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A technological communication breakthrough, the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) can let you have voice conversations through a broadband Internet connection or any Internet Protocol-based network instead of a regular phone.

The other terms for the VoIP are: IP telephony, broadband telephony, Internet telephony, voice over broadband or broadband phone.

There are advantages in choosing to use VoIP over the standard phone line. You automatically receive phone calls once you get connected to the Internet, regardless of the network that you are using. Even during phone conversations, you can still access the other programs in your computer.

VoIP is also possible during road trips, you just use a mobile phone that can connect to the Internet. Incoming calls to your home will be treated as local calls wherever you connect to the Internet.

VoIP to VoIP calls are usually free of charge, which is a good advantage. But the VoIP user would be charged if he or she makes a VoIP to PSTN calls.

Stable Internet connection for VoIP service users is another advantage. This ensures faster access and delivery of good quality voice data.

There are other features in the VoIP services that are not available with the traditional analog phones. These include video conversation, conferencing, sending or exchanging files parallel to the conversation, managing your address book and more.

How does VoIP work? Through the VoIP service, your voice is converted to digital signals that pass through the Internet connection to a destination that you choose. Also, through this service, you can make calls by a computer or a VoIP phone. In case the computer is turned off, the standard phone line can be used to make and receive calls.

An important requirement obviously is that VoIP users should have a high speed broadband Internet connection.

The VoIP phone is plugged directly into the broadband connection and this can already be used just like any other traditional phone. But if you want to use your traditional telephone, you will need to connect it to a VoIP adapter. The dial tone will then be provided by the service provider. Remember that you would need the VoIP software and a microphone when you use the computer to make phone calls.

How does the VoIP system work for long distance or local calls? You would need an area code that may be different from the area code of where you reside.

This code would determine whether calls are long distance or local calls. If the person calling you is outside the area or the service covered in your VoIP, he will be charged for a long distance call.

But this could differ, depending upon the terms set by the VoIP service provider. There are some service providers who charge a fixed rate for a certain time limit regardless of the distance between you and who you call.

Who can you call with your VoIP service? This information would depend on the terms, conditions and services available of your VoIP service provider.

But you can call anyone who has a telephone or mobile number and this includes loca or long distance calls. The person you are calling will no longer need any special device other than his phone to receive your VoIP call. You can also make simultaneous calls or conduct video conferences, again, depending on the terms and service of the VoIP provider.

One disadvantage of VoIP phones is that during power outage, some services are not available so some VoIP providers provide backup power. Another disadvantage is that you have be constantly connected to the Internet to make and receive calls.

But you can divert the call to an analog phone or mobile phone if you do not want to miss any incoming calls. You can also activate your voice mail box so your messages can still be received even when you can no attend to them.

It is advisable that you choose a VoIP service provider that offers the directory assistance or white page listings because not all service providers offer this feature.

Also, check with the provider if they can directly connect you to the emergency service 911. Nonetheless, calling 911 through your VoIP phone will be treated differently from that using the traditional phone. But what matters is that you are able to readily seek help at times that you need it.

Connection to any place around the globe is possible with the use of a VoIP phone.

The term VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, and it is a recent technology that allows Internet users to place voice calls over the Internet. This term may also be referred to as telephony, Internet telephony, or IP telephony.

With VoIP Internet phone service, you no longer need a phone to make voice calls. When you are logged on to the Internet, you can make use of your connection to call people anywhere in the world. This type of call is also cheaper, especially when you compare it to long distance voice calls.

VoIP calls are less expensive because they make use of the network that your Internet connection already uses. Also, there is no need to install extra equipment which helps lower costs. For this reason, calls made between one VoIP user to another are often free or cost a negligible fee. VoIP calls made to regular phones, or to a public switched telephone network (PSTN), cost significantly more, however.

VoIP to PSTN Calls
There are two ways VoIP users and PSTN users can converse with each other. One of the methods is known as direct inward dialing, or DID, which directly connects a PSTN user to a VoIP user. DID calling is provided by VoIP providers.

