency of service. Increased efficiency translates into escalated productivity of a business house.

So a business house won’t just save money but its overall productivity too would be increased. Additionally an established voice over IP carrier can help you integrate this cheap telephony along with your existing communication structure with much ease.

By: Kristen Kiya

Experience The Pleasure Of Cost-Effective Communication With VOIP Technology

admin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:36:22 +0000

Do you wish to cut down your monthly telephone bill amount?

Telephonic communication is the lifeline of the contemporary world. Be it communicating with near and dear ones or with customers/colleagues, telephones constitute an indispensable part of one’s life.
However, most of us are bothered by the (hefty) telephone bills that we receive at the end of the month (especially when we make long distance calls). This takes away the charm of talking heartily with your friends and relatives…isn’t it?

Don’t you wish that you could talk hours with your loved ones without worrying about the ‘calling meter’ ticking rapidly while you talk?

Well, good news for all of you! The surge of VoIP technology is sweeping the world today in its stride…and this technology is bringing about a revolutionary change in how people communicate with their telephones. VoIP is indeed the wave of the future!

The VoIP technology enables transformation of the voice data into digital data. Digital data is smaller as compared to a standard electric unit. As a result, the VoIP users can save on valuable bandwidth.

What all do you need to set up VoIP telephony system in your residence/business set-up?

You need high-speed Internet connection to avail the benefits of VoIP. The digital data (after the voice signal has been transformed) is transmitted over the broadband Internet connection.
VoIP phones are exclusively designed for VoIP. You may also go for videophones (supporting VoIP)that will display images while you speak.

Want to use your existing phone(s) for making VoIP calls?

Well, you can use your existing telephone to avail the benefits of VoIP. You need to use a VoIP phone adapter for this.
You may also need to purchase a router. Usually, the VoIP service providers provide the hardware that you need to set up VoIP telephony system.

So, do not let the thought of ‘huge’ telephone bills deter you from talking to your loved ones heartily. Enjoy the benefits of VoIP telephony and experience the pleasure of communicating in a cost-effective manner!

By: Dennis Jaylon

Business Calls Made Easy by VOIP Technology

admin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:59:18 +0000

As high-speed Internet connections spread around the world widely, Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) technology changed how people think of long-distance phone calls. Many see VOIP as the revolutionary technology that will replace the conventional phone systems entirely. In United States, companies providing VOIP related services, such as Vonage and CallWave (More CallWave information at here), are expanding steadily. Major carriers like AT&T are already looking seriously at the potential implication of VOIP technology.

How VOIP technology works?

VOIP a technology where analog voice signal is turned into digital signal and transmitted over the Internet connections. This enables VOIP users to make Internet phone calls without going thru phone company services.

VOIP calls can be done via several methods: ATA, IP phones, or PC-to-PC. For ATA, an analog-to-digital converter is used on regular phone to enable VOIP calls; For IP phones, specifically designed phones are used for voice routing via its IP address; for PC-to-PC, a VOIP calls and a PC with Internet connection is what it needs. Basically each of these VOIP call method performs the same function: To enable voice communications. However, different call methods have totally different hardware set up and they are all meant to suits different level of users. Needless to say, the cost of these VOIP call methods varies a lot.

How VOIP technology can help in your business?

Great savings on your business call rates

With VOIP, you can simply enjoy a much cheaper phone calls by utilizing your existing PC set up and data networks. Most VOIP companies are offering minute-rate plans structured as little as $30 per month. With the elimination of unregulated charges and additional features given, switching from conventional phone services to VOIP can be quite a bargain.

Easy customer calls support

Often the telephone customer supports will consume a big part of a business budget. The high sets up cost for customer calls support can be reduce greatly using VOIP systems. With the availability of VoIP calls, business owners can utilize the “Click to Talk” web services set up a customer service application like call centres with enhanced features and low maintenance cost.

Flexibility

With VoIP services, business travelers or home workers can work as in the office. You can call freely from anywhere you have the Internet connectivity. Further more, you get another alternative with VoIP– the soft-phone. A softphone is a application software that loads VoIP functions into your computer. With soft-phone, you can make VoIP calls thru your laptop/desktop from anywhere that has the Internet access.

Further more, a VOIP system gives better flexibility in the set-up. By implementing VOIP technology, you can select any area code for your customer support phone number regardless on your location, you can allow multiple employees managing your customers calls without extra charges, you can own an instant web-based voice mail for business tracking purpose, and you can have integrated conferencing.

Wrapping things up

VOIP has been declared by greats like Forbes.com to be “the four letter word for growth.” It is widely acknowledged that technology can spur growth and businesses, even small ones that integrate new technologies, have a strategic and competitive edge over others.

However, even though VOIP systems sound like a savior for your business, you should never switch into their service blindly. The new technology might sounds great, but there are several drawbacks that you should consider them with care. The reliability of VOIP services (imagine long down time for your LAN system.), the power issue (VOIP functions fails whenever there’s no power supply.), and quality of the services are some of the major issues to consider before making the switch.

