VoIP Phone Systems: What's it all about?

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology that allows you to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular or analog phone line. This technology converts the voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that travels over the Internet then converts it back at the other end.

Because a user's voice is converted into digital packets, this means that VoIP telephone calls have higher quality than that of traditional phone systems. A VoIP phone system even allows you to make and receive calls directly from your computer by using a conventional telephone or a microphone and PC speakers.

Because VoIP uses the Internet, a long-distance or an international call are usually free or costs less.

Aside from high-quality, low-cost calls, VoIP also offer services such as caller ID, call waiting, conference calling, call forwarding, redial last outgoing number, call transfer, call logs, hold, one touch access to voice mail messages, video phone calls and speed dial lists. Some of these features are also available in some traditional phone system. But, availing these features in traditional phone systems is very expensive. VoIP phone systems offer all these services at little or no fee at all.

VoIP's main advantage lies on enabling people to make local and global long distance calls at a significantly lower rate, sometimes even free.

Another advantage of a VoIP phone service is that the VoIP service provider will send you a converter to allow an analog phone to use the VoIP phone service. Your phone number is programmed into the converter. What this means is that you can take your phone converter and phone number and use them anywhere in the world, provided you have access to a high-speed Internet connection.

You even have the option of choosing any area code for your phone number. This is possible because, your phone number is based in your converter and not where you live. Some VoIP service provider even allows you to have multiple phone numbers in any area codes for a small additional fee.

Today, more and more people are embracing this technology, because of its cheap rates, excellent quality and great features.

First, for VoIP to work properly, you must have a high-speed Internet connection.

Secondly you will need a gateway. The gateway is connected between your computer and Ethernet modem. The VoIP gateway is where your phone line will be plugged into.

There are different types of VoIP calling available.

The most commonly used VoIP system is from one computer to another. This is called a software-based service. In hardware-based service, you have to invest in IP phones. If you have something that looks like your standard analog telephone using the VoIP technology then that is quite all right.

The newest option on the market is the WiFi phone. This type of connection uses short-distance Internet transmission of VoIP to replace expensive cell phone calls. WiFi broadcasts over the radio spectrum to cover short-range areas for users in certain areas.

Today, VoIP phone systems are also used in almost all web conferencing services as an alternative to standard conference calls.
There are also some drawbacks in VoIP phone systems.

The main drawback is the need for a reliable high-speed internet connection such as the DSL. Once you are disconnected from the internet, your VoIP services will also stop, services will resume only when you go back online.

Since VoIP needs an active high speed internet connection, this means that losing electricity also means losing your phone services.

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