What is VoIP?
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VoIP is an acronym for the cumbersome "voice over internet protocol". VoIP is also known as voice over ip phone, internet telephony, internet phone and pc to phone. Think of a VoIP as your own computer internet phone. This internet phone allows you to make telephone phone calls from your own computer to anyone and anywhere in the world at a fraction of what the normal Telkom (in South Africa) or cellphone call cost would be. The fact that your computer phone is used means you can also transmit video and other audio files too.
VoIP converts your voice to bits of data and like any other data this means you can send the call across the internet like any other file. At the receiving end of this internet phone call the data is converted back to high quality voice. The receiver does not need any special equipment other than a normal telephone.
You have probably heard of Skype or Vonage ... these are VoIP services. The VoIP technology is about to hit South Africa and many other countries in such a way the cost of making all telephone calls will fall dramatically. You'll be able to ring family, friends and business associates anywhere in the world for a few cents per minute. The exhorbitant rates charged by Telkom for so long will become a thing of the past ... You can expect VoIP to spread rapidly because it is so easy to use and offers so much for hardly any investment.
The sort of equipment you will need ... You will need a computer with internet access, an inexpensive microphone unless your computer has one built in, a headset and preferably an ADSL or broadband internet connection. You can choose to also buy a desk top piece of hardware (called Papsys 2) that just plugs into your normal handset. Then all you do is phone in the same way you always have. The computer just does everything for you in the background.
If you use what is called a VoIP "softphone" and headset (the cheapest route to go) a picture of a phone will show on your screen and you press the keys with cursor just like you would with a the phone on your desk. You can pre-program numbers for quick dial access and then just press the VoIP "softphone" call button. Like a normal phone you will then hear the internet phone ringing to the person you have called. When they lift the receiver you just talk normally. They will not know you are using VoIP.
These are some of the features you can expect of a VoIP Phone ... text messaging, and contacts list, webcam and video transmission capability, and message services.