VOIP is an acronym used for
voice
over Internet Protocol. It is a technology that enables people to
use the Internet as the transmission medium for telephone calls. It can
turn a standard Internet connection into a way to place free phone
calls. It is a revolutionary technology that has the potential to
completely rework the world's phone system. It is also called
IP
Telephony, Digital Phone and Internet Telephony.
VOIP Calling
There are three different ways by which VOIP calling can be done.
- ATA - The simplest and most common way is
through the use of a device called an ATA (analog telephone
adaptor). The ATA allows to connect a standard phone to computer or
Internet connection for use with VoIP.
- IP Phones - These specialized phones look just
like normal phones with a handset, cradle and buttons.
- Computer-to-computer - This is certainly the
easiest way to use VoIP.
Working of VOIP
VOIP converts the voice signal from the telephone into a digital signal
that travels over the Internet. This digital signal again gets converted
to voice signal at the other end.
- You pick up the receiver, which sends a signal to the ATA.
- The ATA receives the signal and sends a dial tone. This lets you
know that you have a connection to the Internet.
- You dial the phone number of the party you wish to talk to. The
tones are converted by the ATA into digital data and temporarily
stored.
- The phone number data is sent in the form of a request to your
VoIP company's call processor.
- The call processor checks it to ensure that it is in a valid
format.
- The call processor determines to whom to map the phone number. In
mapping, the phone number is translated to an IP address.
- The soft switch connects the two devices on either end of the
call.
- On the other end, a signal is sent to your friend's ATA, telling
it to ask the connected phone to ring.
- Your friend then picks up the phone at the other end.
Advantages of VOIP
- It is digital and offer features and services that are not
available with a traditional phone.
- One need not maintain and pay the additional cost for a phone
line.
- Talk for maximum time period with much reduced cost.
- Talk with many people at the same time without any additional
cost.
- Call center agents using VoIP phones can easily work from
anywhere with a good Internet
Disadvantages of VOIP
- Some VOIP services don't work during power outages and the
service provider may not offer backup power.
- Not all VOIP services connect directly to emergency services
through 9-1-1.
- VoIP providers may or may not offer directory assistance/white
page listings.
- Another issue associated with VOIP is having a phone system
dependant on individual PCs of varying specifications and power. A
call can be affected by processor drain.
- VOIP is susceptible to worms, viruses and hacking
- The nature of IP makes it difficult to geographically locate
network users. Emergency calls, therefore, can not easily be routed
to a nearby call center, and are impossible on some VOIP systems
