| VOIP telephony is changing the way people make their | | | | through an IP phone. These phones actually look just |
| telephone calls around the world. Global | | | | like normal phones, complete with a handset and |
| communications are changing because Voice over | | | | buttons. Instead of having standard telephone |
| Internet Protocol is transforming the way people talk | | | | connections, however, the IP phone has an Ethernet |
| on the phone over long distances. | | | | connection and can connect directly to your router. |
| Thanks to technological advances in the field of | | | | They also have all of the hardware to go with it and |
| communications, it is now possible to transform audio | | | | include a software package to enable the user to go |
| signals and turn then into digital data, enabling the | | | | online immediately for their first calls. The IP phone is |
| transmission of the data over a network to take place. | | | | evolving to include Wi-Fi technology, enabling its user to |
| As people around the world learn to bypass traditional | | | | get or send telephone calls from any Wi-Fi hotspots |
| phone companies with VOIP telephony, they learn to | | | | around the world. |
| use their existing internet connection and hook their | | | | The third way people can use VOIP service is through |
| phone unit up to it. With a simple software package, | | | | computer-to-computer service. This is often the |
| usually free, people can hook up their existing phone | | | | preferred line of VOIP telephony service because, |
| system to a program such as Skype and can use | | | | frankly, it is free to the user. Several companies are |
| Voice over IP phone software to make calls around | | | | offering free software packages that enable |
| the world from their computer. | | | | connection to a network that, in turn, enables |
| There are essentially three different ways that people | | | | connection to other computers thus including |
| can use VOIP telephony services. The first is through | | | | computer-to-computer calling. |
| the use of a device called an Analog Telephone | | | | The user simply needs a computer (obviously), |
| Adapter or an ATA. An ATA enables VOIP phone | | | | software packages, a microphone, speakers, and a |
| system users to connect to a standard telephone | | | | soundcard along with an internet connection. The |
| through a computer or internet connection. | | | | faster the internet connection, the better it is for the |
| The ATA is what is called an analog-to-digital | | | | user of computer-to-computer VOIP telephony. There |
| converter in that it converts the traditional analog digital | | | | is usually no charge for calls on these programs, |
| symbols of your conventional telephone into digital | | | | amounting to great savings on your long distance bill. |
| symbols or data through the internet, thus transmitting | | | | VOIP telephony is becoming a popular way to talk on |
| your telephone call across the information | | | | the phone and send voice messages over a network. |
| superhighway's network. Many service providers of | | | | It is rapidly changing the way people are having |
| VOIP systems include an ATA with their package, | | | | conversations and changing the way people make |
| negating the use for an actual VOIP phone for the | | | | their long distance calls, too. VOIP telephony will |
| user. | | | | certainly prove to be advantageous as we progress in |
| The second way people can use VOIP service is | | | | an era of global communications. |