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Article #246: An Overview Of VOIP

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VOIP refers to Voice over Internet If you are calling a person with a basic
Protocol and is the act of allowing voice telephone (analog), that person does not
conversations to turn to digital items so need any special equipment to receive
that they can be transmitted over a your call or carry on a conversation with
network such as the internet. There are you regardless of the type of phone you
many ways to look at the variety of call on.
issues around VOIP, most of which will There are a number of issues involved
not necessarily offer any clarity to that may cause you to think twice about
consumers or readers that are not all the service, however. For one, some
that versed in technological issues or services will not function at all during
the internet. The truth is that VOIP can a power outage. The service provider may
be very complicated and can represent a not offer backup power for these
lot of terminology that many people will situations. Second, VOIP servers may not
not even begin to understand. offer white page or directory assistance
Voice over IP services transmit your programs.
voice into a sound data packet and This can be curbed rather simply,
transmit that data packet across a however, as the internet is literally at
network, like the internet, to your your fingertips. Third, not all VOIP
intended receiver. A broadband or high servers link directly to 911 or other
speed internet connection is required to emergency numbers. You may have to ask
participate because that is the protocol your provider specifically about this
by which the communication travels. issue for an answer.
This can be a cable modem or a certain In June of 2005, the Federal
package of wireless services, for Communications Commission of the United
instance. You also need a computer, a States of America enacted a regulation
specialized phone, or an adaptor to that insisted that all VOIP providers
participate. include 911 emergency services or that
Some services allow the user to utilize a they include a sticker or form of
normal phone with an adaptor over the notification that signalled that the
computer's network. Other services, phone did not offer that service.
however, require a specialized VOIP phone There was also an active regulation that
system that can take and receive phone made VOIP phone systems subject to the
VOIP calls due to special software same law enforcement capabilities to
located within. wiretap. This was also enacted by the FCC
In terms of using a normal phone, there and applies to all servers.
is usually a software package that Basically, VOIP allows the user to work
accompanies the adaptor or the program from a personal phone or computer to
download that can change your normal connect through the internet or an
phone into something that can accept and adapter through a network to another
send voice over IP phone transmissions. phone or personal computer.
Depending on the limitations of your This technology is changing the way calls
service, you may only be able to contact are monitored, made, and billed around
other people with a VOIP service program the world. The United States is fast
on their network. There are some programs becoming a leader in VOIP technology
and providers, however, which allow calls regulation and is enacting a variety of
to all people on all phones regardless of regulations on the process to ensure the
the network. public's safety.






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