Some ITSPs (Internet Telephony Service Providers) offer a service called an SIP trunk, which allows PBX services to use VoIP (Voice-over-IP) services outside of the enterprise network via the same connection as that used for the Internet. As a result, SIP trunking services can save an organization a significant amount of money as it eliminates the need for additional VoIP hardware or software for the organization’s network. The minimum equipment required to use SIP trunking is a PBX, ITSP, and an edge device for coordinating the routing of SIP traffic. Read More

VoIP hardware falls into several categories: VoIP Interface Cards for PCs PC Telephones VoIP Telephones VoIP Switches VoIP Gateways VoIP Routers VoIP PBX’s VoIP Telephones VoIP Interface Cards for PCs VoIP Interface cards for PCs turn your PC into a very capable VoIP telephone. Leading manufacturers of VoIP interface cards for the PC include: Digium VoiceTronix PC Telephones PC Telephones are telephones which attach to your PC, usually via the USB port, and allow you to make telephone calls through your PC. VoIP Telephones VoIP telephones are telephones which attach Read More

A VoIP Gateway (Voice over IP Gateway) is a network device that helps to convert voice and fax calls between an IP network and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) in real time. It is a high performance gateway designed for Voice over IP applications. A VoIP gateway can typically support at least two T1/E1 digital channels. Most VoIP gateways feature at least one Ethernet and telephone port. Various protocols, such as MGCP, SIP, or LTP can help to control a gateway. VoIP Gateway Benefits VoIP gateway’s main advantage is that Read More

VoIP spam or Spam over Internet Telephony (SPIT) is one of the foreseen future forms of spamming that Internet authorities are preparing for today. With the increasing use and dependence on the Internet for communications and data transfer, malicious software programmers have taken advantage by creating VoIP bots with the ability to harvest data and advertise massively at a very small cost. These advertising methods include email spams, SPIMS or spams over instant messaging applications, malicious bots that generate pop up ads, initiate redirects, etc. With the inevitable popularity of Read More

Any technology that involves transfer of data or information is prone to compromised security. It happens with telephones, cell phones, email and Internet transactions. Because VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) has the Internet as its mode of transference it’s possible to have your Internet-based called intercepted. To make matters worse, there are techno-troublemakers who are armed with the hacking skills needed to eavesdrop on virtually any call over the Internet they want to. It is impossible to ensure total security on information flow over the web including Internet based phone Read More

SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is an IETF standard multimedia conferencing protocol, which includes voice, video, and data conferencing, for use over packet-switched networks. SIP is an open standard replacement for the ITU's H.323. SIP is described in RFC 3621 – SIP: Session Initiation Protocol. SIP is an application-layer control (signaling) protocol for creating, modifying, and terminating sessions with one or more participants. These sessions include Internet telephone calls, multimedia distribution, and multimedia conferences. SIP invitations used to create sessions carry session descriptions that allow participants to agree on a set Read More

An Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA), also known as the Analog Telephony Adapter, is an electronic device used to enable one or more analog telephones or facsimile machines for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls and faxes. An Analog Telephone Adapter basically creates a physical connection by use of telephone and Internet cables between a conventional phone or fax and a computer or an Ethernet gateway. The ATA usually comes with a digital phone and Internet plan provider but it can also be bought independently. The Analog Telephone Adapter makes voice Read More

H.323 is an ITU standard multimedia conferencing protocol, which includes voice, video, and data conferencing, for use over packet-switched networks. H.323 was the first standard for VoIP, but is being supplanted by SIP. H.323 defines five components of a multimedia network: Terminals Multipoint Control Units (MCUs) Gateways Gatekeeper Border Elements Terminals are telephone and PC equipment which connect end-users to the H.323 network. MCUs are responsible for managing conferences. MCU’s consist of a Multipoint Controller (MC) and an optional Multipoint Processor (MP). The MC manages signaling and the MP manages Read More

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is changing the way people communicate. VoIP utilizes a broadband Internet connection for routing telephone calls, as opposed to conventional switching methods, providing efficient use of existing Internet connections as well as lowering overall costs. Interestingly, there is no need for any large scale infrastructures; just combine a conventional phone with a broadband Internet connection to utilize a single service with minimal software and hardware support. VoIP service providers are touting unlimited local and long distance calling for as little as $199 per year. This Read More

VoIP conference software comes in two basic varieties: free and commercial. The free VoIP conference software packages tend to be difficult to setup and use; the commercial VoIP conference software packages tend to be slick and easy to install and use. Of course, the commercial VoIP conference software packages also come with setup fees and recurring costs for conference room access. Which option you choose depends upon your budget of time and money. Free VoIP Conference Software Commercial VoIP Conference Software Free VoIP Conference Software GnomeMeeting GnomeMeeting is an H.323 Read More