| VOIP has gained in popularity in today's world with | | | | "Centrex" is a phone service, used by many VOIP |
| both the individuals and businesses and can be a | | | | services. It carries out all the central call controls and |
| major competitor for the regular telephone. There are | | | | switching is generally done inside a box on the wall and |
| 3 major types of VOIP: | | | | is the remote internet hosting center, in a central |
| Consumer VOIP | | | | server. It is usually called as a "PBX" in the sky. |
| Many consumer-oriented VOIP services offer cheap | | | | Centrex services include telephones on the desks of |
| or free voice calling. This can be done through a | | | | the customers with connect out through broadband |
| particular adaptor connecting to broadband services or | | | | internet, to the PBX servers. |
| a program similar to telephone on a home computer. | | | | The benefits of this system are: |
| Consumer VOIP services are an economical method | | | | Easy deployment by just plugging the phones into the |
| of dialing into the public telephony network. Most of the | | | | internet. |
| times, there are many great bargains available for you. | | | | Lower costs as the phone service is carried out |
| Skype lets you talk to others free of cost. The major | | | | through the web. |
| problem with these services is that their mode of use | | | | Lower capital expenditure due to elimination of the |
| is not obvious as it is more difficult than the regular | | | | phone switches. |
| phone. Also if the computer is involved in heavy | | | | Cheaper internal phone calls, especially between |
| processing, the sound quality can be affected. Good | | | | offices and employees in their homes (inter-site calls). |
| quality headphones, microphones and speakers should | | | | Different unique methods of working and flexibility like |
| be used to prevent the distortion of the sounds and | | | | highly distributed offices and increased number of |
| eliminate feedback or background noise. | | | | people opting to work from home. |
| Small to medium sized company VOIP | | | | |