CallWave Articles: The basic of VoIP services

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Recently, Voice over Internet Protocol( VoIP) pop up as one of the hottest technologies in the world. VoIP is a method for taking analog voice signal, turning it into digital signal, and transmit it over the Internet connections. This in turn enables users to make Internet phone calls without going thru the phone company service.

As the technology is now getting more reliable and offers much lower rates, it has gained huge popularity for long distance voice transfers over traditional analog long distance services. Some even see VoIP as the revolutionary technology that will replace the conventional phone systems entirely.

How VoIP works?

VoIP phone calls is done in three stages: Encrypting the analog voice signal (the caller’s voice) into digital signal; transmitting the digital signal (data packet) thru Internet to the person answering the call; and decrypting the digital signal into analog voice signal again on the receiver’s side.

VoIP calls are done thru several methods: ATA, IP phones, or PC-to-PC. Basically each of these methods performs the same function: To enable voice communications. However their service fees varies in a wide range. Careful review is definitely needed to select the service that best suits you.

VoIP calls through ATA

ATA, (Analog Telephone Adaptor) is an analog-to-digital converter used on regular phone to enable VoIP calls. What ATA does is to capture the analog voice signal and converts it into digital signal for the Internet transmission.

If you had been looking for suitable for ATA service for some time, I am sure that Vonage and AT&T are no strangers to you. These two are the big names in VoIP business. Often ATAs are given free along with their paid-VoIP services.

Setting up and using ATA is very simple compare to other VoIP call methods. All you need to do is to take out the ATA out of the box, connect your phone with your ATA with the cable provided, and you're ready to make VoIP calls. Some ATAs may ship with additional software that is loaded onto the host computer to configure it; but in any case, it is still a very easy setup.

IP Phones (also known as SIP phones)

IP Phones are special phones specifically designed for VoIP function. IP phone can be considered as a network endpoint routing voice via its IP address. These specialized phones look just like normal phones with a handset, cradle and buttons. But instead of standard RJ-11 phone connectors, IP phones use an Ethernet connector to connect directly to your router and have all the hardware and software necessary right onboard to handle the IP call.
With IP phones, you can get additional advanced features such as e-voice mail, mobile screening and direct call transfers. Recently, CallWave Mobile offers something similar but the service is set up on the cell phones. What CallWave provides is an application service provider that host voice-over-IP applications for carriers and users from a server located in northern Nevada. The host is then connected to the rest of the world via IP transport. In brief, the service enable VoIP calls to be done on cellphoneto lower the user’s cellphone calling cost.

PC-to-PC

PC-to-PC is certainly the easiest way to make VoIP calls. Ever heard of Skype? Skype is the best example for this type of VoIP service.

For PC-to-PC calls, all you need to do is to download the PC-to-PC VoIP software and you can then start making long-distance calls via Internet for free. For PC-to-PC VoIP calls, a microphone, speakers, a sound card and fast Internet connection are required. Besides your regular Internet service provider fees, there’s no other extra charges.