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What is VoIP?

The benefits of making calls via VoIP explained plus information on what VoIP is, how it works and what equipment you need.


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The increasing speed of broadband connections now enables phone calls to be made over the internet; this is known as VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol. VoIP converts vocal signals entering the phone into digital signals which can travel over the internet and then be converted back at the receiving end. Whereas traditional PTSN (public telephone service network) calls use an entire phone line to connect each call, VoIP is able to compress vocal signals into much more size efficient data which can be transferred over the net.

VoIP Calls

There are two types of VoIP calls; computer to computer and computer to phone calls. VoIP providers tend not to charge for computer to computer calls; this is because they are routed solely using broadband connections and so avoid phone exchanges and hence the charges imposed by phone companies for directing regular PTSN calls.

VoIP providers do tend to charge for computer to phone calls; however these tend to be much cheaper than those made through a regular telephone connection. As the internet identifies computers (and VoIP connections) by an IP (internet protocol) number which has no reference to geographic location, it has no way of knowing whether a call being made is at a national, international or local level; for this reason the majority of VoIP calls are charged at the rate equivalent to that of a local call. This makes the use of VoIP incredibly cost efficient for both home and business users, especially as VoIP local rates tend to be lower too.

VoIP Features

Traditional features such as caller id, call waiting and conferencing are available with VoIP as are others which can be particularly beneficial for businesses. Additionally, it is possible to travel anywhere in the world and make and receive calls on your VoIP phone (at local rates); the installation of wireless access points in hotels and cafes worldwide make staying in touch even more flexible. It is also possible to set up your VoIP account so that you can receive your voicemail as emails.

It is worth bearing in mind that there are aspects of VoIP which are still being developed. For instance, it is not possible to make emergency calls on a VoIP phone because the connection is not geographically located and so cannot be directed to a local call centre. Additionally, the quality of your VoIP call is completely dependent on the quality and speed of your broadband connection, this may result in delayed speech and static and echoing on the line. Also unlike those using PTSN services, VoIP calls cannot be used during a power cut; however it is possible to redirect calls to a landline or mobile when your VoIP connection is not available.

There are several ways to implement VoIP over a broadband connection; you can use a special adapter to connect the handset of a regular analogue phone to your computer. You can also purchase specially designed VoIP phones, these are fitted with special chips which help to improve call quality. Software phones can also be used and are convenient for use with laptops; these require a sound card (many computers have these pre installed) and a microphone and speaker set.

When used with a fast broadband connection, VoIP can be a cost effective, flexible way to stay in touch wherever you are in the world.