VoIP Telephony Basics

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology that allows voice data to be digitized and split into packets for sending over an Internet protocol (IP) network. Because a user's voice is turned into digital packets, the quality of a VoIP telephone call is higher than that of a regular phone call placed on a packet-switched telephone network (PSTN) system.

Using VoIP standards, companies have created telephony systems that offer high-level features for end users. These high-level services include: call forwarding, call hunting, and simultaneous ringing.

VoIP 911 Issues

Because a VoIP device can be moved to any location that has a high-speed Internet connection, a few problems exist. The most talked about problem is the lack of full 911 support. This problem arises because the protocol used for VoIP does not transmit a caller's physical location. To combat this problem, some service providers set up an emergency services system. This type of system allows emergency calls to be routed to non-emergency call centers.

This issue should be resolved in the very near future. To correct it, VoIP companies are working with the major telephone companies to gain access to their 911 emergency infrastructure. Until these changes are made, VoIP providers have been telling customers to update their 911 address information regularly.

Though some problems still exist with VoIP, customers are increasingly signing up for the service. Users are interested in saving money and are willing to look past a few shortcomings to do this. With increasing popularity and improving call quality, VoIP services are gaining traction and are expected to rapidly increase in the coming years.