How do VoIP and VoIP phones work?

[Abirami]

VoIP phones work by converting your voice into digital signals and data packets through the internet. The voice calls you make from your device are converted into digital analogue signals through IP networks. Below is the detailed process of workflow for VoIP and VoIP phones.

1. Analog-to-digital conversion: When you speak through a VoIP phone, your voice is captured and converted into analog electrical signals. The signal is digitized using an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), which then samples the analog signals at regular intervals and converts them into a digital format of the voice as a series of binary numbers.
2. Packetization: The digital voice data is then converted into small data packets like real-time transport protocol (RTP). Each packet contains voice data with information such as source and destination IP addresses.
3. IP network transmission: The voice packets are transmitted through IP networks, such as the internet or local IP networks. They are sent through routers and switches to deliver the packets to their destinations.
4. Digital-to-analog conversion: As the voice packets reach their destination, the so-called receiver, the digital voice packets are converted into analog audio signals using a digital-to-analog converter (DAC).
5. Voice playback: The VoIP phone’s speaker or headset then plays the amplified analog audio signals, enabling the receiver to hear the caller’s voice.

 

[daniel chrisman]

To understand how VoIP works, it's important to know the different types of VoIP services available in the UK:

1. Device-to-Device: This type of VoIP uses your device’s microphone and speakers, typically via an instant messaging service. An example of this is Zoom.
2. Device-to-Telephone Network: In this case, the caller uses an internet-enabled device to call a landline or mobile number. Skype is an example, although calls to landlines or mobiles may incur charges.
3. Telephone Network-to-Telephone Network: With this service, the caller uses an adaptor to make VoIP calls from a traditional landline. Examples of this type of service include AXvoice and Ooma.
4. VoIP Phone-to-Telephone Network: Here, the phone itself is IP-enabled, eliminating the need for an adaptor. Services like Vonage and BT Digital Voice offer this type of VoIP phone.