By: Teddy Low

Internet Telephone VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) – Technology and Terms

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:21:25 +0000

If you are just starting to look at VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) as an alternative to conventional POTS (plain old telephone service) for your home or office, you will be hit with an all new set of technical terminology and industry jargon. This is a guide to help clarify and define some of the basic vocabulary used in the VoIP world.

Many of these terms are not limited to the VoIP world. As with so many technologies that revolve around broadband access, wireless networking and telephony, you will see these terms elsewhere so it will be helpful for you to understand their meaning as they relate to VoIP.

Telephone Adapter – In the world of VoIP, a telephone adapter is a device that is installed between your network and your telephone hardware. You can think of it as a converter as it sometimes referred to by this term. The most simple of these devices have three connections: power adapter connected to a power outlet, a 4-wire telephone connection where you plug in your conventional telephone hardware and an Ethernet adapter to connect the device to your network. The adapter converts (digitizes) the analog phone signal to an IP protocol.

Codec – Short for coder/decoder, this is a compression and decompression utility that digitizes and compresses the analog voice signal created by your telephone. There are a number of different codecs used and each one offers differing levels of compression. With varying levels of compression come different levels of quality of voice over the line.

VoIP Service Provider – This is a provider of the actual connectivity of your VoIP hardware, your network and the rest of the world. Some provide only computer-based services while others provide complete home or office solutions including multiple phone numbers and fax/data solutions.

RTP – Real-time Transport Protocol is the protocol used to specify standards for carrying voice calls over broadband connections. RTP is used in conjunction with RTCP (Real-time Transport Control Protocol) to provide QoS (Quality of Service) support. This provides a precedence or ‘right-of-way’ traffic control of voice calls over standard traffic over the network. Standard traffic can be thought of as text, email or other low priority, non-time sensitive traffic.

SIP – Session Initiation Protocol controls the way VoIP traffic is transmitted and routed over a broadband network. In simple terms, SIP is the standard by which a session (phone call) is initiated and terminated (phone hangs up).

VoIP phone – This is a telephone that is designed specifically to be used with a VoIP service. It has the functionality of both a telephone in its basic design but incorporates all the functionality of a telephone adapter making is a single, self-contained VoIP device.

Softphone – This is actually a misleading term in that it is not really a phone at all. A softphone is a computer that is equipped with a microphone, a speaker (or headset) and a software program that allows you to make telephone calls without the need for a conventional telephone or adapter.

By: Jeff Runyon

VOIP Considerations

admin — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:37:52 +0000

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is changing the way that we look at phone service. The relatively new technology is quickly becoming the norm in many homes across the world. But a variety of VOIP considerations should be explored before you take advantage of the technology.

It allows a caller to make long distance calls without having to pay much, or anything for them. Combine the VOIP technology with a broadband, or high speed, internet access line, and VOIP provides an easy, inexpensive way to make phone calls all over the world. However, there are still some disadvantages of VOIP – especially when it comes to using the technology for functions beyond the one caller to one caller scenario.

VOIP considerations for you to examine start with understanding how the technology works in comparison with traditional phone service. With traditional phone service, your long distance phone calls are routed from your local provider’s network to your chosen long distance provider’s network, where it is routed to the receiving party’s local phone provider’s network and finally, to their home phone line. Since multiple providers are involved, multiple providers charged a fee for the call, which the long distance provider passed on to you in the form of an often hefty per-minute charge.

But VOIP has changed all of that. It removes the long distance company from the equation, making a long distance phone call virtually the same as a local phone call. How? By using the internet as the routing method that passes the call from your local phone provider to your receiving party’s local phone provider. You initiate the call, and your analog voice signal is translated into a digital signal. That signal is then sent via your internet service to the internet, where it is routed to the receiving party’s local phone provider’s network, translated back into an analog signal and sent to the receiving party’s phone.

The disadvantages of VOIP should be part of what you understand regarding VOIP considerations, but they are relatively limited for the average consumer. The main complaints regarding VOIP have to do with providing the level of quality of service that customers are accustomed to with regular telephone technology.

The reason for this is multifold. VOIP requires a large amount of data to be compressed and transmitted, then uncompressed and delivered, all in a relatively small amount of time. Problems develop in VOIP conversations when this process takes too long and the callers experience one of two problems; echo or over-talk.

For businesses, VOIP considerations have more to do with how to manage the traffic over their network. Since they may be using their bandwidth for internet and even voice conferencing, they will need to analyze the amount of bandwidth that is necessary to handle all of their activities.

But for the average consumer, the greatest advantage of VOIP is the cost – or rather, the lack of cost. If you have a computer with a sound card, modem, speakers, a microphone and a (preferably) high speed connection, and you download software from companies such as skype.com, you can be making free long distance and international phone calls using VOIP in as little as 5 minutes.

By: Van Theodorou