What Is A VoIP Phone?
In spite of the growing popularity of IP telephony, there are still many people who do not know what a VoIP phone is. What is the difference between a VoIP phone and an ordinary phone?
As far as you are concerned, probably not a lot. You can still use your own landline phone if need be, though in its simplest form there is no VoIP phone handset as such. Just a microphone and speakers will do. All you need is some software which is supplied by the provider.
You can use your normal land-line phone. Just like digital TV requires a box, either set-top or included in the set, VoIP needs a box which you can either buy yourself, or get from your VoIP provider. Once you connect your phone to the box and the box to your internet connection, you have your VoIP phone system using your own phone. Due to the connection speeds involved you have to have broadband or another high-speed internet connection.
Your telephone conversation passes through the internet in packets in the same way as any other file does. As you speak, your analogue voice signal is digitized by the VoIP software into binary form, and the digital stream broken up into small 'packets' which are sent through the internet. These packets each take their own fastest route through the internet, from computer to computer, till they reach their destination. This is the way that all files are sent through IP.
The problem with a streamed signal, such as a VoIP phone conversation, and a packet system, is that the packets do not always arrive in the correct order. This is due to the releative amount of internet traffic each packet comes up against, and the fact that they can each take different routes. Also, some packets are lost, or 'dropped'.
Modern software is becoming increasingly better at arranging packets in the correct order (often through slight time delays which allow them to be rearranged) and covering up 'dropped' packets. VoIP phone conversations are therefore more audible now than they were in the early days of VoIP phone systems.
As I said, you can use your computer microphone and speakers to make and receive conversations, but you can also get a dedicated VoIP phone if you prefer. It's all a matter of choice and does not significantly affect the services you can have.
Some of the services supplied free with VoIP phone systems are:
* Caller ID
* Call waiting
* Call forwarding
* Voicemail
* Conference calls
* Call transfer
* Group pick-up
Once you have your box, any calls you make to another VoIP are free anywhere. For calls to non-VoIP phones there is a charge, but this is generally lower than normal land-line charges.
Your phone number relates to the adaptor, so you can take this with you and use it on any computer with fast internet connection. You can also buy a VoIP phone to go with your laptop and make telephone calls anywhere at any time; just as you can with a mobile, but at a fraction of the cost, and usually free to any other IP phone. This is an excellent inexpensive solution for businesses with a network of offices all calls between them will be free throughout the world.
Another cool feature is virtual phone numbers. You can get local area numbers allocated to your regular phone number, so that if your family live in LA and you are in New York they can ring your LA local number with their landline and speak to you in New York at local rates. How cool is that!
A VoIP phone is now an attractive option for anyone, both as a cheap alternative to a mobile phone and as a complete replacement for a landline.
Copyright 2006 Peter Nisbet
Peter Nisbet is an industrial chemist with a great interest in internet file transmission and reception systems and runs many websites including http://www.data-voip-solutions.com where many aspects of VoIP services and systems are discussed.Business Pack Server Small Transition
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As far as you are concerned, probably not a lot. You can still use your own landline phone if need be, though in its simplest form there is no VoIP phone handset as such. Just a microphone and speakers will do. All you need is some software which is supplied by the provider.
You can use your normal land-line phone. Just like digital TV requires a box, either set-top or included in the set, VoIP needs a box which you can either buy yourself, or get from your VoIP provider. Once you connect your phone to the box and the box to your internet connection, you have your VoIP phone system using your own phone. Due to the connection speeds involved you have to have broadband or another high-speed internet connection.
Your telephone conversation passes through the internet in packets in the same way as any other file does. As you speak, your analogue voice signal is digitized by the VoIP software into binary form, and the digital stream broken up into small 'packets' which are sent through the internet. These packets each take their own fastest route through the internet, from computer to computer, till they reach their destination. This is the way that all files are sent through IP.
The problem with a streamed signal, such as a VoIP phone conversation, and a packet system, is that the packets do not always arrive in the correct order. This is due to the releative amount of internet traffic each packet comes up against, and the fact that they can each take different routes. Also, some packets are lost, or 'dropped'.
Modern software is becoming increasingly better at arranging packets in the correct order (often through slight time delays which allow them to be rearranged) and covering up 'dropped' packets. VoIP phone conversations are therefore more audible now than they were in the early days of VoIP phone systems.
