Find out everything you need to know about VOIP
HOME articles Advantages of VoIP A Comparison of Different VOIP Companies Internet phone call hardware Skype – Making Calls from your PC, for free! Internet phone calls – what may go wrong? Can spies eavesdrop on your phone calls over the Internet? Internet phone calls – brings people together What are Internet phone calls? Chatting with strangers – over the Internet Further Articles Wireless Articles: 10 Steps to Install a PCI Wireless Card 5 Reasons Why You Need a Wireless Network 5 Things You Must Do Before You Buy Any Wireless Equipment Ad-hoc or Access Point. Network Structures Explained Bluetooth - Personal Wireless Confused Yet - Wireless Jargon Connecting to a Wired Network - Wireless Access Points Could You Already Have Wireless and Not Realise It Create Always-On Networks with a Wireless Router Dealing with Security Threats - Wireless Encryption Fighting with Windows - Getting Wireless Set Up How Do Wireless Networks Work Ports and Cards - How to Tell What You Need RFID - Wireless Shopping Sharing an Internet Connection over a Wireless Network Sharing Your Files and Folders Wirelessly Taking it Long-Distance - Wireless Extension Points The Future of Wireless Wardriving and the Wireless Pirates What Else Can You Do Over a Wireless Network What is Wireless Networking What to Look For - Range, Speed and Standards Wireless Alphabet Soup - What's the Difference Anyway Wireless Everywhere - Talking Your Laptop for a Walk Wireless Troubleshooting - 5 Things to Try	What are Internet phone calls? Internet phone calls defined Internet phone calls are telephone calls that can be conducted over the Internet by utilizing VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol) technology. VoIP simply defined means sound or voice that is routed on the Internet by use of a dedicated Internet Protocol network. In order to avoid congestion, packet switching is used, where transmission occurs only when data is being sent when the caller speaks. VoIP VoIP was the first generation technology that facilitated Internet calls. Any location with an IP network available has the ability to adopt VoIP facilities, even without a connection to the Internet. This meant that paging functions within a similar office environment could be carried out through VoIP. This technology has also been in use by telecommunications companies where IP telephony is used to route traffic between the start and end points that are connected to the traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) telephones. SIP With the demand for internet phones increasing, the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) technology was introduced. A technology that is fast gaining popularity, SIP facilitates telephone functions previously available only on PSTN phones, which includes dialing a number, causing a phone to ring, hearing ring-back tones or busy signals. Commercial VoIP services Over recent years, many mass-market VoIP services over broadband Internet access have been developed and used just like the traditional PSTN phones. In these cases, an analog telephone adaptor is used to connect the telephone to a broadband internet connection. With this technology in place, phone companies such as Verizon, Broadvoice, Vonage, VoicePulse, and Packet8 can charge much lower rates for telephone use, including international phone calls. Internet calls via software Additionally, internet phone calls can also be made via proprietary software such as Skype or Tivi, in which software from the provider can be installed on board a computer. After installation, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) is operated by the user in order to phone calls to be made directly from the PC. Usually, additional accessories required are a microphone and a speaker. Also, users also have the option to install phone hardware like Jabberbox that can be used to connect to networks like the Skype network and make phone calls just like an ordinary PSTN phone.