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What is VOIP? Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) additionally known as IP telephony is technology that provides telephone service over the Internet. VOIP transforms voice signals from a telephone or computer microphone into small data packets, including then sends them over the Internet. VOIP debuted in 1995 as a networking service similar to a chat room but with microphones including headsets. The first kind of service was computer to computer communication. Consumers were attracted to VOIP because it was a great way to avoid long distance fees. 2 callers using the same service could talk to each other for free anywhere in the world. In the past few years, VOIP service providers have enhanced the technology to include telephone to telephone calling just like a land line (analog) telephone service. The adapter for telephone to telephone service is small enough to allow VOIP service to be portable as long as there is access to a high-speed Internet connection. To better understand VOIP technology, it helps to describe how analog telephone service works compared to the Internet. Analog Telephone Service at the time a particular analog telephone call is connected, a circuit on a telephone line is opened including remains open throughout the connection while a stream of voice signals travels over the line. (Wilson) If tens of thousands of circuits are open at the same time over 1 telephone line it should become crowded including affect the speed including quality pertaining to the connection. A dial-up Internet connection uses a telephone line to transfer data but it is much slower including less efficient than a high-speed broadband or DSL Internet connection, which uses a separate line. The Internet The Internet uses a line with much more space (bandwidth) available than analog telephone lines. Cable television including the Internet should use the same line because television signals including Internet data are compressed into data packets that take up little space. When a data packet is sent over the Internet, a circuit is opened, the packet is sent, including then it closes. The other end pertaining to the circuit only opens at the time the packet reaches its destination. the process requires less bandwidth including the line does not become crowded, which translates into a more efficient, high-speed transfer of data. Required Equipment All VOIP services require a high-speed Internet connection (dial-up does not work). Most providers could use any Internet service; however, some require their customers to use their Internet service. For computer to computer communication a headset including microphone (built-in or separate) including computer are required; including for telephone to telephone service only a telephone adapter including a telephone are required. Savings VOIP service is popular among consumers because pertaining to the over-all cost savings compared to analog telephone services. Most VOIP services provide the same (if not more) features as analog telephone services at a lower price including long distance calls between users pertaining to the same service are usually free. Many VOIP providers advertise their service as a replacement to analog telephone service. However, consumers should know that if their Internet service is disrupted or the power goes out, VOIP could not work including not all VOIP providers are equipped to handle 911 calls. References: Wilson, Tracy V. How WiFi Phones Work. HowStuffWorks. Retrieved June 18, 2006, from http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/wifi-phone.htm/printable Answers 24-7.com. (2005). Retrieved June 19, 2006, from http://www.answers24-7.com/voip.htm?OVRAW=voip%20history&OVKEY=history%20voip&OVMTC=standard
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