Voip: Voice over IP
Voice over Internet Protocol (Voice over IP or VoIP) is the general description for different forms of transmission technologies and communication protocols delivered over networks, most importantly the Internet. Synonymously used are terms such as Internet telephony, IP telephony or voice over broadband.
When using VoIP services, all communications data is transported over the Internet instead of the regular telephone network, meaning that analog voice signals are converted into digital data and then compressed into packets that can be transmitted over the Internet protocol. At the receiving end, the whole process is done in reverse so that the listener cannot receives voice signals just as in a regular phone call.
Different protocols are used for VoIP systems, mostly depending on the available bandwidth. Some protocols can only transmit voice signals just as a regular telephone, other protocols allow the transmission of stereo sound. To be able to connect to a specialized VoIP provider, a dedicated VoIP is needed. Typically, these phones look just like regular telephones, but they include some technical modifications and have to be connected to the Internet. Alternatively, a so-called softphone can be used, i.e. a software that is installed on a laptop or desktop computer. The computer has to be connected to the Internet and to use the service, the user needs a built-in microphone and speaker or a headset. The software usually allows calls to other users using the same software or to a regular landline telephone.