Very few companies can operate without a telephone. Whether it’s sales operations or customer service, brands need a way to communicate with current and future customers. VoIP service providers offer companies an affordable, modern and more versatile alternative to classic landline phones, but questions about ‘reliability’ cause fluctuations. Is VoIP a line?
What is VoIP?
Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, is a type of communication technology (including hardware and software) that allows you to make phone calls using an internet connection, not a traditional analog phone line that uses wires or optical fibers to make a connection. VoIP is also known as internet connections, IP or internet telephony.
VoIP is transmitted by various methods, including traditional telephones, smartphone applications, computer software or specific VoIP-enabled telephones.
Is VoiP a landline phone?
VoIP telephones do not use traditional twisted pair copper. The phone is connected via the same broadband internet connection that connects to the computer or router. VoIP phones convert calls into digital signals on the phone itself. They do not rely on physical conversations that take place on landline phones.
How does VoIP work?
VoIP involves splitting voice into digital packages, such as electronic envelopes, and sending the packages as data to the recipient over the Internet.
VoIP is available in various systems, making it available to anyone with a reliable Internet connection. You can make VoIP calls over:
- Telephone and VoIP adapter. With the adapter, you can use a regular landline phone to make calls over the Internet. The adapters are connected to a telephone wall jack or directly to a router.
- Computer (i.e., “Program Phone”). Many programs or applications are available that allow you to make voice calls over the Internet, including Skype, Google Voice and Apple FaceTime.
- Smartphone. Using a smartphone, you can download applications such as Google Voice or Skype that allow you to make internet calls.
- Dedicated VoIP phone. They look like traditional analog telephones, but connect directly to the computer network, not the phone line.
Unfortunately, VoIP also has some disadvantages. The bottom line is that you need to have a good internet connection, otherwise you will have constant problems with voice quality and intermittent connections. One thing that can’t be prevented is a delay (one second of silence during calls), which is a mistake when using UDP VoIP. Because internet and telephone traffic goes through the same cables, they both have the same bandwidth, which means that extensive use has a large impact on the quality of connections. Secondly, if your Internet is turned off, VoIP will also be turned off. And, as with any internet-connected device, the cloud phone system can be hacked too.
However, if you choose a reliable VoIP provider and use the system with great care, all of the above problems can be easily prevented and you can enjoy high-quality VoIP service for as long as you want.