The other method for making VoIP calls to PSTNs, or vice versa, is through the use of access numbers. With this type of Internet phone service, PSTN callers input access numbers that correspond to a certain VoIP user’s extension number in order for a call to be successful. Access numbers are usually charged as local calls, making it affordable for the PSTN caller and free for the VoIP user.

Who Uses VoIP?
VoIP Internet phone service is gaining popularity, and has been used by individuals and businesses alike. Thanks to the availability of broadband Internet service to individual users, VoIP technology is now available to anyone with a broadband connection. If you want to order VoIP technology for your business, look for a VoIP provider, such as AT&T VoIP, who will provide you with plenty of options for making the most of your VoIP service. Some providers provide you with inbound and outbound VoIP calls worldwide, while some even allow you free unlimited calls to the United States and Canada.

Some providers, such as AT&T VoIP service, also provide customers with a separate phone jack for VoIP calls to increase the quality and make the reception almost the same as that of regular phone service. This type of VoIP service is fixed, and will only allow you to make calls from your home or wherever you have the phone jack installed. This allows you to keep your existing phone number while taking advantage of VoIP technology.

Providers such as Gizmo Project and Skype allow you to make VoIP calls using any computer, anywhere in the world. With this type of VoIP Internet phone service, you can contact anyone and make voice calls no matter where you are.

If you already have AT&T Internet service, all you need to do is order VoIP AT&T phone service to begin enjoying the convenience and affordability that this phone service offers. AT&T is a leading provider of Internet phone service. Choose AT&T VoIP phone services and receive the highest-quality phone service available.

Learn more about VoIP Phone Service.

With the financial climate the way that it is all over the world everyone is looking for new and interesting ways to save money each month. Many people have chosen to use a VoIP provider for their telephone line as VoIP (voice over interner protocol) offers massive savings and a whole host of features that traditional phone companies do not offer their customers. When you use VoIP you can either choose to buy a VoIP phone or a VoIP phone adapter, although using a VoIP phone adapter is the cheapest option.

People who are looking to make savings on their service tend to opt for a VoIP phone adapter as these can be found at reasonable prices online. When you use a VoIP phone adapter you can retain your original home phone and access your VoIP line through the VoIP phone adapter with no fuss. So apart from your monthly bill your only outgoing would be for a VoIP phone adapter, you don’t even have to pay for your phone line – something which some phone providers will charge you quite a lot for.

Anyone who is interested in buying a VoIP phone adapter should go online and take a look at some of the stores that offer different types of VoIP phone adapter to get an idea of what is on offer. Doing this is one of the best ways to find a VoIP phone adapter that meets your needs and is within your price range. It is also a good idea to take a look at the specifications of the types of VoIP phone adapter that you are interested in. When you do this you will be able to find a VoIP phone adapter that is exactly what you are looking for. For instance, if you are only going to be using VoIP to make personal family calls you will not need a VoIP phone adapter that has ports for two phones. Whereas if you have an office and are using VoIP you will want to opt for a VoIP phone adapter that has several ports for several different phones. However, the choice is down to you as only you know what your requirements are from your VoIP service.

Buying a VoIP phone adapter from a regular store can be quite difficult as there are not many adapters that are available in store at the moment. This means that your choice would not only be very limited, but you would also have to pay much more for your VoIP phone adapter – something which anyone looking to save money will want to avoid at all costs.

So if you want to stay connected and speak to friends and family from anywhere in the world at a low cost you need to sign up to a VoIP account and buy a VoIP phone adapter. Dong this will create huge savings on your phone bills each month and give yourself an excellent phone service at the same time – can you afford not to do it?

