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Saturday, October 27, 2012

Is Internet Telephone Technology Really All That Different?

By Saul Saresi


So what is it about internet telephone technology that is so incredible that it is revolutionising businesses across the globe? Well, there are a number of factors, but the main difference is the versatility of internet telephony systems.

Internet Telephony is constantly evolving. The ever increasing demand for Internet Telephone systems is causing millions of pounds to be spent on fixing the glitches which are still present and preventing the technology from being commonplace in the majority of businesses.

But what it is that makes them so special? Well, apart from the increased audio quality and reduced call costs, their unique and standout feature is that they offer several ways to make a call, as you will soon discover.

The first and most common method of internet calling is through an Analogue Telephone Adaptor (or ATA for short). This device adapts an analogue telephone signal into a digital signal which transmitted via the internet.

ATA devices are simple to install and connect easily to a standard telephone. They are also usually provided free of charge by most internet phone service providers when you take out a contract, meaning very low start up costs.

IP phones look very similar to standard phones - with a cradle, handset and buttons - but are in fact specialised internet phones with RJ-45 Ethernet connectors in place of standard RJ-11 phone connectors. Internet phones are also very easy to install, needing simply to be plugged directly into your router.

By far the easiest way to use internet telephony is via computer-to-computer. A number of companies offer low cost - or even free - software to be used for this type of communication. Aside from the software, the only equipment needed is speakers, a microphone, a soundcard and an internet connection. One of the major benefits of this system is that there are no call costs, no matter how great the distance.

So there you have it. Voip systems offer a flexibility and potential that standard phone systems simply cannot match, however, the flaws still prevalent in Voip systems mean that standard phone systems will still be around for some time to come. But when the time does come - which it inevitably will - when the bugs have been fixed and voip systems are as reliable as standard phone systems are now, businesses and households alike will jump on the Voip bandwagon eager to take advantage of the cheaper costs and improved quality, and then, as unfortunate as it may seem, analogue phone systems will be forgotten, and confined to the bowels of history.




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