What Is VoIP And How Does It Work

 Have we ever imagined being able to use our own computer as a Server to make phone calls with the help of special software and a microphone. Making calls with your computer is called Voice over IP, for “Voice over Internet Protocol”. Or we usually know "VoIP". It is also referred to as broadband telephony, Internet telephone service and digital voice. The following is an explanation of what VoIP is and how it works.

What is VoIP?

VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol, or in more general terms phone service over the Internet. If you have a quality Internet connection, you can get phone service delivered through your Internet connection and not from your local telephone company.

Some people use VOIP as an addition to their traditional phone service, because VOIP service providers usually offer lower rates than traditional phone companies, but sometimes don't offer 911 service, telephone directory listings, 411 service, or other public phone services. While many VoIP providers offer this service, consistent ways across industries to offer this are still evolving.

Is VoIP Service Enough?

Once you are registered with a VoIP service, you will need a few other items to make full use of VoIP. First, you need a cell phone to make and receive calls. It can be any phone, depending on the type of service (see below) you use. This can be a traditional phone device, which you can use with a residential VoIP service, like Vonage for example.

There are special phones for VoIP called IP phones which are designed with advanced features for VoIP calls. For services that are online based, such as Skype, you need a VoIP application (or VoIP client) that primarily simulates the functions of a physical telephone and also offers many other features. Such software applications are called softphones.

For any VoIP call, you must have an Internet connection or a connection to a local network which in turn is connected to the Internet. VoIP uses IP networks (the Internet being the widest IP network) to terminate and route calls, which makes it very cheap and robust. Some services require additional hardware called an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter) or simply a telephone adapter. This only occurs with services that use traditional telephony, such as residential services.

How Does VoIP Work?

VoIP uses codecs to encapsulate audio into data packets, transmits the packets over the IP network and parses the packets back to audio on the other end of the connection. By eliminating the use of circuit-switched networks for voice, VoIP reduces network infrastructure costs, allows service providers to deliver voice services over their broadband and private networks, and enables enterprises to operate a single voice and data network. VoIP also facilitates the resilience of IP-based networks by enabling rapid failover after outages and redundant communications between endpoints and networks.

VoIP Protocols And Standards

VoIP endpoints typically use International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standard codes, such as G.711, which is the standard for sending uncompressed packets, or G.729, which is the standard for compressed packets. Many equipment vendors also use their own proprietary codecs. Sound quality may decrease when compression is used, but compression reduces bandwidth requirements. VoIP typically supports non-voice communication over the ITU T.38 protocol for sending faxes over a VoIP or IP network in real time.

Once voice is encapsulated to IP, it is usually transmitted with the Real-Time Transport Protocol ( RTP ) or via an encrypted variant, the Secure Real-Time Transport protocol. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is most often used to signal that it is necessary to make, maintain and end calls. Within corporate or private networks, quality of service ( QoS ) is typically used to prioritize voice traffic over latency-sensitive applications to ensure acceptable voice quality.

Additional components of a typical VoIP system include: IP PBX to manage user telephone numbers, devices, features and clients, gateways to connect networks and provide failover or local survivability in the event of a network outage, and session border controllers to provide security, call policy management , and network connections. A VoIP system may also include a location tracking database for the E911 – 911 enhancements – call and management platform to collect call performance statistics for prompt and proactive voice quality management.

Types of VoIP Service Types

1. Home telephone replacement housing services. This kind of service replaces your traditional landline phone and allows you to keep your existing phone with a phone adapter. This applies to businesses where many prefer to use IP telephony. This service is paid monthly.

2. Service without monthly bills. This kind of VoIP service gives you special hardware that you only pay for once. Then you guys make unlimited calls with nothing else.

3. Software-based services. As with Skype, you install a VoIP application on your computer or portable device and sign up for the service. You then use the app to make and receive calls and you use your prepaid credit to make calls to landlines and mobiles. Calls to people using the same service on their computers are free. Applications are often offered free with VoIP services.

4. Mobile VoIP service. A software-based service designed for use on mobile phones, tablets and other portable devices. Here too, you need to install a VoIP app on your mobile or portable device to use the service. Wi-Fi or telephone carrier connection is used in place of cellular calling minutes.

5. VoIP services for business. VoIP services for businesses are often based on an internal network and an IP PBX. They also offer many business related and outsourced features for management and hosting of VoIP systems.

When to Use VoIP Services

If you are bothered by charges for phone usage, look into VoIP services. Or if you like the idea of just making free phone calls, give it a try. VoIP can very well help you save money if you're struggling with high phone bills and long distance calls (to other countries, in particular). You pay for your subscription to the VoIP service you signed up for on the Web through your Internet Service Provider. If it works for you, you can ditch your regular phone service. Some examples of VoIP service providers such as:

* RingCentral Office

* 8×8 X Series

*Skype

* eVoice

*Vonage

Conclusion

So What Is VoIP? VoIP is a technology enabling you to make free and inexpensive calls locally and worldwide that converts your voice into digital signals, allowing you to make calls directly from your computer, VoIP phone, or other data-driven device.

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Resa Risyan

Just an ordinary person who wants to share a little knowledge, hopefully the knowledge I provide can be useful for all of us. Keep in mind! Useful knowledge is an investment in the afterlife.