As I said, you can use your computer microphone and speakers to make and receive conversations, but you can also get a dedicated VoIP phone if you prefer. It's all a matter of choice and does not significantly affect the services you can have.
Some of the services supplied free with VoIP phone systems are:
* Caller ID
* Call waiting
* Call forwarding
* Voicemail
* Conference calls
* Call transfer
* Group pick-up
Once you have your box, any calls you make to another VoIP are free anywhere. For calls to non-VoIP phones there is a charge, but this is generally lower than normal land-line charges.
Your phone number relates to the adaptor, so you can take this with you and use it on any computer with fast internet connection. You can also buy a VoIP phone to go with your laptop and make telephone calls anywhere at any time; just as you can with a mobile, but at a fraction of the cost, and usually free to any other IP phone. This is an excellent inexpensive solution for businesses with a network of offices all calls between them will be free throughout the world.
Another cool feature is virtual phone numbers. You can get local area numbers allocated to your regular phone number, so that if your family live in LA and you are in New York they can ring your LA local number with their landline and speak to you in New York at local rates. How cool is that!
A VoIP phone is now an attractive option for anyone, both as a cheap alternative to a mobile phone and as a complete replacement for a landline.
Copyright 2006 Peter Nisbet
Peter Nisbet is an industrial chemist with a great interest in internet file transmission and reception systems and runs many websites including http://www.data-voip-solutions.com where many aspects of VoIP services and systems are discussed.Business Pack Server Small Transition
Costume
Florida Golf Holiday Villa
Holiday In Portimao Villa
Fire Stock Footage
Circu Circus
Game Golf Nabisco
Retire On Line
Cosmetic Price Riga Surgery
Guthy Pilates Renker Winsor
Photopaint Tutorial
0800 Access Free Internet
Arizona Mesothelioma Lawyer
Pearrygin Lake
Farming
Bad Credit Need Car
Auto Broker Denver
Radio
Pop N Fresh
Best State To Retire In
Chicago Theater Ticket
Camera Digital Fisher Price Tough
Life17
Buckeye Sports Center
Mississauga Shopping
Dating Online Service Upscale
Reverse Cellular Phone Directory
Edition Pc Pro Satellite Tv
Downtown Denver Colorado Hotel
Andrew Weldon
Texas Concealed Handgun Permit
Gas Light Inn
Beach Folly Holiday Inn Sc
Godfathers Pizza
0 Gauge Power Wire
Every Free Gift Purchase
South Shore Mall Braintree Ma
Man Coin Wallet
Lithium Battery For Digital Camera
Crystal Palace Nassau
Wholesale Cheap Toys
Time Share Sales And Rental
Md Drunk Driving Law
Ariat Boot Womens Shoes
For Business
Child Christmas Kid Mexican Party
0 Auto Loans
2006 Disney Snow White World
New York City Better Business Bureau
Kenmore Washer
Sensual Massage Services
Deluxe Check Printing
Freida Residency
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Bauer Ice Hockey Skate
Detoxification Alcohol Detox
0870 Numbers
Attorney Directory District General Law Resource Tennessee Us
Iron Man Dvd
Toy Store Manhattan
Mariah Carey All I Want For Christma
Cross Fight Football Holy
Busch Garden Hotel Williamsburg
Als Hockey Pool
Zelda Game Download
Category Government Office City Village Borough Township
Swimming Pool Heaters
Bible Canine Hikers
Gold Jewelry White Online
Care Hair Professional Store Wholesale
07 2006 Almanac Farmer Outlook Winter
03 Agency Christian Dating
Bellhop Costume
0 Interest Mortgag
17 Boat Sail Venture
French Architect
Donald Duck Cartoons
Pet Insurance For Preventative Care
06 Fire House In
Exercise Loss Program Training Weight
Machine Repair Vending
100 Bird Got Name Their They
1 64 Diecast Oil Shell
Best Cd Burner Software
Princeton Survey Research
Aroma Coffee Espresso Maker
Bar Champ Dallas Sports
Ceramic China
Portable X Xbox Handheld
Austin Blue Cafe Star
Jp Morgan Chase Bank Location
05 Saturn Vue
Driving
Affordable Whole Life Insurance Rate
1 18 Car Diecast Truck
Corporation India Insurance Life Organisation
06 Audi Tt
Tea
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1 2007 Bank Holiday January
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Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort Lake Buena Vista
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