Voip Glossary-Terms and Definitions
The following list provides a glossary of terms and definitions that are commonly used in VoIP Solutions. This glossary list will provide a good reference for you during your introduction to VoIP Phone Services.
Analog audio signals: Analog audio signals are used to transmit voice data over telephone lines. This is done by varying or modulating the frequency of sound waves to accurately reflect the pitch of the sound. The same technology is used for radio wave transmissions.
ATA - Analog Telephone Adapter. A device that connects between an analog telephone and an Internet connection port, and allows you to use a standard phone to make and receive VoIP calls over the Internet.
Bandwidth: Bandwidth is the volume of data that can be transmitted over a communication line in a fixed amount of time. It is expressed in bits per second (bps) or bytes per. To get the most out of a VoIP service you really need broadband although even the slowest broadband will be OK for VoIP.
Broadband: It is a term used to define high speed Internet connection, generally provided by cable TV, DSL or dedicated telecom lines. The high speeds are achieved by the carrying capacity of the cable that can carry multiple messages simultaneously.
Cable modem: The cable modem is a device that is used to connect a computer to the high speed coaxial cable run by cable TV companies to provide access to the Internet. The connection is made through an Ethernet port, which is a shared medium and can affect download speeds if too many users log on simultaneously to the Internet on that particular cable segment. However, despite this cable modems provide extremely fast access to the net.
DSL modem: A DSL modem is a device that is used to connect one or more computers to the high speed DSL line provided by a DSL operator to gain access to the Internet. The customers use these modems to log on the net to download or transmit data. Since the DSL lines have high bandwidth capacity the data transfer speeds are very high.
E911: E911 is the short form of the term Enhanced 911, and is used for providing emergency service on cellular and Internet voice calls.
H.323: Another protocol used by some older VoIP services. H323 has largely been replace by SIP as the language VoIP uses. See SIP for more.
IM: IM, which stands for Instant Messaging, is a software that allows users to exchange messages in real time. However, to do so both the users must be logged on to the instant messaging service at the same time. Some of the popular IM services are: MSN Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk and ICQ.
Internet Calls, Internet Phone Calls Internet calls are the same as Broadband Calls - Internet calls refer to the ability to make phone calls via the Internet.
Make and receive calls to ordinary phones with your computer.Internet calling company.
IP address: An IP address, also known as Internet Protocol address, is the machine number used to identify all devices that are connected to the net. Each device has its own unique number which it uses to communicate. This number is fixed in the case of those computing devices that have a fixed IP address. The rest are allotted a dynamic IP address, which is valid for the period they are connected to the net. The numbers range from 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255.
IP Phone: An IP phone is one that converts voice into digital packets and vice versa to make phone calls over Internet possible. It has built-in IP signaling protocols such as H.323 that ensure that the voice is routed to the right destination over the net. The IP phones come with several value added services like voicemail, e-mail, call number blocking etc.
IP telephony: IP telephony refers to the two-way transmission of voice over Internet. The voice is transmitted in real time by using the packet-switched technology over the IP network. Some of the applications that use IP telephony are IP-based phone services, voice over instant messaging and videoconferencing.
Net Phone or Net Calls: A net phone uses the Voice over IP technology to make voice calls. Another term for making telephone calls on the Internet and refers to the VoIP service.
PC to Phone :Another term relating to a VoIP service. Internet pc to phone means that you can make a telephone call from your PC (computer) to a normal telephone. Your PC would run a piece of software called a softphone. You would use a microphone and headphone headset.
PSTN - PSTN is an acronym for the Public Switched Telephone Network. It is commonly-known as the telephone network.
Router: A router is a network device that that handles message transfer between computers that form part of the Internet. The messages, which are in the form of data packets, are forwarded to their respective IP destinations by the router. A router can also be called the junction box that routes data packets between computer networks.
Service provider: A service provider is a business entity that provides a communication, storage or processing service for a fee. Some of the service providers in the digital world are the Internet service provider (ISP), application service provider (ASP), storage service provider, mobile phone service provider, web hosting provider, and of course, VOIP phone service provider.
SIP phone: A SIP phone is a telephone that uses the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) standard to make a voice call over the Internet. See SIP. A SIP phone is used with a VoIP Service. A SIP phone can be a hardware IP phone or a softphone.
SIP: SIP, which is the acronym of Session Initiation Protocol, is an IP telephony signaling protocol. Basically it is a language that VoIP phones use to talk to each other.
Softphone: Soft is short for software, a program that runs on your computer. It uses the Voice over IP technology to route voice calls over the net . Normally used with a headphone and microphone headset The only limitation of a Softphone is that the phone call has to be made through a PC. Many softphones are free VOIP software downloads.
Voice chat: This is an application that enables two or more than two individuals to carry on a verbal conversation over the Internet. Voice chat is also known as audio-conferencing or telephone conferencing on the net.
Voice over IP (VOIP): VoIP or Voice over IP is the technology that is used to transmit voice over the Internet. The voice is first converted into digital data which is then organized into small packets. These packets are stamped with the destination IP address and routed over the Internet. At the receiving end the digital data is reconverted into voice and fed into the user’s phone.
Voicemail: It is a telephone messaging system that digitizes the analog voice signals and stores them on disk or flash memory in a central computer. These messages can then be retrieved by users by logging on to the server or forwarded to another voice mailbox. Most voice mail systems have auto attendant capabilities, that is they can use prerecorded messages to route callers to the appropriate person or mailbox. Voicemail is usually a free feature in VOIP service plans.
VoIP - Voice over Internet Protocol, which is a technology that allows you to make and receive phone calls and faxes over the Internet instead of through the telephone or cellular network.
VOIP Phone: A VoIP phone is one that uses the Internet to route voice calls by converting the voice data into IP packets and vice versa. The phones come with built-in IP signaling protocols such as H.323 or SIP that help in the routing of data to the right destination. A VoIP phone can also be a software application that is installed in the user's PC. In this case it is known as the Softphone. Also, the calls in this case have to be made from the PC, and not through a telephone instrument.
VoIP Provider A company that can offer a Voice over Internet Protocol to you - such as Viatalk. Viatalk is a VoIP provider. There are many other VoIP providers but Viatalk is the best internet service provider. VOIP services: The VoIP services are packet-based services that use the Internet to move voice data. These services are much cheaper than the traditional PSTN services because the investment in infrastructure is low. They also come with several values added features which make them more lucrative than the conventional landline phone services.
Web phone: A web phone is a device that allows users to make voice calls over the Internet.
WiFi Hotspot: An area where a wireless access point enables users carrying wireless-enabled laptops to log on to the Internet. The limiting condition is that the access point is configured to broadcast its presence and does not require authorization for access. Generally, WiFI hotspots are located in public places like airports, train stations, libraries, marinas, convention centers, coffee shops and hotels.
WiFi phone: A WiFI phone is one that enables users to make phone calls from public WiFi hotspots or residential WiFI network environments. Besides voice calls, these phones can be used to send e-mails wirelessly.