History of Internet telephony
Voice-over-Internet Protocol has been a subject of interest almost since the first computer network. By 1973, voice was being transmitted over the early Internet. The technology for transmitting voice conversations over the Internet has been available to end-users since at least the early 1980s. In 1996, a shrink-wrapped software product called VocalTec Internet Phone (release 4) provided VoIP along with extra features such as voice mail and caller ID. However, it did not offer a gateway to the PSTN, so it was only possible to speak to other Vocaltec Internet Phone users. In 1997, Level 3 began development of its first softswitch (a term they invented in 1998); softswitches were designed to replace traditional hardware telephone switches by serving as gateways between telephone networks. Revenue in the total VoIP industry in the US is set to grow by 24.3% in 2008 to $3.19 billion. Subscriber growth will drive revenue in the VoIP sector, with numbers expected to rise by 21.2% in 2008 to 16.6 million. The United States' largest VoIP provider is Vonage. Internet Telephony Information.
What is Internet Telephony?
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP, IPA) is a general term for a family of transmission technologies for delivery of voice communications over the Internet or other packet-switched networks. Other terms frequently encountered and synonymous with VoIP are IP telephony and Internet telephony, as well as voice over broadband, broadband telephony, and broadband phone, when the network connectivity is available over broadband Internet access.
VoIP systems usually interface with the traditional public switched telephone network (PSTN) to allow for transparent phone communications worldwide.
VoIP can be a benefit for reducing communication and infrastructure costs by routing phone calls over existing data networks and avoiding duplicate network systems. Skype and Vonage are notable service provider examples that have achieved widespread user and customer acceptance and market penetration.
Voice-over-IP systems carry telephony speech as digital audio, typically reduced in data rate using speech data compression techniques, packetized in small units of typically tens of milliseconds of speech, and encapsulated in a packet stream over IP.
There are two types of PSTN-to-VoIP services: Direct inward dialing (DID) and access numbers. DID will connect a caller directly to the VoIP user, while access numbers require the caller to provide an extension number for the called VoIP user.
The Benefits of Internet Telephony
Retail customers have begun to embraced Internet Telephony as lowered call costs have established themselves. Corporations, small businesses, and even individual customers have reduced their phone bills by supporting full duplex- real time communication. Computer phone call will continue to optimize our privately-held network to let Internet Telephony reach its true potential. The launch of session initiation protocol (SIP) will push Internet telephony forward, allowing value added developments to Internet telephony, and rapid call setup and teardown.
With Computer Phone Call Internet telephony, you will enjoy low rates and smart Internet telephony calling plans. Our affiliate, an Internet Telephony service provider, has a leading global brand name with regard to VoIP services. As Internet telephony continues to grow in popularity, Computer Phone Call continues to work to help Internet telephony grow and reach its full potential. With Internet telephony services from Computer Phone Call, pc-to-phone rates to the US are as low as 1.2 cents/min, with more programs and promotions constantly being developed to provide you affordable rates with the most optimal service. Internet telephony continues to evolve, and Computer Phone Call continues to work to help make Internet telephony as beneficial as possible to all of our customers. To learn more about Computer Phone Call and Internet Telephony please take the time to visit our homepage.
Functionality
VoIP can facilitate tasks and provide services that may be more difficult to implement or more expensive using the PSTN. Examples include:
- The ability to transmit more than one telephone call over the same broadband connection. This can make VoIP a simple way to add an extra telephone line to a home or office.
- Conference calling, call forwarding, automatic redial, and caller ID; zero- or near-zero-cost features that traditional telecommunication companies (telcos) normally charge extra for.
- Secure calls using standardized protocols (such as Secure Real-time Transport Protocol.) Most of the difficulties of creating a secure phone connection over traditional phone lines, like digitizing and digital transmission, are already in place with VoIP. It is only necessary to encrypt and authenticate the existing data stream.
- Location independence. Only an Internet connection is needed to get a connection to a VoIP provider. For instance, call center agents using VoIP phones can work from anywhere with a sufficiently fast and stable Internet connection.
- Integration with other services available over the Internet, including video conversation, message or data file exchange in parallel with the conversation, audio conferencing, managing address books, and passing information about whether others (e.g., friends or colleagues) are available to interested parties.
- Advanced Telephony features such as call routing, screen pops, and IVR implementations are easier and cheaper to implement and integrate. The fact that the phone call is on the same data network as a user's PC opens a new door to possibilities.
- A major issue preventing VoIP's acceptance by more users is mobility. This is being addressed with new (Wi-Fi)-enabled cordless phones available on the market. With the advent of new technologies such as (WiMAX), it is believed that the mobility issue with VoIP shall vanish.