What is VoIP

Introduction

VoIP is an abbreviation for Voice Over Internet Protocol, or in plain words It is a telephone running over Internet, it could be running on home router, GPRS, Wi-fi or WiMax.

If you have a reasonably good speed and consistent Internet connection you can use VoIP delivered through your Internet connection instead copper cable coming from your Telephone company.

Some people use VoIP besides traditional phone service, The motive to use VoIP is often low cost. Some companies save almost 60% cost over international phone calls. Reason people wish to keep Traditional phone service is access to emergency numbers. Mostly VoIP doesn't offer 15, 1122, 911 services, phone directory listings, 411 service, or other typical phone services. Some VoIP providers now claim to provide such area specific service. In future VoIP may replace traditional phone service or 100% replacement of traditional telephony.

How does VOIP work?

Convenient solution to turn ordinary phone signals into digital signals that can be transferred over the Internet.

This function can either be included into the voip phone itself or in a separate box like an ATA.

VOIP Using an ATA

Ordinary phone <> ATA <> Ethernet <----> Router <> Internet <> VoIP Service Provider

VOIP using an IP Phone

IP phone <> Ethernet <----> Router <> Internet <> VoIP Service Provider

VoIP connecting directly

IP phone <> Ethernet <----> Router <> Internet <> Router <> Ethernet <> IP phone

Applications using VOIP

There are many applications you can run using VoIP , IVR (Interactive Voice Response), presence service, FAX over IP, VoIP can also be integrated with productivity ERP and CRM.

Why use VOIP?

There are two main reasons to use VoIP

• Cheap VoIP Calls
• Enhanced functionality

Lower Cost

In general, phone service via VoIP costs less than traditional phone service. This is largely a function of traditional phone services either being monopolies or government entities, heavy taxation etc.

In the most extreme case, users see VoIP phone calls (even international) as FREE. While there is a cost for their Internet service, using VoIP over this service may not involve any extra charges, so the users view the calls as free. There are a number of services that have sprung up to facilitate this type of free VoIP calls. Examples are: Free World Dialup and Skype.

Increased Functionality

VoIP makes things easy which were nearly impossible with traditional phone networks in past.

• Mobility, you don't have to pay for roaming. You can keep a virtual phone number with you and VoIP tariff remains same you stay in Pakistan or elsewhere.
• Call center agents using VoIP services can easily work from home even with a dial-up Internet connection for VoIP.
• Other features include web enabled centralised administration, free communication between branch offices, personal call routing, disaster recovery, VoIP encryption and enhanced security.
• By using your cell phone internet GPRS with a mobile dialer in cell phone such as Android VoIP service increases functionality it can be accessed via Wi-Fi or a 3G/4G connection. Android Voice Over Internet Protocol is latest development.