VoIP - Voice Over IP What Is It And Do I Need It?
What is VOIP?
VOIP, abbreviation of Voice Over Internet Protocol, has been talk of the town for over five years now. Almost all of us have been using telephone as the primary mode of communication with a person sitting at a distance. VOIP is said to be taking over this ?rudimentary? level of communication in not so distant future. In simple terms, VOIP is an attempt to connect two persons through computers.
Computers evolved with the primary aim of faster calculations. Computer was then seen as a tool for making life easier at work and home. No one in early 80?s had visualized the computer to play a critical role in communication network. Internet changed that to some extent. Users are able to communicate and share data with others through internet connectivity.
Now the convergence is being talked about. Scientists and engineers are working day and night to converge this data transfer utility called computing over the net into a tool suitable for data and voice transfer. VOIP is all about transferring voice over computers. In essence, VOIP refers to sharing of voice stream over a data network employing all the data transfer tools used in computers. In other words, it is the end result of integration of IT and telecom industries.
How does VOIP differ from a traditional telephone?
There are four different possibilities through which voice transfer takes place. These are IP Phone, IP Converter, Line gateway and fully IP enabled PBX system. While a traditional voice carrying system transports analog signals, IP enabled VOIP system carries digital signals. The difference lies here. All the analog systems and tools are standardized over a period of time, same is yet to happen in the field of VOIP. Companies in the field are trying to converge at standard tools for voice transfer.
Earlier avatars of VOIP telephony software products were of proprietary nature meaning they were developed looking to the specific needs of an organization. Even today many such protocols and tools are available in variety and expected to survive few more decades.
Major protocols used in VOIP are MGCP, SIP, H.323 and H.248/Megaco. There are essentially two types of architectures used centralized and distributed. These protocols and their use depend on the architecture used for VOIP system in the organization. For example, MGCP and H.248 protocols are used in centralized type of architecture while SIP and H.323 for distributed type of architecture.
VOIP offers many benefits
Whatever these technical terms mean to an end user, VOIP is going to be the future. VOIP offers many advantages. Some of the more prominent ones are cost saving, data & voice integrated systems and open standards. Imagine no additional costs involved for calls made though VOIP compared to those made through conventional switch network. Add to this the benefit of your computer being single terminal for all of your communications needs and data sharing functionality.
Last but not the least, multiplicity of vendors on protocols and techniques will lead to healthy competition. Open standards always discourage monopoly being created in an industry. Consumer is king, and will remain so.
Andrew Kelly-- has been a leading Comminications & IT Consultant for 15 years, Andrew's current key roles are keeping Medical & Dental industries at the cutting edge of Technology and two steps ahead of the rest. http://www.voipvoiceoveripcenter.com
Phone Cards Links
Phone cards links to prepaid international calling cards with cheap rates to call Philippino, Katmandu, Arabia, Jakarta, Dhaka, etc., from the United States of America.
Discount Online Marketplace
Discount online marketplace features eBay online shopping. eBay offers discounts online.
HELP WANTED!
Work at home, part time, full-time. Make money online or off-line! No experience required.
Related Articles:
Top 5 Dubai Holiday Activities
Dubai may exude a general aura of glitz, glamor and gob-smacking building projects, but many underestimate the simple good fun that can be had on a Dubai holiday Here are the top five entertaining Dubai activities
Lincoln Institute Book 'Visualizing Density' Wins Award By Choice Magazine, Planetizen, New England Book Show
Guide to designing density in prestigious library list, ?Top 10?ranking.
Why Dubai Property Market Is Booming
Dubai is currently one of the top of the list for fastest growing cities worldwide and has a real estate market others are highly envious of As a result everyday new apartments, villas and luxury bungalows are entered onto the market
American Jewish World Service To Assist Cyclone Victims In Bangladesh
International development agency collecting funds to support relief efforts resulting from 'the worst storm to strike Bangladesh in more than a decade.'
Energy Curtailment Specialists Launches ?PowerPay! New England? Demand Response Program
Energy Curtailment Specialists, Inc. (ECS), the largest privately held demand response provider in the United States, announced plans to aggressively launch their demand response program, coined the ?PowerPay! New England? Program, throughout the New England territory.
Dubai Real Estate
Dubai Largest property selection , a portal with no compare with others around the world. A webase solution with all necessary tools and data to make decision of real estate acquisition in the Unites Arabs emirates.