VoIP ARTICLES - Learn about VoIP
Understanding VoIP - Voice over Internet Protocol also referred to as Internet telephony, IP telephony, or Voice over the Internet lets you use the Internet for telephone calls. VoIP Articles are updated on a regular basis. Bookmark this site and return often for the latest VoIP information.

VoIP - What is the Problem?
In the beginning, when the Internet Protocol was first designed, no one was thinking about the possibilities of sending audio and video. Real time communication was not an issue.

Perhaps the greatest single problem is that the Internet Protocol (the IP part of VoIP - Voice over Internet Protocol) wasn't designed to ensure that the packets are delivered in the correct order. When information is transmitted using IP, the data is broken up into information packets, each of which is sent separately. The correct sequence of packets is part of the information in each packet, but nothing specifically exists to make sure that the packets are delivered, and, therefore, received in the proper order.

Now this isn't usually a significant issue for web pages, email, etc. Why? Because these aren't real-time applications. Audio and video however, especially live audio and live video are definitely real-time applications. For a real time conversation to work, the packets have to arrive - pretty much in order and also within certain time limits.

The first, and one of the major challenges then, is to restructure incoming packets into the correct order and to somehow cope with lost and/or trashed packets. Face it, the internet does not provide a quality of service guarantee. If enough packets are lost, an audio or video stream rapidly turns into a useless mess. While packets can be resent - the standard way lost/trashed packets are dealt with - real time communication means that you just can't wait around forever. After a certain time, it's simply too late to maintain a coherent stream.

What we've seen over the last few years is a gradual and now nearly explosive growth in the use of VoIP, and streaming audio and video. The reason is decline of dial-up and the growth of ISDN, DSL, ADSL, cable and other high speed, high bandwidth access modes. Bandwidth is the answer to most of the problems posed by IP. End-to-end high speed links can ensure high quality sound. The sole remaining problem is latency.

For most this is not an issue when they have high speed internet access, however, it can become a problem with satellite links or any other system where unusually long distances and many hops are involved.

On private networks, there is rarely a problem using VoIP and many companies with internal networks (such as telcos and power companies) use VoIP to communicate within their organizational network structure.

However, when the available end-to-end bandwidth is less than 256 Kbps, a good VoIP system will require mechanisms to overcome fragmentation of the data stream.

Security is an issue everywhere on the internet and what this means is that VoIP also needs to deal with firewalls and NATs (Network Address Translation). While some systems can do NAT and firewall traversal on their own, others require the use of SBCs (Session Border Controllers) to manage the traversal.

One major, though non-technical, challenge to VoIP, comes from traditional telephone service providers who are being by-passed by consumers who love the extremely low (or zero) long-distance charges they can get by using VoIP. Exactly how this works out over the long run will be fascinating to watch. In the meantime, VoIP services are continually being improved and extended. Enjoy them.

About the Author

For more on VoIP, conference calling, web conferencing and more visit http://www.AltaGlobal.com. Find more on wireless and cellular subjects at http://www.AltaGlobal.org. For networking and security check Navigation

Home Page

Random VoIP Article

Introduction to VOIP Articles

VOIP Articles

VOIP Products

VOIP Books

VOIP on eBay


Make Free Internet Phone Calls With VoIP And Save A Ton Of Money On Phone Bills.
Have you heard all the buzz about VoIP? Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is an emerging technology which allows you to make telephone calls over the Internet - many times for free. It is already...


Skype vs. Vonage: The 30 second VoIP comparison!
Many of you have probably already heard about VoIP, or voice over IP. This is a technology that allows you to make telephone calls using the internet. With VoIP you can save money on your monthly...


VOIP: A Basic, Basic Intro
What is it? Most people are familiar w/ NetMeeting and other software that let you talk to others over the internet. VOIP is similar. However, it also uses your phone - the interface we're all...


VoIP - Saving on the Bundle
The use of VoIP services is really in it's infancy at the present time, and like an infant will grow as time moves forward. While the business community has been on the forefront of the use of...


VoIP Telephony Basics
VoIP ( Voice over Internet Protocol ) Telephony is the process of routing voice conversations over an Internet Protocol network, rather than through traditional circuit-switched telephone lines. The...


What Is VoIP and How Does It Work
Introduction The way we make phone calls is changing. In fact in many circumstances things have already changed. Take long distance calls for instance, many service providers are already using a...