What is VoIP?
Voice over Internet Protocol is the routing of voice conversations over the Internet or through any other IP-based network. Sometimes referred to as Internet Telephony, IP telephony refers to all use of IP protocols for voice communication by digital telephony systems, while VoIP is one technology used by IP telephony to transport the following communication services - phone calls, fax, SMS, and/or voice-messaging applications. VoIP internet phone service is transported via the Internet, rather than the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
How does VoIP work?
Companies providing VoIP service are commonly referred to as providers, and protocols which are used to carry voice signals over the IP network are commonly referred to as Voice over IP or VoIP protocols. Voice over IP protocols carry telephony signals as digital audio, typically reduced in data rate using speech data compression techniques.
VoIP is available on many smartphones and Internet devices so that users of portable devices that are not phones, may place calls or send SMS text messages over 3G or Wi-Fi.
To make a VoIP call from a home computer, typically the caller would use a softphone, which is a software program for making telephone calls over the Internet. A user will normally connect a headset to their computer via their soundcard or usb port. Softphones are used in many call centers or customer care centers, where combined phone and computer usage is required. There are expensive VoIP services and cheap VoIP services. CallFire offers a high quality and affordable service for your business needs that is also the best home VoIP service.