| When we talk about VoIP or Voice over Internet | | | | traditional phone, it is now possible to make phone calls |
| Protocol, we are talking primarily about a revolutionary | | | | through your computer; you only need to have a stable |
| way of talking with somebody like the traditional phone, | | | | broadband internet connection & a great VoIP provider. |
| only, more advanced-in simpler terms-it is phone | | | | Some people prefer to have both the traditional phone |
| service over the internet. | | | | & the VoIP, because as advance as VoIP may be, |
| To better understand how it is different from the | | | | there are still setbacks related to using it. One problem |
| traditional phone, let us first give a brief preview how | | | | that consumers may face when using VoIP is that not |
| the two works. The traditional phone or regular analog | | | | all VoIP providers connect directly to emergency |
| audio is made up of fiber optic networks that digitize | | | | services like 9-1-1, which is a big part of every family's |
| your voice communications before sending the signal | | | | well-being. With the use of IP services, emergency |
| over the phone lines miles away, and then when it | | | | calls cannot be easily routed to the intended receiver |
| reaches its destination, the signal is once again | | | | mainly due to the general nature of Internet Protocol. |
| switched to analog. | | | | Whereas, the traditional phone has a fixed line that |
| On the other hand, the Voice over Internet Protocol, | | | | enables a direct relationship between a specific |
| works basically with the same principle, only through a | | | | telephone number & its physical location, while the IP |
| more complex & revolutionary way. It works by | | | | service on the other hand makes locating or mapping |
| making the analog signal into a more digital format by | | | | out of a specific IP address to that of the location very |
| converting these signals into smaller packets that is | | | | difficult. In that sense, emergency hotlines, like that of |
| transmitted through the Internet-which differentiates it | | | | the local police dep't, can locate emergency locations |
| from the traditional phone that transmits its signal | | | | just by calling from a fixed line because it is possible |
| through phone lines. From the Internet, these signals are | | | | for them to locate your specific location without you |
| then reassembled back to its original form when it | | | | telling them, but with VoIP, that same process would |
| reaches its destination. The process is attributed to the | | | | be hard. |
| revolutionary process of "compression/ | | | | Another problem is that unlike the traditional phone, |
| decompression" or Codec, which is the process of | | | | VoIP in general, is susceptible to power outrages since |
| breaking down & the putting back together of large | | | | it is connected to cable modems or routers that rely |
| files for it to be able to pass through a series of | | | | on direct lines to electricity-another problem that may |
| networks. | | | | pose especially on emergencies. Not all VoIP providers |
| With this ground-breaking way of putting a twist on the | | | | also offer directory assistance or white page listings. |