VoIP phones are the phones used with Voice over Internet Protocol technology. VoIP is the technology used to transmit audio as data or Packets over the Internet to either a computer user or to a landline telephone. VoIP is increasing in popularity, as it is highly valued for its great quality, low cost, and incredible features. VoIP is gaining respect, as a viable solution for business needs as well. VoIP will allow long distance calls for either free or for just pennies compared to traditional phone services.

There are many different ways to use VoIP. For some services you will need a computer, a high-speed Internet connection, an Instant Messaging program, speakers, a microphone, a phone adapter for converting standard telephones into VoIP phones, or a VoIP phone.

When using VoIP services, you can simply use a microphone and speakers to communicate with your caller. You need a High Speed Internet connection to allow for your calls to be in real time, and you will also need a soundboard and computer that is up to date with VoIP technology.

You can also use VoIP technology by using Instant Messaging services that have voice options enabled. These include Yahoo Messenger with Voice, ICQ, AOL Instant Messenger, MSN, and even Google has started their own VoIP messenger. To use these VoIP messengers you will need a microphone and speakers connected to your computer.

VoIP phone adapters are another means of communicating with VoIP. A VoIP phone adapter will connect between your standard telephones, and your Internet modem. Your phone adapter will come with installation and user instructions. Generally, you will need to power off your computer, then connect the adapter to your Internet modem and then plug your telephone into the adapter’s phone jack. Power everything back up and you should be good to use your phone. You will need to make sure that you have VoIP service previously installed.

You can also purchase a VoIP phone, specifically designed for use with your VoIP service. VoIP phones come in both corded and cordless forms. VoIP corded phones come with many features. You can purchase a desktop phone that includes speakerphone, Call Waiting, Hold, Speed Dial, Transfer, and programmable keys such as Menu, Dial, Volume, Transfer, Cancel, and Headset or Speaker mode.

You can also purchase a 2 line VoIP corded telephone. Some of the features that come with a phone like this include Three Way Conferencing, phone to phone, or phone to PC, or phone to gateway direct dial. These phones are perfect for small businesses or for use in the home office.

Another popular choice in VoIP phones is the cordless VoIP phone. These cordless VoIP phones are not the same as VoIP wireless or VoWi FI phones. VoIP phones are similar to cordless standard phones. They will work in your house, but not outside, apart from your basic VoIP service.

There is another option and that is called VoWiFi. VoWiFi stands for Voice over Wireless Fidelity. This is the use of VoIP over a wireless connection. A VoWiFi phone operates by using a wireless network’s access point. The advantages of using VoWiFi, is that you can easily pick up network signals or “hotspots” for free. However, VoWiFi will not work if it is out of a wireless range, and immediately you will be terminated from your call. If you have a wireless network that you are local to, you will find VoWiFi to be a great advantage and extremely cost effective.

Because of issues with network connectivity, there are Hybrid phones available. A hybrid is a cross between a cellular phone and VoWiFi. A Hybrid will place your call when you are in your cellular network range, and then, to prevent roaming charges, can pick up free VoWiFi by entering a hotspot. This is a great combination of two technologies and time will tell where the hybrid phone will evolve in the future.

One thing is certain; VoIP is an advancement in telecommunications that is here to stay. Whether you use your computer, and Internet Messaging program, a VoIP phone adapter, VoIP cordless or corded phones, VoWiFi or Hybrids the future points to VoIP as the telecommunication method of choice.

The infallible functionality of certain communication devices can sometimes take you by surprise. Communication devices have been and still are a means for long distance communication primarily. If we put that theory aside, we may be surprised by the innovations that have emerged on the communication market. The multi-functionality of business telephone systems brings many benefits to corporations and companies.

Plunging into the corporate world and functioning in it require the good management of a series of aspects. While the diversification of business operations emerges as probably the most important aspect, there are other factors to consider, such as cost-effectiveness.

Old-fashioned long distance telephone calls are already a thing of the past. Making a telephone call across the country is no more expensive than making a call across the city. Customer service improves significantly as companies are utilising more and more efficient transmission methods in cost-effective ways. The VoIP phone systems do not sacrifice quality in any way. In fact, they enhance it, while generating significant cost savings.

