Telecoms is a massive industry. But when talked about, the first thing that will come to mind is the traditional landline phone system. However VoIP (Voice over internet protocol) provides an alternative method of making calls in a quick, effective and – in this day age, most importantly cost effective way.

VoIP technology is relatively new and allows the user of a VoIP phone or setup to make standard telephone calls without having to have a standard phone line.

The implementation of a phone line is replaced by a broadband connection.
At a time when the price of many amenities is going up, how can this service be offered at such a low rate you ask? Well VoIP service providers possess the ability to do this because of the utilisation of a technology known as Least Cost Routing.

This system takes a call made via a VoIP phone, converts it from its original format into data. Various locations to which the call can be routed to in order to achieve the cheapest price are scouted out. From this point the call is converted back into audio for the user at the other end of the call.

When the VoIP call is converted it is still considered local. As it is free to send information across the internet (which is where the VoIP call is sent when it is in data format), it acts as a prime reason as to why VoIP service provider can operate with such low overheads. This is thus reflected in the final cheaper call rates offered up to customers.

As some providers allow for customers to pick an area, different to the one VoIP is installed in, which allows for cheap calls to be made to that location. This could for example benefit someone looking to make cheap calls to an international destination.

It should be noted that while VoIP calls are generally more cost effective, calls made internationally to non-VoIP users may come in at an additional rate. This is very much similar to the way that traditional landline phones operate.

Although the concept of VoIP may seem radical to some, it really isn’t. There are three different ways of making these calls, firstly via a computer with a headset with access to a broadband connection.

In the second instance, the service provider will often provide a special VoIP enabled handset that comes with a cradle. Instead of the cradle plugging into the phone line, it will slot into a broadband router and operates in way very much similar to that of a standard phone.

The final way is by using a cable designed to plug into some standard landline phones thus allowing for them to operate as a VoIP phone.

In the cases in which a VoIP phone is used, a unique phone number will be allocated allowing for non-VoIP users to make calls without any trouble.

They are not only a cheap option, VoIP is also a versatile one that allows for cheap calls to be made internationally and domestically at a low price.

Author Bio: Costas Kariolis – Online Marketing Manager of Vonage UK . Vonage are leading VoIP (Voice over IP) providers for home & small business users. Offering VoIP for making cheap calls to India landlines and mobiles via an internet phone service for a set monthly fee. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Costas Kariolis Senior Director Online, UK & Canada E-mail: theteam@vonage.com

Category: Computers and Technology
Keywords: voip, business voip, voip providers, cheap calls, cheap phone calls, cheap international calls