Why switch to Voip?

VoIP software allows voice to move over IP networks

VoIP software facilitates voice communication through the Internet. It was initially used to route voice messages from computer to computer. But today VoIP software is being used to make voice calls from a computer to a phone and from phone to phone, at costs that are a fraction of the costs incurred over the conventional phone network.

The low costs and the value-added features that Internet telephony provides has led to a dramatic growth in the number of companies providing phone services using VoIP software. Subscribers who have switched to phone services based on VoIP software find their phone costs reduced by as much as half.

The VoIP software uses the Internet Protocol technology to transmit voice data. The voice is first converted into digital data using an adapter. It is then organized into small packets, and assigned an IP address. The router then sends these packets through different routes to the designated IP address. There, the packets are reassembled, converted back into sound and fed into a phone.

It is interesting to note that the packets are not sent in a sequence. Instead they are sent through different routes. This is done to avoid congestion, and to move the packets in real time to their destination. Otherwise, there will be a lag in time for the voice to reach the other end. There may even be buffering on account of congestion, and the conversation would be jerky.

To smoothen, the movement of voice packets, the VoIP phone companies use high speed broadband or DSL lines. These lines also take care of latency and delays that may result from multiple hops. The phone user is not even aware of how many networks have been involved in transmitting his voice. If the call is from an Internet phone to a conventional phone then the voice leaves the IP networks and hops on to conventional telecom lines. There is no data loss, and all communication is in real time, thanks to the VoIP software that is used to route the calls.
(Click here to continue …)

A VoIP router is the key component of any VoIP phone service. It consists of two main parts: the router and access point. All computers at home or in the office are connected to the access point while the broadband connection is plugged into the router. This enables the router to move all traffic from all Internet related devices, like the PC and phone, to the net and vice versa.

To ensure greater compatibility, it is advisable to purchase the access points and routers from the same company. The best routers are those which are easy to set up, and which are backed by good customer service. One router that has consistently got high ratings is the Belkin Wireless Pre-N router. It has three antennae instead of two and it works in areas, where other routers fail.

Linksys is another router that has been rated very highly. Its Speed Booster model offers good throughput performance, and is easy to set up. The Buffalo AirStation WZR-RS-G54 is another good router. It switches channels to avoid interference and offers good security.

Fortunately, most VoIP companies provide the routers as part of the set up. The customer does not have to worry about the router or its settings. He may not even be aware of the existence of the router and the role it plays in routing all voice communication.

However, the importance of router in any Internet –based operation cannot be denied. It is the router which reads the IP addresses and routes the digital packets to their destination. The routers also make sure that the digitized voice packets are moved over routes that are not congested. This speeds up transmission of voice packets, and improves voice quality.

Without a router, the voice packets will end up at all the wrong destinations, and the customer will get garbled voices. To avoid this, VoIP phone companies pay great attention to selecting the right router. They test routers over different networks and at different speeds before installing it on home or office phone lines.

The new buzzword in the wireless world is Wireless VoIP. The excitement comes following the development of WiFI phones, which make it possible to make calls through the Internet – without using wires. The user only needs to charge the battery of a Wi Fi phone and hook it to a wireless network. The phone will work like a cell phone though the calls will be relayed over the net.

This may sound complicated, but the technology is simple. It is already being used to communicate voice over broadband lines. In the case of wireless VoIP the voice will be converted into data packets and transmitted to a wireless receiver connected to the Internet. The digital packets will then be stamped with an IP address and sent through different routes to their destination. This technology is known as packet switched technology, and prevents congestion. Once the digital packets reach their destination, they are reconverted into voice and fed into a phone.

The wireless VoIP technology can be used to transmit voice from a wireless network to a VoIP phone, a conventional phone, a cell phone or a computer. The biggest advantage of this technology will be the savings. They will reduce the phone bills substantially and also making calling easier.

One of the first companies to introduce a Wi Fi VoIP phone into the market is ZyXel. Its Prestige P-2000W v.2 model is capable of handling Wi Fi and VoIP connections. It also supports the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol). The great thing about this phone is that it searches for Wi Fi networks and connects to them.

The utility of wireless phones can be gauged from the fact that as many as 10 P-2000W phones can be attached to one broadband network, and there will be no drop in the voice quality. The user only needs to recharge the battery after 4 hours of talk time. Currently, a P-2000W phone costs around $ 200, but the costs will come down once the technology becomes popular. The phone offers advanced features like call transfer, call hold, paging, instant messaging, two call appearances, three-way conferencing and online presence.

Another company which has come up with a wireless phone is Zultys Technologies. Experts believe that the wireless VoIP may match the existing VoIP phone services once the technology develops fully.