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VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol is the revolutionary new way to make free calls through your computer. Although the technology has been around for a number of years, it is just now gaining in popularity as the traditional phone companies continue to raise their rates. The process for VoIP is to take regular analog audio signals, like voices you hear when you are talking on the phone, and turn them into digital data that can be sent over your computer using an Internet connection. Over all else, VoIP is an intelligent "reinvention of the phone" or 'wheel' if you will. There is three different ways you can place a call using the VoIP technology. The most frequent and easiest way to use VoIP technology is with an ATA or analog telephone adaptor. The VoIP can be set directly to your computers Internet through a regular telephone. The ATA is an analog to digital converter, which will take the analog signal and change it into a digital signal and then transfers it over the Internet in little packets. Once these little packets reach the other end, say your friends phone, the packets are unwrapped and transferred back into readable data or in this case, voice or spoken words. The ATA simple plugs into your phone and you are ready to go. The computer and special software do the rest. The next way to connect with VoIP technology is through a special VoIP phone, which looks just like a regular phone with a handset and buttons. The only difference is the RJ-11 connector is replaced by a RJ-45 Ethernet connector. VoIP phone calls get directed to your router and have the hardware and software already programmed into the phone. The final way to connect to the VoIP technology has got to be the simplest way and that is computer to computer. This is where the free long distance phone calls come into play. There are several companies on the Internet that allow you to download their software for free. You will need your computer with a fast Internet connection, a sound card, a microphone and the free software. Except for your normal Internet connection fees, there should be no other fees involved for computer to computer VoIP connection calls. A few disadvantages to VoIP are that it must always have a power source. If your power goes out, then the 'phone' will go out as well, unlike with a regular phone (unless it is a cordless phone). Currently, there is no way to integrate other systems your home may have such as an alarm system, home security system or digital recorder all through the same phone line using the VoIP technology. You would have to maintain a regular telephone line for these types of products. The other disadvantage is that there are some VoIP technologies that do not integrate with the 9-1-1 system; therefore you cannot simply dial 9-1-1. VoIP technology uses IP addresses and there is no way for an emergency response services call system to geographically locate an IP address. IP addresses are your computer addresses, not your physical address.
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