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What is VoIP?

What is VoIP

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It is a technology that allows voice communication, such as phone calls, to be transmitted over the internet rather than traditional telephone networks.

With VoIP, analog voice signals are converted into digital data packets that are transmitted over your broadband connection.

It offers advantages such as cost savings, flexibility, and a wide range of features compared to traditional telephone systems. VoIP can be used through various devices, including computers, smartphones, and dedicated VoIP phones, making it a popular choice for businesses and individuals for both domestic and international calls.

How does VoIP work?

Diagram of a Voipfone VoIP call

Let's take a look at what happens when you make or receive a call on a VoIP phone.

When you speak into a VoIP-enabled device, such as a computer or IP phone, your voice is captured by a microphone and converted into a digital format. This process is called analog-to-digital conversion.

The digital voice data is divided into small packets. Each packet contains a portion of the voice data, as well as additional information such as the sender's and receiver's IP addresses.

The packets are then transmitted over the internet. They are sent individually and can take different paths to reach the destination.

Along the way, routers and switches on the internet analyse the destination IP address and forward the packets towards their intended recipient. This process continues until all the packets reach the recipient's network.

Once the packets arrive at the destination network, they are reassembled into the original voice data in the correct order.

The digital voice data is converted back into analog signals, which can be played through speakers or headphones to recreate the original sound.

The process described above occurs in both directions, allowing two VoIP-enabled devices to communicate with each other in real-time. VoIP also integrates with traditional telephony systems, allowing calls to be made between VoIP and regular phone lines.

Why should I use VoIP?

VoIP offers several advantages over traditional phone lines:

  1. Cost savings

    VoIP typically costs less than traditional phone lines, especially for long-distance and international calls. Since VoIP uses the internet for transmission, there are no separate charges for voice and data services.
  2. Flexibility and scalability

    VoIP is highly flexible and scalable. It can be used on various devices such as computers, smartphones, and dedicated VoIP phones, allowing users to make and receive calls from anywhere with an internet connection. It also makes it easy to add or remove lines and extensions as needed, without requiring extensive infrastructure changes.
  3. Feature rich

    VoIP systems provide a wide range of features that enhance communication and productivity. These include voicemail, call forwarding, call waiting, conference calling, caller ID, and more. We've written a guide to the flexible routing options available with the Voipfone Cloud PBX.
  4. Integrations

    VoIP can be integrated with other applications and systems, such as customer relationship management (CRM) software, email, and instant messaging, to enhance communication and streamline workflows. This integration enables features like click-to-call and screen popping, where relevant customer information is displayed when receiving a call.
  5. Portability

    With VoIP, phone numbers are not tied to physical locations. Users can keep their phone numbers when moving or travelling, as long as they have access to an internet connection. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for remote workers and businesses with multiple locations.


What equipment do I need?

To make VoIP calls, you typically need the following:

VoIP is for everyone

VoIP isn't just for big offices, and at Voipfone we provide our business quality digital VoIP phone services at the same great prices to residential customers too!

The old copper telephone network is being replaced with optical fibres and soon everyone will be using VoIP. Future-proof your communications and upgrade to Voipfone today.

Got a question?

New technology can seem confusing at first, but don't worry, we are here to help!

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