What is a Computer Phone?
This lens will show you the possibilities of making your devices connect and communicate with other people and devices using a new technology called VoIP, or Voice Over Internet Protocol.
A computer phone is a vague term. It can refer to computers, such as personal digital assistants or PDAs, notebook computers, or desktop computers that can make phone calls. These devices have several ways of doing so, such as using a mobile phone company's network, or connecting to the Internet.
Another possibility would be phones, such as mobile phones or smartphones, that can also serve as computers. They can also be seemingly ordinary telephones found at home or in the office, but instead of connecting to a typical public-switched telephone network, they can connect to the Internet via VoIP.
VoIP: Voice Over Internet Protocol
What is VoIP?
Also known as internet telephony or IP telephony, VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. VoIP allows voice calls to be made over the Internet. This sounds pretty sensible, since we can pretty much send and receive any type of data over the Internet, so why not voice data as well?VoIP has become increasingly popular because it is relatively cheap, sometimes even free, given the necessary hardware and software for both ends of the phone call.
Read more about VoIP »
Telephone Adapter VoIP and Softphone VoIP
Two Types of VoIP
There are two ways you can use VoIP on your phone or computer:Telephone Adapter VoIP
Applied to your ordinary telephone, a telephone adapter VoIP uses an analog telephone adapter in order to transform the analog signals that pass through it into digital ones.
Softphone VoIP
Quite the opposite of VoIP adapters, softphones for VoIP are actually programs than enable computers to use VoIP services. But such software also need the proper gadgets like headsets, speakers, and microphones in order to properly converse with the person on the other end. Softphone VoIP also gives you the option of attaching a tangible telephone to the computer to make VoIP even easier to use.
Go Wireless!
VoW and VoWLAN
Since we have both wired and wireless networks for the internet, why not have wired and wireless VoIP as well? It's pretty simple: instead of using your typical wired network, VoIP can rely on wireless internet services such as wireless LAN or WLAN. This would be a treat for the frequent travelers and their mobile gadgets! VoIP News from Computerworld
The latest goings-on with VoIP
Fetching RSS feed... please stand bySkype
VoIP is practically synonymous to it.
One of the most popular applications of VoIP is Skype, which is a type of closed-source/proprietary VoIP protocol. Much like your instant messaging software, Skype has a program that, when run, allows you contact and connect with other users on the running the same software. Read more »Skype, when pronounced, rhymes with "type".
Free Features
Instant messaging
File transfer/sharing
Skypecasts, or group chat/conferencing (maximum of 100 users at a time)
Audio conferencing (maximum of 5 users at a time)
For-Fee Features
SkypeOut
SkypeIn
Skype Zones
Skype Voicemail
VoIP News from TheRegister.co.uk
More VoIP News!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byVoIP Software and Hardware
There's more to VoIP than Skype!
VoIP is a profitable business; lots of companies have started to provide services to make calls via the Internet. You usually have two choices: VoIP software-based services or hardware-based ones.VoIP Software
Here's the skinny: calls are usually free as long as the user on the other end is using the same software you have. Calling from a computer to a phone (either the landline or a mobile phone) is usually a premium, for-fee service.
VoIP Hardware
Hardware based services are usually provided by telephone companies, and the billing system will be pretty much like it. Flat rates, local, regional, or international rates, installation fees, you name it. To make the new computer phone bill worth it, though, there are a few goodies thrown in, such as voicemail, caller ID, call conferencing, et cetera.
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More VoIP Tips and Hints
Learn more!
- Smith On VoIP - Insights on VoIP Products and Services
- Blog of Garrett Smith Containing Insights on the Latest VoIP Products and Services
- Voip Tips
- "There's a new kind of scam on the internet called vishing. Instead of receiving suspicious emails, targets get a friendly phone call from their bank or credit card company, asking them to please confirm their account numbers and passwords."
- VoIP Tips From A VoIP Newbie ~ Windows Fanatics
- "Tonight, on our live radio show, where we usually don't take calls over VoIP, we decided to pit Skype, Gizmo, and Google Talk against one another in a VoIP deathmatch."
- My VoIP Provider - Should Your Business Switch to VoIP?
- "The truth is, VoIP benefits far outweigh any potential drawbacks any many will try to convince you otherwise. Here's what you need to know about VoIP to decide if it's right for your business--plus tips for making the most out of VoIP service."
- O'Reilly Network -- Eight Tips for Migrating to Enterprise VoIP
- "Like other infrastructural technologies, VoIP has the ability to enhance productivity by increasing the performance yield of your network. When you look at it from all angles, VoIP has a very strong value proposition. Sure, an IP phone costs more than an old-fashioned digital business phone, but it enables enterprise transformation in a way the old phone cannot."
- Get the skinny on proprietary VoIP protocols
- "This week, we'll take a look at these and other proprietary protocols used in various vendors' implementations of VoIP."
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