How calling over your broadband connection can make for big savings.
VoIP (or Voice over Internet Protocol) refers to the technique of using a broadband internet connection to make phone calls. It does this by compressing the vocal signals entering a phone into size efficient, high frequency digital signals which are then transmitted over the internet and subsequently converted back at the receiving end. There are two varieties of calls that can be made using VoIP computer to computer and computer to phone calls.
Computer to computer calls tend to be free of charge as they are routed solely by using broadband to connect the calls, this bypasses the need to involve phone exchanges and so avoids the associated cost. Computer to phone calls usually attract a cost, however these tend to be much cheaper than those made over a regular telephone connections. Additionally, as the internet has little concept of geographic location, the majority of VoIP calls are charged at a rate equivalent to that of a local call regardless of whether you are dialling a national or international location.
There are several ways to implement VoIP over your broadband connection; you can use a special adapter to connect the handset of a regular analogue phone to your computer or purchase a specially designed VoIP phone which are designed to improve call quality. Additionally, if you want to make VoIP calls over a laptop then a software phone can be used; this is made up of a soundcard, a microphone and a set of speakers and will enable you to make VoIP calls wherever you are in the world.
With enhanced broadband speeds and the increasing availability of wireless internet connections, VoIP is becoming a more viable and economical way of staying in touch wherever you are.
