VoIP FAQs

  1. What is VoIP?
  2. How does VoIP work?
  3. What are the benefits of VoIP?
  4. What are the advantages of using VoIP rather PSTN?
  5. What are the main disadvantages of VoIP?
  6. What are the different implementation options with VoIP?
  7. What's the difference between a hard phone and a soft phone?

1. What is VoIP?

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. In essence, VoIP involves the delivery of voice information over IP based networks such as the Internet. It represents a form of communications convergence whereby a common IP infrastructure is used to transmit voice, fax, data and multimedia traffic.

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2. How does VoIP work?

VoIP works by sending voice information in discrete digital packets rather than in the traditional circuit-committed protocols of the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

VoIP takes an analogue voice signal and, prior to sending it to the dialled destination, converts into a digital format so that it can be delivered over an IP network such as the Internet. This conversion can be performed in a number of ways: for example, by using a PBX-based gateway, a router-based gateway, a PC-based gateway or an intelligent multi-path voice/data switch which sits between the corporate PBX and both the PSTN and the corporate IP data network.

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3. What are the benefits of VoIP?

  • Provides sustainable cost reduction for organisations
  • Reduces long term network ownership costs
  • Allows you to use your existing data network or the Internet to transfer voice traffic and data
  • Enables organisations with multiple sites to communicate with each other at without incurring any call charges
  • Eradicates international call charges for organisations with sites in different international countries
  • Facilitates new multimedia business models, applications, and services
  • Enables intelligent services, adding sophisticated capabilities to voice applications
  • Provides good quality, low cost communications
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4. What are the advantages of using VoIP rather PSTN?

When you are using a PSTN line, you are charged for the time you are connected to that carriers network. The longer you stay connected, the more that you pay. With VoIP you are using either a public or private network and thus do not have any time related call charges.

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In addition, VoIP can be used to connect more than two people for a call, allowing you to talk to many people at the same time. VoIP also enables you to exchange data with the people you are talking to: for example, sending images, graphs, corporate literature or videos.

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5. What are the disadvantages of VoIP?

Due to the nature of VoIP it is not yet as reliable as PSTN. There can be potential issues surrounding call quality and latency although the latest hybrid solutions go a long way towards eradicating these concerns.

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6. What are the different implementation options with VoIP?

VoIP implementation options can be segmented into four broad categories, each of which has advantages and disadvantages:

  • PBX-based gateways
  • Router-based gateways
  • PC-based gateways
  • Intelligent, multi-path switching gateways

For further information about which solution is most appropriate for your organisation please call Evocal on 0870 777 5777.

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7. What's the difference between a hard phone and a soft phone?

A hard phone is a physical device that most people would recognise as a telephone. In contrast, a soft phone is a software application that runs on your PC and allows you to make telephone calls.

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