VoIP is the acronym for Voice over Internet Protocol. Initially, VoIP calling was only possible using computers which had to be equipped with speakers, microphone and specialised software. Nowadays, VoIP calling is still made over the Internet, but there is no need for computers anymore. The only requirements are a broadband connection, a phone adaptor (which is similar to a modem), traditional or soft phones and your VoIP phone system is functional.

As opposed to the early VoIP phone calls, which often experienced ‘dropouts’, the new VoIP phone systems are significantly improved and provide great call quality, as well as great savings. Furthermore, the calls made to other VoIP phones are absolutely free, which means that charges will be reduced significantly and employees will be given the opportunity to make free calls, provided there is a broadband connection there.

Hosted IP telephony provides businesses of all sizes with the most productive telephone system features, which were traditionally available to large enterprises alone. The hosted IP telephony allows for business networks to be created and free phone calls to be made within that network, regardless of the callers’ locations. Even if phone calls are made outside that business network, charges are significantly reduced, which generates more savings. Furthermore, with hosted IP telephony, sales teams, customers and home users benefit from enhanced connectivity.

The hosted VoIP phone systems require a minimal investment, as there is no need to purchase an expensive PBX. As far as the security of these systems is concerned, your firewall will not be affected, and each phone call will reach its destination safely. In addition, there are no maintenance costs, and the number of users connected to the network can be altered at any time, with no additional charges.

The VoIP phone systems are already revolutionizing the way companies and corporations conduct their businesses. The quality of VoIP calling is the same or even superior to standard calling. What’s more, allowing a large volume of data to be sent over great distances, the VoIP phone systems are very economical.

For more info about VoIP phone systems or even about hosted IP please review this page http://www.dataphone.co.uk

Since the perfection of electronic telegraph in the mid-19th Century, it seems that communications have undergone a revolution every generation, making it easier, cheaper and faster to transmit information. Today in Boston, “VoIP” – meaning “Voice over Internet Protocol” – represents one of the latest ways to communicate.

As it is a relatively new technology, one will notice the occasional “bug” or glitch when using voice over IP. Mass. users are nonetheless finding it a more convenient and far less expensive way to use the telephone. And this is really what VoIP is. It also goes by several other names, such as IP telephony, Internet telephony, voice over broadband, broadband telephony, and broadband phone (despite the fact that telephone voice communication is actually done through a narrowband system).

The most obvious benefit that Boston VoIP subscribers experience is cost savings, particularly when it comes to long-distance. Unlike traditional telephone service providers using analogue lines that charge by the minute, users pay a monthly flat fee for voice over IP. Mass. users can call anywhere in the country – and depending on their level of service, the world – and talk for any length of time, all for one low price. This monthly fee varies among the various VoIP vendors in Boston, but can range anywhere from $17 to $35 per month.

If you operate a business in Boston, VoIP is practically a necessity for reducing your operation costs – particularly if you do business nationally and internationally. VoiP installers in Boston are plentiful, but you’ll want to check out their experience and reliability before committing to a long-term service contract. The fact is that the quality of sound can vary – sometimes dramatically – between one service and another, so it’s good to compare the many VOIP installers in Boston.

If you have a good IT system in place and already have an Internet Service Provider, it is possible that VoIP installers in Boston will not even have to come to your place of business in order to establish your services, although typically you’ll need one or two extra pieces of equipment. This is an issue on which your local Boston voip service provider can advise you. VoIP installers in Boston can also work with your company’s IT department and make certain they understand the system and how to troubleshoot and repair if necessary.

In any even, Boston VoIP may be the most cost-effective phone service your company could have.

