[top]What is Voice Over IP?

Voice Over IP (VoIP) is a technology that allows voice traffic (for example, telephone calls and faxes) to be transmitted over an IP network, such as the public internet. Using VoIP and, usually, a broadband internet connection (cable modem or DSL), it is possible to use a broad range of equipment to make telephone calls over the net. An intermediary (either hardware or software) is needed to translate back and forth between an analog stream (ie: your voice) and the digital packets which are transmitted over a network. Recent advances allow for VoIP to connect directly to the basic PSTN telephone system so that internet calls can be made to any phone number in the world.