| Internet telephony is a method of achieving high speed | | | | and later compression of the signals to Internet |
| voice calls that are routed over the internet. Several | | | | protocol (IP) packets. This is then transferred over the |
| hardware and software components are involved in | | | | internet and the process gets reversed at the opposite |
| the transfer of voice and data over computer | | | | end. Thus, it becomes possible to transfer voice and |
| networks. There are special softwares that can be | | | | images over the internet. |
| used to enjoy free telephone calls to any destination in | | | | With this technology in hand, it is possible to save on |
| the world. The services associated with this | | | | long-distant bills. This is made possible as now one can |
| technology are numerous. | | | | make point to point calls with the aid of gateway |
| It is the integration and combination of voice with data, | | | | servers that are attached to Local Area Networks |
| services and applications that results in internet | | | | (LAN). So, the only thing that one requires to do is to |
| telephony. The technology is based on the principle | | | | pick up the phone receiver and make a call to the |
| that analog voice input is converted to digital data. This | | | | desired destination or to the internet telephony service |
| is then sent over available network channels that later | | | | provider, for instance. Supposing a person in London |
| gets converted to voice output when it reaches the | | | | wants to make a call to Geneva. He dials an extension |
| receiver. 'Telephone lines' are basically traditional circuit | | | | number to the gateway server. This server is |
| switching network and 'Internet' is packet switching | | | | equipped with a telephone board and a software that |
| network. So, both these networks can be used | | | | is actually a compression-conversion software. The |
| together to facilitate services such as voice mail, fax, | | | | upcoming call is then digitised by the server after |
| real-time human speech, pager and multi-media | | | | configuring the Private Branch Exchange (PBX). This |
| videoconferencing. With this technology, it is possible to | | | | gateway server then transmits the digitised packet to |
| make seamless use of phones, computers, TV cables, | | | | a wide area network (WAN). The WAN transfers the |
| personal digital assistants, wireless and web | | | | signals to the Geneva end of the gateway. The |
| technology. | | | | gateway at the Geneva end converts this digital signal |
| The advantage of using internet telephony services is | | | | to analog form. This signal is then delivered to the |
| in the costs involved. The low costs involved add a | | | | person called. |
| feather to this technology. So, now it is possible to | | | | So, now with this technology, it is possible to avail VoIP |
| transfer voice messaging applications via the internet | | | | services that prove to be excellent for business |
| rather than the Public Switched Telephone Networks | | | | establishments. VoIP internet telephony can be used |
| (PSTN). This has eased things for people. The basic | | | | for personal purposes as well. |
| step is conversion of analog voice signal to digital form | | | | |