Those who say there is more than one way to skin a cat may well be right - and even if they are not I wouldn't want to argue with someone of such a mindset. But they sure as hell don't know about internet phones, and that's where I come in.
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phones are digital phones able to transmit audio data through the IP layer. Although they provide a similar service to normal analogue phones, the technology behind them couldn't be more different.
Voip phones come in several forms; dedicated devices using an IP connection similar to an analogue handset, an actual analogue handset connected through an Analogue Telephone Adapter (ATA) or a Softphone.
Internet Phones are Voip phones that send audio and voice data over the internet via a standard broadband internet connection. Generally an internet phone uses the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). A Voip phone based on SIP is known as a SIP phone.
Hopefully you're still with me. We're halfway there now. Next, Softphones. Softphones are actually not phones at all but software that is able to work on a normal computer system without a dedicated device. All Softphones require to operate are a headset through which you are able to communicate.
But how easy is it to use a Voip phone? Do you need any specialist equipment? Well, yes, but it is only minimal. Firstly you need a broadband internet connection - pretty standard. Next you need to choose a service provider (preferably one certified by the ITSPA). And finally, you need either a new Voip (or soft) phone, or an ATA adapter to convert your analogue phone. And voila, you're ready to rock (or at least make cheaper phone calls).
And that is it. You're now ready to start making cheap and free phone calls. And don't forget, you can also roam to your heart's content, safe in the knowledge that you are only ever a short distance away from your nearest internet connection point, and connection with the rest of the internet telephony world.
In the not too distant future, analogue phones will be long since forgotten and the whole world will be using internet telephony, whether Hosted Voip or IP PBX. So until that day, make the most of your trusted analogue phone system, for its time on this earth is short.
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phones are digital phones able to transmit audio data through the IP layer. Although they provide a similar service to normal analogue phones, the technology behind them couldn't be more different.
Voip phones come in several forms; dedicated devices using an IP connection similar to an analogue handset, an actual analogue handset connected through an Analogue Telephone Adapter (ATA) or a Softphone.
Internet Phones are Voip phones that send audio and voice data over the internet via a standard broadband internet connection. Generally an internet phone uses the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). A Voip phone based on SIP is known as a SIP phone.
Hopefully you're still with me. We're halfway there now. Next, Softphones. Softphones are actually not phones at all but software that is able to work on a normal computer system without a dedicated device. All Softphones require to operate are a headset through which you are able to communicate.
But how easy is it to use a Voip phone? Do you need any specialist equipment? Well, yes, but it is only minimal. Firstly you need a broadband internet connection - pretty standard. Next you need to choose a service provider (preferably one certified by the ITSPA). And finally, you need either a new Voip (or soft) phone, or an ATA adapter to convert your analogue phone. And voila, you're ready to rock (or at least make cheaper phone calls).
And that is it. You're now ready to start making cheap and free phone calls. And don't forget, you can also roam to your heart's content, safe in the knowledge that you are only ever a short distance away from your nearest internet connection point, and connection with the rest of the internet telephony world.
In the not too distant future, analogue phones will be long since forgotten and the whole world will be using internet telephony, whether Hosted Voip or IP PBX. So until that day, make the most of your trusted analogue phone system, for its time on this earth is short.
About the Author:
Saul Saresi researches and writes regular articles regarding the world of Voip hardware and tehcnology hosted pbx systems more examples of his work can be found on his website internet telephony
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