What is VOIP and how it works?

What is VOIP?

VOIP means Voice over Internet Protocol is used very widely these days. VoIP is used for international calls because the call charges are very low when compared to normal mobile calls or landline calls. VOIP functions by transmitting analog into digital signals through voice, fax, SMS and voice-messaging. These signals can only be sent through internet and not through Telephone Network. In simple words VOIP uses internet service to make calls. VoIP is the best service in terms of price and ease to use. You can use VOIP service from anywhere in the world provided internet is available.

To understand how VOIP, works, read below.

Circuit switching:

To make regular phone calls it has to be connected to circuit switching. This is what we call Public Switched Telephone Network also known as PSTN.

This system builds up a channel or circuit between the caller and receiver at the time of calling.

In the early days to make a call a copper wire needs to be connected to both ends to make call which becomes very costly as you will own the wire at the time of making calls which makes it very expensive.

 Nowadays the calls are digitized and automated electronic switching has replaced the manual switching. Fiber-optic cables are now used instead of the copper ones and with Fiber-optic cables which enables to transmit thousands of voice signals using the same cable. This means that you don't have to own that wire anymore while making a rather you will be sharing it with others.

The way the circuit works is the same over the years. A 960 KB of data gets used per minute when you are connected, and voice data is transmitted from both ends. In this procedure we lose a big amount of data as one person must be silent while the other is speaking.

Packet switching:

VOIP calls uses packet switching while making a call. Instead of keeping the connection open for the duration of the call as in the case with circuit switching, the connection only opens when there is something to send.