VoIP and IP Telephony – Are They the Same?
VoIP UK and IP telephony are terms that are very commonly used interchangeably. Although in essence, both mean the same thing, function-wise they are quite different from one another. VoIP is essentially the technology used to route calls via a data network, while IP telephony is utilised more commonly by businesses. Let us take a look in greater detail at what VoIP and IT telephony really are.
IP Telephony
When you want to make VoIP calls, the hardware required to do so is called IP telephony. While IP telephony and VoIP are not really the same thing, VoIP can be described as being the subcategory of IP telephony.
If you want to place a VoIP call via a regular phone, then you require special adapters to do so. However, IP phones are created specifically to make VoIP calls and instead of using a regular telephone connection, they use a data connection.
In short, while IP telephony is used mainly for business purposes, VoIP is used both for business as well as personal use.
VoIP
IP calls are usually placed via VoIP. VoIP can be used in many ways – You can have VoIP as cloud, on-premises, hosted or hybrid system, you can use it on your mobile phone, which uses data instead of minutes and you can also make calls in your office, at home and when you are travelling using VoIP.
Difference Between VoIP and IP Telephony
Essentially the difference between VoIP and IP telephony is that the protocol is known as VoIP, while IP telephony is the infrastructure that contains the VoIP. Instead of the standard switched telephone network that uses analogue signals, VoIP uses IP for voice calls. IP telephony structure comprises IP phones, IP-private branch exchange, routers and switches, etc. This infrastructure is needed for a comprehensive VoIP system.
Today, telecommunications and the way in which businesses handle calls have completely undergone a sea change, thanks to IP telephony and VoIP. A VoIP network can be deployed effortlessly throughout your business and in the long run, it can save you plenty of time and money. VoIP is quite a powerful system and can be very beneficial to your business; however, if the corresponding IP telephony equipment is not able to support all the functions and features of VoIP, then the solution that you have will be extremely limited.
Nevertheless, today technological advancements in IP telephony are bringing instant messaging, video chatting and file sharing virtually anywhere via a mobile or a dedicated network.
Equipment Required To Use VoIP Services
A wide range of hosted VoIP services and products are available to both businesses and residential customers. A client should have a data network which supports IP (internet protocol).
This IP protocol provides digital connectivity to other IP phones you are planning to talk. If calls to standard phones are to be supported via a PBX and the PSTN, one or more gateways to one or more PBXs is required.
Because other IP phones are typically on the Internet, then what you need is an Internet connection that also interconnects to the other IP phones. And the IP phones require a VoIP service /server.
The VoIP phone can be a softphone. Whereas a end user can also use Skype software, which runs on your personal machine and uses a headset to handle IP phone calls. The campus may offer a softphone at some point to work with the VoIP service OIT provides for the campus.
The VoIP phone are like self-contained phones, and all these phones just require only knowledge of where to find the VoIP server so that when it “boots up” on power-up it can pick-up its pre-programmed features. This is stored in flash memory when the phone is delivered to the end-user. It also requires a network connection which has power as well as Ethernet connectivity, or it can have a local power “brick.”
Lastly, the VoIP phone will consist of a standard phone-set which is plugged into the VoIP adapter. The adapter converts the analog signaling to digital signaling. It encapsulates that in TCP/IP packeting, and interfaces them to the network.
For both Skype and Vonage (and other similar services) there is a monthly service fee for using the VoIP servers and PBX gateways they maintain and operate on behalf of the end-user. This is certainly the easiest way to use VoIP. You don’t even have to pay heavily for long-distance calls.
Benefits to Phone Customers :-
If a client has international business exposure and he needs to make long-distance calls, he can easily opt for VoIP services. A user can opt for remote VoIP server or Skype. These phones can easily forward those packets of digitized voice over the Internet or other Internet Protocol networks with no cost as compared to normal calling.
The nearest to the call destination connects it into the PSTN using a distant PBX via a gateway. This reduces the toll fees or eliminates them. It benefits anyone who makes frequent long-distance calls.
