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Voice over IP: A VoIP
(Voice over Internet Protocol) phone call is transmitted over a
data network, such as the internet. The “Voice Over Internet
Protocol” is a catch all for the protocols and technology of
encoding a voice call that allows the voice call to be slotted
in between data packets on a data network. Such data networks
may be the public internet, a corporate intranet, or a managed
network used by traditional long distance and international
providers. VoIP phone calls, if properly engineered, sound just
as good as a circuit switched TDM phone call - the ones we make
and receive every day. There are three main benefits to VoIP
phone calls:
First, they may
potentially be cheaper. Since the data network is typically
charged on a flat rate and thus the marginal cost of making a
VoIP is zero, how much cheaper depends on: 1: The cost of
terminating the VoIP call into the traditional phone network.
(Figure a penny a minute.) 2: The price of a standard circuit
switched TDM call. They’ve been getting cheaper over the years.
3: How much tax is levied on both. Taxes are horrendous on
traditional circuit switched long distance calls. They aren’t so
big, yet, on VoIP calls, which are classified by some regulatory
agencies as “information services,” not voice phone calls.
Therefore they escape most taxes.
Second, you may
achieve the benefits of managing a voice and data network as one
network. If you have IP phones, moves, adds and changes, will be
easier and cheaper. IP phones are basically networked computers.
They have individual addresses, with memories, and user
profiles. Their software upgrades are typically centrally
managed using standard computing systems. In short, they’re
“user friendly” to manage and can largely be managed remotely.
Third, and the key
attraction of IP telephony - is added (and integrated) new
services, including integrated messaging, voice emails, number
portability, caller ID with name, call waiting, call forwarding,
take your area code with you, plug into the internet anywhere
and make free calls from anywhere in the world. And best of all,
you can typically manage your phone via a website on the
internet, which can provide complete call accounting. A VoIP is
typically a much better animal than today’s circuit switched
phone.
Source: “Newton’s Telecom
Dictionary”
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