Although an Internet telephone looks and functions like a regular telephone, it doesn’t use traditional telephone lines, wirings, and standard phone jacks. Rather, it sends your voice via the Internet and through the use of Voice over Internet Protocol technology, or most commonly known as VoIP. This VoIP technology requires broadband Internet or Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) modem.
The first step in generating an Internet telephone call is the
conversion of the analog voice signal to digital format. It then compresses and translates the signal into Internet protocol (IP) packets for transmission over the Internet. This step is reversed at the receiving end.[1]
To begin using Internet telephones, you first need to avail services from VoIP providers. They will then give you a telephony adaptor that you will plug into your broadband modem. The main purpose of this adaptor is to convert phone pulses into IP packets. These IP packets make possible the experience of regular telephone calls.
WHO ARE THE LEADING PROVIDERS FOR THE SAID DEVICE?
Free VoIP Providers
Commercial VoIP Providers
#1
PhonePower - Unlimited Residential Plan – National, Intl service starts at $14.95/month, US based customer care
#2
$199 for one year with no prepayment. 10 easy payments of $19.99 then 2 months FREE! Unlimited Calls.
#3
Excellent choice for small businesses. Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) VoIP at residential prices.
#4
Now When You Switch To SycoTel VOIP Phone Service You Pay Only 21.95 A Month. All The Best Features.
#5
Headquarter : USA
Availability : Worldwide, USA
HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM OTHER DEVICES?
Basically, the most similar and logical device we can use to compare VoIP with is the regular landline telephone.
Regular telephones use Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). PSTN is a private network that uses standard phone jacks and wiring for connection. In layman’s terms, this is the old school telephone connection, just like dial-up is the old school Internet connection. In the past, this network has been the basic foundation for obtaining landline service and is usually monopolized and provided by leading telephone companies.
But with the advent of Internet Telephony, people now have another option of using VoIP over regular landlines.
WHAT IS THE DEVICE USED FOR?
Internet Telephones are primarily used like regular telephones. The only difference is that the network that you are using is different (from PSTN to the Internet). This means that users can practically make and receive phone calls in the same old way.
Although there is minimal technical difference between a regular landline and an Internet Telephone, feedbacks from consumers convey that there is actual difference in sound and call quality. Lines can sometimes be choppy that resembles poor cellular phone coverage. Although this problem is usually temporary because it is caused by network traffic, other pressing concerns include susceptibility to power failure, difficulty when making emergency calls because the nature of IP packets make it difficult when locating call centers, security concerns about safety from hacking and eavesdropping, caller ID, and fax handling.
For more in-depth information about Internet Telephony, you may refer to this link: http://www.iec.org/online/tutorials/acrobat/int_tele.pdf
[1] "Voice over Internet Protocol. Definition and Overview". International Engineering Consortium. 2007. Retrieved on 2009-08-06.
SOURCES:
[1] http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-internet-phone.htm (Accessed August 4, 2009 2:19 p.m.)
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_over_IP#cite_note-0 (Accessed August 6, 2009, 2:12 p.m.)
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