Networking Information

VoIP Overview


Since we're using computers all the time to do our work, let's make it easy and add the phone to the pile. VoIP also known as (voice over Internet protocol), Internet telephony, IP telephony, and Internet voice is catching on and is expected to grow in the next few years. The technology has been around for about a decade, but it isn't till now that we have the supporting technology to handle it and an market reaching critical mass (hate using jargon, but there isn't a better way to say it).

VoIP requires users to have broadband connections. With 22 percent of Americans connected to the Internet by broadband, the numbers are large enough for making money with Internet voice and big telecoms are already in the game.

How VoIP works

VoIP works like email. TCP/IP networks consist of IP packets with a header for controlling communication and information for transportating data. VoIP uses the IP packets to send the human voice across the Internet using IP packets to its destination.

It digitizes a voice into data packets, sends them through the network and converts them back to voice when arriving at the destination. Digital format can be compressed, routed, and converted to other and better formats.

When calling someone using VoIP, you use a phone with an adapter. Just like we use a telephone to make phone calls on POTS (plain old telephone service), the adapter is a device to connect the phone to the network. The VoIP phone has its own phone number for callers to dial.

The good and bad things

An advantage of VoIP is it can avoid charges typically found on PSTNs (public switched telephone network). For customers, there is less worry about how long or how often they make phone calls. Calling another state costs the same as calling another country even on the other side of the world. IP-based boxes are cheaper than analog PBXes.

However, service reliability is an issue. How many times has a download or connecting to a Web site faltered? That may not be such a big deal, but it is more disruptive to phone calls. Network issues are complicated by customers getting broadband from one company and VoIP from another. When a call gets switched from network to network, it impacts quality.

When the Internet is down, so is VoIP. Traditional phones aren't affected by power like VoIP since they have its own power and work during blackouts.

Money and regs

Companies make their money by selling features and services. Connect anytime and anywhere there is an Internet connection or while in Wi-Fi-enabled hot spots. It's also exempt from traditional regulations and taxes, but that could change tomorrow though telecoms are working to keep it unregulated. This exemption is keeping prices down, and current prices are anywhere from $20 to $65 a month.

Meryl K. Evans is the Content Maven behind meryl's notes, eNewsletter Journal, and The Remediator Security Digest. She is also a PC Today columnist and a tour guide at InformIT. She is geared to tackle your editing, writing, content, and process needs. The native Texan resides in Plano, Texas, a heartbeat north of Dallas, and doesn't wear a 10-gallon hat or cowboy boots.


MORE RESOURCES:

Sangoma Announces NetBorder Express VoIP Gateway 3.0
MarketWatch (press release)
NetBorder Express VoIP Gateway 3.0 is an ideal connectivity enabler for software-based PBX systems. Because NetBorder resides in the same server as the PBX, ...
Sangoma Strengthens Commitment to IP-PBX IndustryTMC Net

all 10 news articles »


VoIP Equipment: Service Provider Router Market Witnesses Double-Digit Growth
TMCnet
According to a newly published report on the service provider router market, Dell'Oro Group, a provider of market ...

and more »


Eastex Selects GENBAND to Expand VoIP Network Across Texas
Business Wire (press release)
In the future, the C15 will also help position Eastex to offer new VoIP and data services to subscribers. “The cost-effective transition to new technologies ...
GENBAND to Showcase Business Collaboration Applications, Traffic Management ...Business Wire (press release)

all 5 news articles »


US county deploys emergency VoIP system
Telappliant VoIP News
A new emergency notification system which uses VoIP solutions has been installed in a US county. Spokane County, in Washington, has adopted the ALERT ...
County unveils new alert systemTMCnet
How To Get Emergency Alerts For Your CountyKMGH Denver
Awaiting 'ALERT Spokane' News ConferenceKHQ Right Now
Rockdale Citizen
all 7 news articles »


Overcoming VoIP Reliability Fears: ITEXPO West Speaker Aelea Christofferson
TMCnet
At the ITEXPO West event, Christofferson plans to show how new telephony carriers can increase sales by overcoming fears regarding the reliability of VoIP. ...

and more »


North Yorkshire VoIP solutions could profit from broadband pilot
Telappliant VoIP News
VoIP solutions in North Yorkshire could benefit from a government initiative to provide broadband to rural areas. The county has submitted a bid to be one ...

and more »


COUNTERPATH RELEASES X-LITE 4.0
MarketWatch (press release)
CounterPath Corporation is an award-winning provider of innovative desktop and mobile VoIP software products and solutions. The company's product suite ...

and more »


FeatureTel Launches Program to Support DonorsChoose.org Giving Program
TMC Net
Sep 09, 2010 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- FeatureTel, offering hosted VoIP business telephone service over private networks, recently launched an employee ...

and more »


IntoMobile (blog)

Google plans to Expand Voip Services in Middle East
Connect Stat
Google plans to launch its localized versions of Voip services in Middle East. Earlier, on August 25th, 2010, Google has launched its Voice over Internet ...
Google denies Mideast VOIP roll-out rumoursArabianBusiness.com
Middle East to get Google VOIPITWeb
Local Versions of Google's Voip To Be LaunchedGulf Jobs Market News
Techwatch -Emirates 24/7 -Telappliant VoIP News
all 44 news articles »


The Sacco Hospital of Milan Standardizes on Brocade IP Solutions to Increase ...
MarketWatch (press release)
Having reliable network performance allows the hospital to plan the implementation of new services such as VoIP, in addition to an increasingly wide range ...

and more »

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