| VoIP is a protocol (Voice-over-Internet protocol) which | | | | call waiting, caller ID. When encryption is employed, the |
| is designed to optimize the transmission of audio | | | | security of the network is strong and hard to break in |
| through the Internet. Most people refer to VoIP as the | | | | to. |
| act of sending audio through a network, rather than | | | | The most popular security protocol used with VoIP is |
| the protocol itself. The protocol evolved from a 1973 | | | | the Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol (SRTP). |
| protocol known as the Network Voice Protocol, which | | | | Many other services can be integrated with a system, |
| was one of the first attempts at sending speech over | | | | including file exchanges, video conversation, and |
| the Internet. | | | | conference calls. Advanced services which would |
| Despite the NVP's early origination date, it was not until | | | | usually be difficult to implement are much easier to do |
| 1996 that VoIP became widely available to consumers. | | | | in a VoIP system, and this ease also reduces the cost |
| Even then, the protocol and network structures had a | | | | of installation as well. |
| long way to go, and the system was relatively | | | | Despite the many breakthroughs that have been |
| inefficient. As technology has evolved and advanced, | | | | made through the years, VoIP still faces many |
| VoIP has become a realistic cost-effective solution to | | | | challenges. Audio is essentially large streams of data, |
| consider. | | | | and whenever data of that size is transferred through |
| Currently, the chief alternative to VoIP is the PSTN, or | | | | a network, problems can occur. Receiving nodes must |
| public switched telephone network, which utilizes the | | | | restructure every bit of information that comes in, so if |
| traditional structure of circuit switching. The PSTN is a | | | | the data is obtained too quickly, the decapsulation |
| world network, much like the Internet, and includes | | | | process can be negatively affected. |
| household and mobile phones. When VoIP first came | | | | Jitter, another data transfer conundrum, can also occur |
| out, it was incompatible with PSTN, meaning users | | | | frequently if proper precautionary measures are not |
| could only connect to other people with VoIP. Many | | | | taken. All of the data transfer troubles, if not tended to, |
| early complications such as this have since been | | | | can result in a low quality of service. When packets |
| overcome, making VoIP much more viable than it was | | | | are not received or they are scrambled, this translates |
| a decade ago. | | | | into drop-outs of voice for the end users. |
| What can VoIP do that the PSTN cannot One feature | | | | Reliability is another important thing to consider, |
| is the ability to add multiple phone lines without incurring | | | | especially for home use of VoIP. With regular |
| additional costs, as it is possible to transmit several | | | | telephones, if the power goes out, you can still use |
| phone calls over the same connection. Other features | | | | your phone. However, because VoIP works directly |
| that normally cost extra for a PSTN phone are free | | | | through the Internet, and a modem that uses household |
| on VoIP; this includes attributes such as call forwarding, | | | | electricity, if the power goes out, your phone goes out. |