What Is IP Telephony?

It is no wonder that IP Telephony is the latest and greatest technology of the internet age. Just about everything we do from working to research and homework, all the way to shopping and making hotel reservations, the internet is a giant part of our lives. It just seems natural that now we can combine the internet with our phone services. IP telephone is nothing more than the transmission of faxes and voice telephone communication via the internet.

Internet telephony has changed the way we make telephone calls today and on a regular basis. It has begun to take the telephone market over and away from traditional telephone companies. For instance, there are free IP telephone software available that allows you to make absolutely free telephone calls, anywhere in the world, which certainly beats the charges that you often find on your telephone bill. Soon, telephone companies will be a thing of the past, as will paying outrageous charges for long distance telephone calls.

How does internet telephony work? Well, you will have to have some specific equipment, depending on what type of service you are interested in. For example, if you are looking for computer to computer telephone calls, all you need is high speed internet, a sound card, speakers, and a microphone, but you cannot forget the computer either. Another method is a telephone specific for IP telephony. These phones look just like regular phones, with the exception that they do not plug into your wall, instead, they plug into your computer router. Furthermore, if you do not want to obtain a special phone, there are AT adapters that allow you to turn your home phone into an internet telephony.

No matter which way you go, one thing is for certain, IP telephony is changing the way the world makes phone calls. For instance, for many services that may be offered, which might be a part of your high speed cable internet access, you are simply charged one low fee each month and have unlimited calls. For most people, this monthly fee will be a great deal lower than the charges they get on their traditional telephone bill.

Another thing about internet telephony is the fact that most offer free long distance, nationwide, as well as in some other specific areas. That is right, no more long distance charges. You can talk to your sister in California from your home in New York, for as long as you want, absolutely free, with the exception of the month charge for the service.

The only real negative aspects of IP telephony is the fact that if your electric is interrupted, the telephone will not work. Furthermore, in most areas internet telephony is not E-911 capable as of yet, which is something that is included on most traditional telephone services today. However, you get most of the same features such as three way calling, return call, repeat dial, call transfer, call waiting, and caller ID, voice mail might even be included with some providers.