How does one place or receive a VoIP phone calls?
With a phone based service, you use it the same way one uses a traditional phone, by picking up the phone to answer it and dialing a number to place the call.
Can I call any phone or just VoIP phones?
VoIP systems are allowed you to call any phone number in the world. This could be a local number, a cell phone, a long-distance number or an international number. You may even speak with more than one person at a time. The person you are calling does not need any special equipment, just a phone.
How is the voice clarity?
VoIP voice quality has dramatically improved over the past few years to
have reached the level of a land line phone and sometimes even superior to it. However, it differs from provider to provider and also depends upon the speed of your broadband connection. You may consult other users of a provider (see: user reviews, forums) before signing up.
Do I need a computer to call?
No, you do not need a computer for phone based VoIP services.
Is there a difference between making a local call and a long-distance call?
In terms of technology or how you dial the number, there’s no difference. Call charges, however, vary from plan to plan. Some VoIP providers offer unlimited long-distance in which case the call is free. Even when the call is not free the rates are usually very low. Some VoIP providers charge the same way as a traditional wire-line telephone service. Others permit you to call anywhere at a flat rate for a fixed number of minutes.
Can you give me a technical overview of VoIP?
As the name implies, VoIP refers to calls that traverse networks using Internet Protocol (IP). The voice stream is broken down into packets, compressed, and sent toward its final destination by various routes (as opposed to establishing a ‘permanent’ connection for the duration of the call), depending on the most efficient paths given network congestion, etc. At the other end, the packets are reassembled, decompressed, and converted back into a voice stream by various hardware and software elements, depending on the nature of the call and its final destination.
