| One of the reasons VoIP is so successful and | | | | VoIP company sends the phone number you punch in |
| advantageous is it uses packet switching technology | | | | to their call processor. The processor maps the phone |
| rather than circuit switching technology to provide | | | | number to an IP address. That is nothing more than |
| phone services. Most phone companies use circuit | | | | someone's computer address, then connects the two |
| switching technology. Packet switching technology is | | | | computers together using a soft switch device. |
| different in that it allows multiple phone calls to occur | | | | Your Computer and VoIP |
| within the same space a single phone call would | | | | Your computer is basically acting as an intermediary, |
| occupy using a circuit network. | | | | passing voice messages much like it would an e-mail |
| This means less transmission time is used and less | | | | to another user. You can talk for any length of time |
| expense is incurred for the same phone call placed | | | | necessary, and all the while your computer and VoIP |
| using packet switching versus circuit switching | | | | software will be transmitting data packets of |
| technology. How does packet switching work? | | | | information from one computer to the other, translating |
| Basically you pick up the receiver or initiate a phone | | | | analog information into digital virtually automatically. The |
| call, which sends a signal. After dialing a phone number | | | | entire process takes just seconds and allows a higher |
| the tones are converted into digital data your | | | | volume of calls than a traditional phone line would. |
| computer can read and stored temporarily until the | | | | |