VoIP telephones are among the newest forms of communication technology and have rapidly increased in popularity among consumers. A VoIP telephone or virtual phone uses digital voice over IP technology for placing and then transmitting phone calls over an IP network, like the Internet. Unlike traditional phones that work over a public switched phone network, VoIP telephones are distinguished from traditional telephones by their low cost and their convenience. You can talk on the phone even if you are not in public coverage area. In fact, you can talk as long as you want if your VoIP telephone is not tied up using an Internet connection.
There are two types of VoIP telephones: hardware-based and software-based.
Hardware-based phones use equipment that looks like a traditional telephone. They include a base unit with a microphone, speaker, and headset. The advantage of this type of device is that it is easy to replace if necessary, and that you do not need to install any additional hardware. But the disadvantage is that you cannot take advantage of any built-in features or benefit from the microphone.
Software-based or gateways are software-based devices that allow Internet usage while not connected to the internet. These applications run on an embedded operating system, so that no hardware is needed. This allows you to make and receive calls while not online. The advantage of these top phones is that you can use your microphone and speakers for making calls, as well as using the web cam to view your files.
If you are looking for the most popular form of VoIP telephones available today,
you would be hard pressed to find one other than the ATA adapter. An ATA adapter is a device that allows you to connect your VoIP telephone to your modem through an Ethernet cable. The ATA adapter is typically an SFP device but can be configured to be an LFP device as well. Some of the ATA adapters even incorporate security protocols such as SSL and VPN connectivity.
Softphones, also known as ISDN softphones, are an ideal choice for small offices and homes. ISDN is a digital transmission format used for voice data over the Internet. An ISDN softphone uses a data carrier like ISDN to transmit voice data from an ISDN server to a receiver, like your computer. These IP phones are compatible with VoIP telephones and also have the ability to emulate traditional ISDN lines.
A PC to phone handset adapter connects a PC to an ordinary telephone handset. You would have to have a high speed internet connection in order to use this type of PC to phone adapter. There is an option of a free , but they generally lack the features of a standard telephone. Most companies would work with any standard PC to phone adapter as long as it meets their requirements. PDAs with VoIP capabilities offer many features that standard PC to phone adapters do not offer, including auto attendant, call conferencing, call forwarding and extension dialing, multi-line dialing, extension numbers, tone mail forwarding, and more.
Most VoIP service providers also offer a normal phone along with their own special version of a VoIP-based phone called a PC to the phone adapter. VoIP phones based on traditional analog lines can still be used in conjunction with a traditional telephone system. Some companies offer special applications and services such as conference calling, which is enabled by using a PC to the phone adapter.
As you can see, there are many options when considering what kind of VoIP to use for your business. Businesses typically use one or more of these methods so that they can continue to provide the services that their customers need regardless of where they are located.
- Traditional phones used to be the primary method of communication for many businesses.
- Nowadays, many people use mobile phones to conduct most of their business due to the availability of VoIP services.
- With the growing popularity of VoIP, it is easy to see why it is becoming so popular for businesses and organizations.
