HOW IT WORKS
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a great technology that allows you to make and receive telephone calls over the Internet and has been in the mainstream now for going on 9 years.
It can also be referred to as an Internet Phone. VoIP(Voice over IP) enables you to make cheap telephone calls over a broadband Internet connection, (usually a DSL, broadband cable connection, or T1), instead of using your regular telephone service. You can connect to regular telephone numbers locally or in other parts of the US or Canada, or anywhere else in the world, usually all for one low price for US and Canada, eliminating long distance fees by using a VoIP service from an “Interconnected VoIP Provider”, (which most VoIP providers are). In addition, you will usually have low international phone call rates to other countries. The savings can be substantial, with lower fees and taxes levied by traditional telephone carriers. Plus, most VoIP providers offer services with “unlimited” calling plans and an array of features all for one monthly fee.
First, voice is converted by an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter) or IP phone, from an analog signal to a digital signal, then sent over the Internet in data packets.
Your call can be received by traditional telephones worldwide, as well as other VoIP users. VoIP to VoIP calls can travel entirely over the Internet. Since your voice is changed to digital (so that it can travel over the Internet), other great features such as voice messages to email, call forwarding, logs of incoming and outgoing calls, caller ID, etc., can be included in your basic calling plan all for one low price. Many of these special features are great for the small business person who relies on their phone service to be more a information center rather than just a telephone.
WHAT DO I NEED
We recommend a DEDICATED broadband Internet connection, such as DSL or cable, T1 or wireless.
Before you deploy voice-over-IP or a Hosted PBX service in your office there are a few considerations you must first address. Switching from traditional telephone service to voice-over-IP (VoIP) requires sufficient bandwidth, a proper switch and router, and a good battery backup solution to protect you from power failures.
The key voice-over-IP requirements are:
- Bandwidth – Determining how much bandwidth you will need for voice-over-IP in your office is your first step.
- The Router – Choosing a low quality or under performing router is a costly mistake which will degrade your call quality.
- Quality of Service – You must decide whether voice traffic will be separated from regular internet users or if it will share the same network.
- Power Failures – Voice over IP does not work when the power goes out so you should install a battery backup system and possibly a Power-over-Ethernet switch if your budget permits it.
You will need to have a high speed (broadband) connection to use voice-over-IP. A typical DSL connection will be rated at 600 kbps for the upload stream and 5000 kbps on the download stream. You will notice that your upload stream is almost always smaller than your download stream which becomes your limiting factor for using VoIP service.
You will need to have a high speed (broadband) connection to use voice-over-IP. A typical DSL connection will be rated at 600 kbps for the upload stream and 5000 kbps on the download stream. You will notice that your upload stream is almost always smaller than your download stream which becomes your limiting factor for using VoIP service.
You will need to have a high speed (broadband) connection to use voice-over-IP. A typical DSL connection will be rated at 600 kbps for the upload stream and 5000 kbps on the download stream. You will notice that your upload stream is almost always smaller than your download stream which becomes your limiting factor for using VoIP service.