New services, programs and devices appear every day, and voice over the internet (VoIP) is no exception. Technologies keep developing, companies are buying one another, and what not. The rich variety of products also leaves us with a wide range of options at the moment of choosing a product.
When it comes to VoIP phones, their only really distinctive feature is that they connect to the internet instead of connecting to a telephone line. The rest is details. Most VoIP phones available in the market will be, more often than not, of one of the following types, depending on how they find the connection to the internet that they need to work:
SIP phones (also called just VoIP phones)
A SIP phone (also called just “VoIP phone”) looks and feels like a normal telephone, but it plugs to the internet so as to find the VoIP provider that will let you place your calls.
A SIP phone can look like a simple small phone; it can also look like an office phone, or it can be cordless. Whatever the particular design and application, if you hear or read “SIP phone” (or if they called it just “VoIP phone”), it means that it comes with a socket so that it can be hard wired to the internet or network instead of the telephone line.
Soft phones and USB phones
Soft phones and USB phones will find the connection to the internet or network through your computer. They will work if your computer is on.
Soft phones are actually programs running on your computer. They are visible on the screen of your computer (you will see them as a drawing of a telephone). You need speakers and a microphone in order to use a soft phone, and a headset is recommended. There are several free soft-phones available that can be downloaded from the internet, such as X-lite and 3cX, and many VoIP providers offer their own free version as well.
USB phones look like a conventional telephone, but they are connected to the USB port of your computer and need a program to be installed in order to be able to work. They access the internet thanks to your computer, so it is your computer what actually makes them VoIP. USB phones will work as long as you leave the computer on and you have the necessary programs installed.
Wi-Fi phones
Wi-Fi phones use a wireless connection to access the internet or network they need to find the VoIP provider. For example: you have a wireless router at your home or office, and with a Wi-Fi phone you can make VoIP calls while you are walking around the house or office.
Although Wi-Fi phones are a rare item to be found nowadays, they and are still sold for because they cover particular needs. It is important to mention them because they look like mobile phones, and their name leads us to confuse them with mobile phones. Just keep in mind: if it is called just Wi-Fi phone, it is wireless and you can make calls with it, but it is not a mobile phone.
Now, a final tip…
Manufactures keep showing new products which can be a combination of the VoIP phones described in this article. By having an idea about the three main types of VoIP phones above, you will be able to understand what most VoIP consumer products can do for you.
You can take advantage of low cost and free telephone calls, as well as learn more about VoIP technology and how it can benefit you, whether you use it to contact your family and friends, or wish to use VoIP for large business applications.
Author: Marc B Hughes
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Bumper guardian
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