What are the most commonly asked questions about VoIP?

What is VoIP?

VoIP is the acronym of Voice over Internet Protocol. In simplest terms, it is the technology by which your voice is carried over the internet instead of wires as used in the plain old telephones that we have been using. In this article we you will get all the information about VOIP and best reasons to why use VOIP?

What are the advantages of VoIP?

The greatest advantage of VoIP is that it is cheap and in some cases free. But it is not the only plus point of VoIP.

What equipment do I need to use VoIP?

Probably you have already got all the equipment you need to start using the basic free VoIP right now.

All that is required is :

1. A 1Ghz processor computer with a sound card, 256Mb Ram and 50Mb free space.

2. Internet connection, preferably broadband.

3. Headset or a mike and a speaker – the latter may already be with your computer if it is fairly new, less than 4 years old.

Just register with a free VoIP provider such as Skype and you can start talking to somebody who is also registered with Skype and has a computer with internet connection. Of course you would need to buy an adapter (ATA) if you would like to use your phone, instead of headphone or mike and speakers to make VoIP calls.

Can I send fax by VoIP?

Yes, some VoIP providers give you this facility charging you extra for the service. A fax service independent of VoIP phone is available with virtual numbers Hottelecom which you can try for free.

What are the main disadvantages of VoIP?

The main disadvantage that comes to mind is that VoIP depends upon power in your home and with your internet service provider. When there is an power outage at either point, you cannot use VoIP.

Do I need a computer to use VoIP?

Yes you need to have a computer for using VoIP though you can bypass it if you are using ATA or IP Phone.

Can I really make free phone calls?

Yes, you can. There are number of ways to do that.

Also Read: 5 Effective Ways To Improve Information Security In 2020

What are the various ways of using VoIP?

There are basically 3 ways of using VoIP.

1. Pc to Pc calls
2. Pc to Phone calls
3. Phone to Phone

Can I use a computer with lower specifications for VoIP?

You probably can do with a 450Mhz processor, 128Mb Ram and 50Mb free space but the quality of service may suffer a bit. This may not be a problem if you use free VoIP to talk to friends but if you plan to use VoIP for business you would do well to go for a computer with the required specs.

Do I need a computer to use VoIP?

Yes you need to have a computer for using VoIP though you can bypass it if you are using ATA or IP Phone.

Can I use dial-up for VoIP?

While broadband or DSL internet connection is ideal for VoIP calls, you can use a dial-up connection to make VoIP calls which may suffer from a poor quality of service.

What actually is the 911 issue?

911 is the number we dial in case of emergency and in landline phones our phone is automatically connected to system. With VoIP phones this has been an issue which is being addressed by VoIP providers.

Can I surf while using VoIP?

Yes you can with a broadband connection though downloading heavy files while using VoIP may affect the quality of transmission and reception of voice.

Can I use VoIP without a computer at all?

Yes if you get an internet connection just for VoIP. This is an option which only big companies would go for. In normal circumstances we get internet connection for surfing the net so we need a computer for that, though you can bypass the computer while making VoIP calls by using ATA or IP Phone.

Do I need broadband for VoIP?

You need broadband or high speed internet service if you want to use VoIP at its fullest. Actually VoIP phones won’t work at their best without a high stream of internet coming and going from them which is provided by a broadband connection.

Can I use dial-up for VoIP?

While broadband or DSL internet connection is ideal for VoIP calls, you can use a dial-up connection to make VoIP calls which may suffer from a poor quality of service.

What are special features of VoIP?

Most notable feature of VoIP is that it saves you money and lots of it at that. Moreover, as VoIP works over internet it provides many innovative features (mostly free or at a nominal cost) which no traditional phone line could give its customers.

Is VoIP safe?

If there have been some instances of VoIP security breaches they are not as common as it is sometimes made out to be. This is borne out by the ever growing number of people using VoIP phones all over the world. So you need not fear using VoIP though it is always prudent to take some safety precautions.

Also Read: How Face Recognition Technology is shaping the future of various industries?