What is VoIP?

If you’ve had Internet access for the past year you’ve probably noticed more and more people talking about something called VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol. Despite the technical-sounding term, VoIP is actually a quite simple -- yet revolutionary -- communication technology. VoIP facilitates a process of converting the analog voice signal from your phone into a digital data signal that is transmitted over the Internet.

Now what does that mean in practical terms, or, in other words, why should you care? In the plainest terms, VoIP transforms a standard Internet connection into a means to place free – yes, free! – telephone calls anywhere in the world, circumnavigating the phone company and its pesky nickel-and-diming altogether.

While the number of people in the United States who have cable Internet connections isn't yet an overwhelming majority, the more the technology advances, the less need there will be for maintaining a secondary traditional phone service in the home. Ma Bell might not be scrambling just yet, but thanks to VoIP, eventually all you’ll need to reach out and touch someone is your cable modem, speakers, VoIP software, and a microphone.

wikiVoIP.org was created to present and explore some of the basic principles, connectivity requirements, and network characteristics of this emerging technology.

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See also:

• VoIP Basics
• Getting Connected
• Network Design & Operations
• PSTN & Cellular Networks