| Broadband phones are here for quite some time and is | | | | distance calls that cost little calls charges. Many VoIP |
| definitely the future of telecommunications. These | | | | services providers also offer customers VoIP |
| phones are used to make telephone calls via PC over | | | | products like calling cards which have discounted rates, |
| internet thus drastically cutting down the cost of your | | | | which further allow you to save more. |
| huge telephone bills. In UK and US, broadband and | | | | If you have VoIP software installed in your computer |
| internet phones have become a household name and | | | | and you make a call to someone who also uses VoIP |
| more and more people are switching to internet phone | | | | software in the same local area, then you can talk to |
| service rather than using traditional phone lines. | | | | him as long as you wish without paying a pound. This is |
| Broadband phones use the technology called Voice | | | | because the data is transferred in mode similar to that |
| over IP (Internet Protocol), or VoIP. VoIP technology is | | | | of an email and your voice is converted into digital data |
| used to transmit voice conversations over a data | | | | packets rather than audio. VoIP also enables |
| network using the Internet Protocol. Such data network | | | | conference calls and video calls at economical cost. |
| may be the Internet or a corporate Intranet. It carries | | | | 3. Simplification: The integrated infrastructure supports |
| telephone voice signals as IP packets in compliance | | | | all forms of communication over internet and allows |
| with International Telecommunications Union | | | | more standardization and reduces the total equipment |
| Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) | | | | complement. |
| specification H.323. VoIP enables a router to transmit | | | | Disadvantages |
| telephone calls and faxes over the Internet with no | | | | 1. Connectivity: One of the major disadvantages of |
| loss in functionality, reliability, or voice quality. VoIP | | | | VoIP is that it only works if the computer of user is |
| utilizes bandwidth to send voice packets like any other | | | | switched on and the VoIP software is running. It also |
| data. When they reach their destination, the data | | | | requires that the other person with whom the user |
| packets are converted and reconstructed into voice. | | | | wants to communicate has the same program loaded |
| The primary motivations for doing so are cost and | | | | and running on his computer. |
| convenience as VoIP is significantly less expensive | | | | 2. Quality of Sound: Another major disadvantage of |
| than typical telephone long distance packages, plus one | | | | VOIP is that the quality of the sound can be uneven |
| high speed Internet connection can serve for multiple | | | | and calls can have lot of delay with lot of echo. |
| phone lines. | | | | 3. Security: One more area of concern related to voip |
| Advantages of VoIP Technology | | | | is the security of the data transferred. They are more |
| 1.Universal Appeal: VoIP could be applied to almost any | | | | susceptible to the Denial of Service (DOS) attacks and |
| voice communications requirement, ranging from a | | | | other forms of obnoxious hacking because many |
| simple inter-office intercom to complex multi-point | | | | businesses operate personal gateways and other |
| teleconferencing/shared screen environments. | | | | equipment for connecting to the internet. However |
| 2. Low Cost: Reducing long distance telephone costs is | | | | there is solution to every problem and if regular |
| a major reason for using VoIP. Today flat rate long | | | | precautions are followed while transferring files and |
| distance pricing is available with the Internet and can | | | | data, then this problem can be solved. |
| result in considerable savings for both voice transfer | | | | Finally it can be said that VoIP technology is emerging |
| and fax. And because VoIP uses the infrastructure of | | | | as a major player in the telecom industry and in spite |
| the Internet to make outgoing calls, you can cut down | | | | of the challenges faced, it is definitely going to be the |
| your telephone bills considerably. Depending upon your | | | | future of voice communication. |
| VoIP service provider you can also make long | | | | |