The Internet Protocol

VoIP stands for Voice over the Internet Protocol. It has always been known that it was feasible to digitize sound, transmit it and at the time turn it back into sound, however the Net was not fast enough to make the theory a reality. These days, when most Internet users have access to broadband speeds, VoIP can be used worldwide. Nevertheless, it is even so very much reliant on the speed of the Net connections for its quality.

VoIP goes in accordance with various names by different suppliers when all is said and done you may know it as IP, broadband or Net telephony. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) has a few advantages and a few disadvantages over standard telephony. On the plus side, it ought to be a lot cheaper to phone anywhere in the world, because it is simply like using the Internet.

The Internet

When you surf the Internet, you are charged either a local call rate or a fixed monthly rate for accessing the Internet no matter where the web sites are that you are accessing. They do not charge you more to look at an Australian site than an American one.

The same ought to be true of VoIP: all calls should be classed as local calls. This is not always true, but some VoIP service providers do permit free worldwide computer to computer calls.

Another plus point is that if you are talking about a subject, say business, which is computer-related, you can access your computer's data and share that whilst you are speaking. That is, VoIP is much more adaptable than regular telephony.

VoIP as well offers video-conferencing. Free video conferencing between computers, if the broadband connection speed is sufficient. This is great if you are working away from home or from a loved one. Most laptops have a built-in camera and a built-in microphone to make video VoIP a doddle.

To connect a desktop computer likewise you only have to buy a camera and a microphone nevertheless they are not costly. Anything that connects to the Internet can be converted or adapted to make use of free VoIP. Again, very importantly, this all depends on your local connection speed and the local connection speed of the person you are talking with.

We have already talked about VoIP and computers, but there are as well dedicated VoIP telephones, now they are merely computers built into housings that look like telephones so as not to scare those who believe that they cannot operate a computer. They are more user friendly because they look traditional.

As more and more people have computers worldwide and as there are cyber cafes in even the most far-flung towns, so it is becoming easier and easier to use free VoIP with friends and family all around the world which brings the price of long-distance communication down.