How VoIP Works

VoIP, or the Voice over Internet Protocol, is technology for taking analog audio, such as a person speaking into a phone, and turning it into digital information that can be transmitted over the Internet. The two most common implementations of VoIP are using either an Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) or an IP Phone. Both of these allow the internet connection to be shared between both computers and telephones. Due to the amount of bandwidth required, VoIP only works with "always-on" broadband internet, not with dial-up connections.

An Analog Telephone Adapter, or ATA, is generally the simplest and cheapest way to use VoIP. An ATA allows users to attach a standard phone to their Internet connection for use with VoIP. The ATA is an analog-to-digital converter; it takes the analog signal from your traditional phone and converts it into digital data for transmission over the Internet. ATAs are typically used in homes to provide telephone service indistinguishable from the old phone system at much lower price. Phone Power provides a free leased ATA with our regular service package.

The other common method for using VoIP is an IP Phone. These specialized phones look similar to normal office phones with a cradle, standard handset, and option buttons. However, these phones offer vastly upgraded feature sets compared to traditional phones, allowing the use of business features such as an ACD or shared line appearances. Also, instead of having the standard phone connector, called RJ-11, IP phones have an Ethernet connector, called RJ-45. Like ATAs, IP phones can connect directly to a router or modem, or can be placed elsewhere on a home or business network. Phone Power offers IP Phones for either a monthly lease or for outright purchase.

VoIP is powering the next generation of telephony and bringing with it the benefits of lower cost and enhanced features. Phone Power leverages the power of VoIP to offer great value and new features such as Cloned Lines and Click2Call to consumers. Phone Power offers businesses the ability to reduce their monthly phone costs, to simplify their infrastructure by running both voice and data on one network, and to take advantage of features such as Automatic Call Distributors, voicemail to email, or even an entirely hosted phone system.