| Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP as it is commonly | | | | sure of security of their calls. Other functionalities found |
| called, is a revolutionary technology that has created | | | | in PSTN networks are also found in IP telephony. |
| an upheaval of sorts in the domain of long distance | | | | These include caller ID, automatic redialing and call |
| communications. End users can now use their personal | | | | forwarding. And with the latest trends in technology, it |
| computers to talk to friends and relatives - who could | | | | has become easy to make VoIP enabled calls through |
| be located in another part of the globe. A reliable | | | | mobile devices as well. |
| broadband connection is used for the purpose. The | | | | VoIP security is not that difficult to implement. Quite a |
| need for conventional telephone lines can be done | | | | few voice over IP solutions are supported through |
| away with; low cost calling made available through IP | | | | encryption which make them very much reliable and |
| telephony solutions is increasingly taking the place of | | | | user friendly. Security is also implemented through |
| traditional phone networks among residential as well as | | | | patented audio codecs and compression techniques. |
| corporate users. | | | | Moreover, one should ensure that the broadband |
| However, certain requirements need to be met for the | | | | connection through which the calls are routed are not |
| most satisfactory use of this high-end technology. The | | | | congested. This rules out voice drop-outs and long |
| equipment used, for one, has to be of the highest | | | | delays. |
| quality. Broadband connection in a computer is | | | | One can say that the VoIP phone is perfect for quite |
| necessary for good audio quality, for instance. The | | | | a few people - from frequent travelers, bored |
| experience can also be optimised using PC speakers | | | | housewives to high-end professionals and busy |
| and microphones. | | | | executives. People who are not near to any fixed line |
| A basic VoIP requirements list has to be in place for | | | | phones or who are traveling the world find these |
| users to make the most of the VoIP phone services. | | | | solutions very much affordable and easy to use. With |
| As is well-known, the flexibility of voice over IP makes | | | | prepaid VoIP phone cards easily available in the |
| it more user-friendly as compared to traditional | | | | market, there are no problems involved in making such |
| telephone networks. Users are able to make quite a | | | | calls. |
| few calls over a single connection. A stable Internet | | | | However, when using VoIP products or subscribing to |
| connection is all that is needed - and one can make | | | | a VoIP service, users must make some provisions |
| calls from almost anywhere in the world. Innovative | | | | against untoward circumstances such as power |
| features include video integration, fast and efficient | | | | failures and the services of broadband carriers going |
| exchange of data files, and audio conferencing. Quite a | | | | down. |
| few security features are in place; and users can be | | | | |