What is
VOIP? Introduction
<<<...VOIP is an acronym for Voice Over Internet
Protocol, or in more common terms phone service over the Internet.
If you have a reasonable quality Internet connection you can get phone
service delivered through your Internet connection instead of from your
local phone company.
Some people use VOIP in addition to their traditional phone service, since
VOIP service providers usually offer lower rates than traditional phone
companies, but sometimes doesn't offer 911 service, phone directory
listings, 411 service, or other common phone services. While many VoIP
providers offer these services, consistent industry-wide means of offering
these are still developing.
Hard Phones
Standalone Ethernet Hard Phones (voice only) — NOTE:
USB phones or Skype
adapters don't belong here!!!
An Ethernet hard phone is a self contained IP telephone that looks just like
a conventional phone but instead of a conventional phone jack, it has an
Ethernet port through which it communicates directly with a VoIP server,
VoIP gateway or another VoIP phone. Since a broadband hard phone
communicates directly with a VoIP server, VoIP gateway or another VoIP phone
it does not require any personal computer nor any software running on a
personal computer to make or receive VoIP phone calls. It can be used
independently, all that is required is an internet connection. While PC
based software solutions are cheaper, a hard phone is the best solution for
IP telephony.