Free Download of Voip Skype’s Software - Skype’s Competitors

With the once loyal fans of Skype and SkypeOut as looking for a new company to support their internet telephony needs, Danny Wirken discovers some mind-blowing truths behind many of the main competitors.At first glance there are seemingly hundreds of them. Visit here Now http://freevoiptelephonecalls.blogspot.com/

Thanks to the flashing again surprising success of Skype again SkypeOut many other companies suppose under consideration to propose internet telephony and VoIP services to the same tout – cheap calls nationally and internationally and free calls to otherwise users of that particular service.It’s not just the giants like Yahoo!, who has recently released their own voice work VoIP service bundled with their newest article of Yahoo! chat, MSN and AOL who are competing for their share. A plethora of smaller and less recognizable companies have sprung up to unite the smaller handful of firms that existed even before Skype.

Some names may be current to you – Globe7, VoIP.Net, Speak2Phone, VoIPGate and so on. However, hidden among the top 100 further top 200 VoIP firms both online further with brick and mortar offices are a collection of companies who are fronts for one single VoIP provider: Finarea S.A. This unrelenting owns VoIP Discount, SipDiscount, VoIPCheap, SparVoIP, InternetCalls, VoIPStunt, VoIPBuster and Netappel. Each of these companies regularly updates the countries to which their users get free telephone calls. secrete clear-sighted monitoring of these companies you can often find that the country you enthusiasm to call engagement be reached for free by at least one of them!Well, there’s always a catch. You do need to credit your invoice duck some money paramount and the central won’t stay there forever. 120 days is cogent for most people’s needs especially if you are inevitable to use the service recurrently and thinking your account often.

However the real truth here is far further sensational. The hike of this company into many and the gradual rise of the competition mastery mediocre notable an overpowering view of the future internet telephony tout especially with regards to Skype. No longer can Skype claim to be the elbow grease leader when so bounteous competitors are enjoying relative success. Skype are keen to publish figures of spare customers but seldom do you see the figures of customers who no longer credit their account or use the SkypeOut service.The increasing amount of dissatisfied customers and the extraordinarily growing pile of complaints against the company may utterly embark on to the eventual decline of Skype as a market leader. It would be a disrepute because the agnomen has enjoyed such unconditional libido for the continue three years through inception that some capability reproduce led to comment that it would have been very toilsome to skirmish congeneric mania away. It’s not too late now Skype to reclaim its dynasty however – colloquial and straightforward customer service implementations will follow through much to support occupy the current customer institute further perhaps storming some of the contenders back game the shadows. Visit here Now http://freevoiptelephonecalls.blogspot.com/

Once you’ve decided to use VoIP for your Small Office Home Office, it’s time to get set up. You’re probably keen to get going, find a VoIP provider, and start saving money on phone calls. It’s a good idea, though, to take a little time to consider some of the points on this check list. That way, you can be sure you’ve chosen the VoIP provider that’s best for you, and best for your business.

Who are the best established VoIP providers?

VoIP isn’t new technology, as such, and though broadband telephony is likely to become the way we all make telephone calls, you want to be sure that your provider is reliable and experienced.

What’s your existing broadband infrastructure?

Make sure you know how your existing broadband works. Is it cable (eg Virgin)? If so, you could cancel your cable telephone line entirely without affecting your broadband connection. If it is ADSL (eg BT), however, you can’t cancel your phone line because you’ll lose your broadband, too. You can, though use a VoIP phone line as your second phone line which you could use to make your business calls.

Do you need just one line, or two?

If you work from home, either all the time or part of the time, you may want to separate business from private telephone calls, so a second, cheap VoIP phone line might make more sense, especially if your business is growing or likely to grow.

What features will help?

Will your customers be able to get hold of you whenever they need to? Check that the VoIP provider offers inclusive features such as call-forwarding, three-way calling, ringback, do not disturb, call waiting or voicemail sent to your email address.

Call plans.

Think about what you need in terms of the business calls you make. Do you call mostly UK numbers? Or do you need to call other European countries, or mostly the US? Look at the call plans the VoIP offers. Is there a good choice? Is there one that suits you? Are calls to mobiles included?

