VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is likely to be the future in the field of information technology. But how many of us really know how to efficiently leverage VoIP?
Steps
Step 1. What kind of calls do you need to make?
ATA, IP Phones or Computers to Computers?
Step 2. Use an ATA adapter, or Analog Telephone Adapter
This is the most common method of using VoIP. The ATA adapter allows you to connect your home phone to your Internet connection. What the ATA does is transform the phone's analog signal into a digital signal that can be transmitted over the Internet. Setting up an ATA adapter is quite simple. Get an ATA adapter, plug it into the phone cable (the one you normally plug into the wall socket) and then plug in the Internet cable that goes from the ATA to the router. If you don't have a router, there are also ATA adapters that perform the function of a router. Some ATAs come with software that must be installed on your computer to use them. Either way, it's a fairly straightforward operation.
Step 3. IP phone
The IP phone is similar in appearance to a regular phone, however, instead of using the normal phone cable it uses an Ethernet cable. So instead of plugging the IP phone into the wall socket like you would a regular phone you have to plug it directly into the router. This provides various possibilities, such as putting a call on hold and continuing to work as you would in the office. The only difference from the normal office telephone is that calls will be transferred over the Internet rather than the telephone line. This means that you will not need an ATA adapter because it will already be present in the phone. In addition, with the availability of wireless IP phones, subscribers will be able to make VoIP calls directly from any Wi-Fi hotspot. These are the features that make the IP phone an attractive option.
If you want to extend the intercom from your office to your home or even to another country, this could be the way for you
Step 4. Test VoIP by making computer-to-computer calls
Except for the cost of the service, where present, these calls are completely free. This means you won't need a phone rate! The only things you will need are software (which can be found for free on the Internet, such as Skype), a good Internet connection, a microphone, speakers and a sound card. Depending on the service you choose, except for the monthly cost, there are literally no costs to make this type of call, however, in most cases, you will only be able to call to computers that use the same software as you.
Step 5. ATTENTION
with all the telephony methods listed above, if your Internet connection drops, it will automatically skip the phone as well. This means that you will not be able to call even the emergency services such as Carabinieri, Ambulance etc …
Advice
- There are some particular benefits to be gained from placing your calls over the Internet. For example, some VoIP providers allow you to check your voicemail via email while others allow you to attach voice messages to your emails and, like most other services, you can manage your settings from your profile. Some services even allow you to automatically transfer the call to another phone number or groups of phones.
- While the normal long distance rate plan allows you to make calls from one location only, using VoIP it doesn't matter where you are and what device you use because you can make calls through your account anywhere in the world you can find an internet connection. broadband. This is because all three of the above methods, unlike analog calls, transmit the call over the internet. Thus, you can make calls from home, on vacation, on a business trip and anywhere else. With VoIP, you can take your home phone wherever you go. The same for computer-to-computer calls. But remember to take your computer with you!
- VoIP is rapidly gaining popularity and some companies and telephone providers are making the complete conversion to VoIP. The potential of VoIP today is already impressive. TMCnet reports that VoIP's rise in popularity has forced some international telephone companies to either support VoIP or withdraw from the market.
- For large companies, VoIP offers unique possibilities. Many large companies have already switched to VoIP or are considering doing so. The cost of a VoIP system is only a fraction of the cost of running and installing a private telephone network; in fact, while the cost of a private company telephone network is, for large companies, above 4000 €, installing a VoIP system with the same characteristics costs in most cases under 1000 €. Some companies using VoIP to make all calls between offices of the same company. Also, if the network is well wired (including the use of fiber optic cables) the audio quality far surpasses that of analog telephones. Some international companies use VoIP to get around the high cost of international calls. Furthermore, the company or its customers have the possibility to call a local number and redirect it through VoIP to another country, where the office you want to contact resides and then transfer the call to the local network of that office.. This allows the company and its customers to pay a local rate for an international call. VoIP also allows companies with multiple offices to use the VoIP network to make all calls between offices, wherever the office is.
