An Explanation of VoIP
In a world where communities are no longer defined by city limits, and geographical boundaries no longer separate cultures and peoples, inter-connectivity is becoming more and more essential. When a business has branches in Asia, Africa and Europe and operates out of the United States Midwest, the one essential element to its success is effective communication and coordination. When a Grandmother in South Carolina has grandkids in Beijing, New York, and Chicago, local phone service has become as outdated as the local postman. The diversity of possible consumers, coupled with the absolute necessity of timely and reliable communication has created a veritable maelstrom of aggressively marketed options. Communication at fast, convenient, and cost-effective rates has become a driving force in marketing and technology. And many consumers, from businessmen to grandmothers, are finding an answer to their various communication needs in VoIP, Voice over Internet Protocol.
What is VOIP?
VoIP is the common abbreviation for Voice over Internet Protocol, a service which allows voice communication traditionally limited to telephone landlines, and more recently to cell phones and cellular towers, to operate via a high-speed internet connection. The VoIP software/hardware converts your voice into a digital signal which is then transmitted via internet to the intended receiver. VoIP is sometimes referred to as IP telephony, but the most common ways people refer to this service is by its various providers. When someone talks about Skype, Vonage or Lingo, they are talking about VoIP technology. Frequently asked questions about VoIP are addressed by the FCC at http://www.fcc.gov/voip/.
How Does VoIP Work?
The VoIP software converts your voice into a digital signal which is then transmitted via internet to the intended receiver. VoIP operates in one of three ways; computer to computer, computer to phone, or phone to computer. The computer to computer process of VoIP is usually free. What you pay for is when you incorporate a phone into the equation, making calls away from your computer, or to someone who doesn’t have a computer. For these, you need not only a VoIP enabled phone, you also need a VoIP provider.
Resources:
http://www.fcc.gov/voip/
http://voip.about.com/od/voipbasics/a/whatisvoip.htm
http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/view/What+is+VOIP