Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, refers to technology that enables you to make voice calls using an internet connection rather than a traditional analog phone line. Often pronounced “voyp”, VoIP requires the same protocols that the Internet uses, or a set of rules used to allow sufficient communication. Therefore, it takes traditional voice signals and converts them into a form that is easily transmitted using the same protocols as the Internet. Even if you have analog telephone stations, the industry’s best VoIP providers can implement IP telephony so that your existing telephone equipment doesn’t become obsolete.
IP telephony (IPT) is similar to VoIP because it also utilizes Internet protocols to enhance voice communications. The basis of IP networking is solely built around Internet protocols, which directly support corporate, private, public, and wireless networks. Many organizations prefer using VoIP because it consolidates many locations – including mobile workers – into a concentrated network. VoIP also comes equipped with a plethora of telephony features such as door phone buzzer integration, music on hold, call routing, coaching tools, and support services that traditional analog phone lines lack.
VoIP not only enhances voice communications, but its services are interoperable, meaning that they work over any network. Along with being interoperable, they’re also portable, so VoIP can also enhance communication through any IP device like a computer or a personal digital assistant.
For any IP phone to communicate over a network, it requires a built-in network interface card (NIC). To allow any network device to properly function, it requires the NIC because it provides devices with a standardized physical, or media access control, so they can essentially communicate to one another. Along with having the NIC, a server is also necessary to run the software that’s used to regulate calls.
Servers are a key component to VoIP because it provides more speed, memory, and capacity than a traditional PC. Servers house the database that include the MAC addresses which correspond to all the IP telephone extensions that are assigned to each user. The number of servers necessary is all dependent on the size of the local area network (LAN), and the number of users.
If the size of the LAN increases, the number of switches grows. Switches provide a series of ports where all LAN-addressable devices connect, like computers, printers, and IP phones. For all network devices to properly function at peak performance, they must be physically connected to the LAN through a port on a switch.
Geeks On Call can help you increase the efficiency of your business’ communications. Now is an ideal time to reevaluate your business’ unified communications. Contact your local Geeks On Call office for help with VoIP and other technology solutions.