What exactly does ‘unlimited’ mean?

Make sure you understand exactly what the VoIP provider is offering. If it says ‘unlimited’, does this mean that the calls really are unlimited to the countries listed in your call plan? Most VoIP providers will have a ‘fair usage’ policy. That is, they will give you have a generous allowance of free minutes, say 2000 (about 33 hours a month). What is the VoIP’s allowance? Is your SOHO likely to use more minutes than that? What will you pay if that happens?

What will you pay if you call countries outside your plan?

Check what you’ll be charged if you call countries outside the call plan you’ve signed up to. VoIP usually offer very competitive rates, but it’s a good idea to check. If you think you may make regular calls to a country outside one call plan, it may be a good idea to see if there’s another call plan that includes that country.

What do its customers say?

Try and find some of the customer feedback about the VoIP provider. Reviews from customers, either satisfied or disgruntled, will often tell you a lot about what you need to know about a company in terms of reliability, customer service, technical support, customer satisfaction etc.

What are the extra costs?

As well as the advertised monthly call plan, make sure you know exactly what else you might have to pay for. The VoIP provider may, for example, charge a set-up or administration fee, a line activation fee, a cancellation fee. There may be charges for equipment, too, though some of it may be free.

Is the VoIP’s website clear?

You don’t want to have to root through a website to discover hidden charges and the small print. A well written, professional, clear website, with all the charges clearly set out, is a sign that the VoIP provider is committed to professional transparency.

What’s the support like?

A phone line is one of the most crucial elements of any SOHO. So it’s a good idea to make sure that the VoIP provider offers technical support and customer service 24/7. Can you always get hold of someone if you need to? Do you have to pay for this?

What add-ons do they offer?

If or when your business starts to grow, can you adapt your VoIP phone system accordingly? Find out whether the VoIP provider offers add-ons such as a second phone line, a fax line, or the ability to make calls from your laptop.

Can you keep your number?

If you’re starting up in business, it may make sense to get a whole new business number. But if customers already use your landline number, you may want to keep that. Check that the VoIP provider offers the option of ‘porting’ your existing number to your new VoIP phone provider.

Can you choose a dialling code?

You may want a VoIP telephone number that’s local to you. Or you may want one that’s local to your customers. Either way, find out what the VoIP offers in terms of choosing dialling codes, and check that the code you want is available.

What about emergencies?

A final important consideration is to think about how your business would cope if your broadband connection went down. If that happens, and your VoIP telephone is temporarily out of action, you need to make sure you have a back-up plan (such as a mobile), particularly in case of critical business calls or even calls to the emergency services.

Once you’ve been through this check list, you should be ready to choose your VoIP provider. It shouldn’t take long to get your VoIP phone line set up, and then you’ll be ready to start saving money by using your broadband to make and receive business calls.

VoIP phone service has taken over the telecommunication world by storm! This is inexpensive and has a lot of features that are comparable to the PSTN (landlines); it is the best thing for individual users, small businesses and large businesses.

Are you tired of paying huge phone bills for long distance calls and international calls? Do you own a small business and want a low cost phone service? VoIP phone service is for YOU! You can go wireless with a VoIP phone.

Here are 7 steps that will help you switch to VoIP go wireless

1. You will need an updated computer.

You will need to have an upgraded computer that is compatible with VoIP software. When you are comparing and choosing service providers, pay more attention to see if they run their programs on Windows, MacOS or Linux operating systems. Especially, if you use Mac or Linux, don’t assume that all VoIP phone service providers will have your needs met. Some of the common features of computers that affect the ability to provide VoIP wireless are hardware, motherboards, processor speeds, memory (RAM), video and graphic cards. If your computer is obsolete, VoIP phone service may not be functional.

2. You must have a High Speed Internet access such as DSL or Cable

High Speed Internet is a must for VoIP phone services to function. There maybe a few companies that work with dial-up connection but the audio quality is not satisfactory sometimes and it is because of the lack of high speed internet service. High Speed Internet connections provide the bandwidth needed and produce great quality audio.

3. Do you need residential or business VoIP phone service?

Some of the differences between residential and business plans include faxing and email capabilities, more long distance on basic and not unlimited plans, and some companies even throw in goodies such as free yellow book advertising for business VoIP phone service plans. Again, creating a list of what you want in a VoIP service will help you better determine what your tele-communication requirements are.

4. Compare VoIP Phone Service Providers

There are many factors that affect your choice of VoIP phone service providers - the number of long distance calls, international calls, business VoIP phone service etc. Now it is time to compare various service providers. VoIP is so common that chances are you may have a friend or relative that may already be using it! So, word of mouth is good way of getting some feedback. Comparing is important and there are more details to know, so read the article at - http://www.ez-voip-phone-service.com/how-to-compare-voip-phone-service-before-buying/

After comparing VoIP phone services, you can decide which VoIP service best suits your needs. Purchase this VoIP plan.

5. Choose Your Own Area Code

A lot of VoIP providers will give you the option of choosing your own area code and phone number. Just to be clear - you can live anywhere and still choose an area code from any other place! This is a great option that is available only in VoIP services and not in PSTN (landline). This is also a good idea for business owners who want to target a particular area of customer. They can choose the area code of this particular area of customers. Now, for the customers, this call will be local call.

6. Purchase an adapter for your VoIP Phone

This is important if you want to go wireless and don’t plan on sitting near computer just to receive or make your phone calls. Most of the VoIP phone service providers send you free adapter. If you don’t receive a free adapter, then you can purchase one. With an adapter, you don’t have to sit near the computer. This will allow you to use your household phones to take calls.

7. Other Important Things about VoIP phone service

As you know, VoIP phones have very similar features such as setting up your voicemail, caller ID etc., you can configure it. In fact, there is an internet control panel that you can use to configure these features.

VoIP phone service is a definitely a blessing to the world of communication. You can make very inexpensive long distance and international calls and use business VoIP phone service for your business - small or large.

Long distance phone calls will never be the same again thanks to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The basic premise for this technology is to convert analog audio signals into digital data for transmission over the Internet, a technique which allows you to make your phone calls over the internet.

The way VoIP works is pretty straight forward. Whereas the traditional circuit switched technology reserves a dedicated path from a caller to the receiver for the entire duration of the conversation, VoIP converts the voices into data for transmission over data networks. At the receiving end, the data is once again converted back into audio.

The implication of this process is that a regular Internet connection is all one needs to make absolutely free phone calls. In using free VoIP software for Internet phone calls, the role of the telephone company and consequently its charges are completely eliminated.

This path breaking VoIP technology is poised to redefine the very method the world’s phone systems use. Major players in the VoIP world, like Vonage, are already making their presence felt having been on a steady growth for some time. Leading traditional carriers like AT&T are already in the process of incorporating this revolutionary new technology in markets across the US. Simultaneously, regulatory agencies including the FCC are taking a long hard look at VoIP to harness the technology into a more secure format.

Among the multiple advantages attributed to VoIP technology, include the use of the same lines for both data and voice transmissions. With one network, both installation and maintenance expenses are minimized. Compression technology makes it possible for multiple calls, as many as eight, on the same lines as opposed to the circuit-switch systems. Neither is there any compromise on sound clarity.

With VoIP it is also possible for various devices to be inter-linked, thereby enabling added incentives like PC-Telephony. Integrating the phone system to a customer database provides ideal support for customer relationship management or CRM.

Phone calls using VoIP are not subject to toll charges. When both sides have high-speed Internet access and VoIP phones, distance charges don’t apply no matter how long the call duration or distance may be. The possibilities in terms of businesses and consumers to save on costs are therefore staggering. What’s more VoIP can also be utilized in setting up an independent private interoffice networks for main to satellite office communications.