VoIP

VoIP technology uses a broadband Internet connection to make phone calls rather than a conventional phone line. Because it is using your existing broadband connection it is a cheaper and more efficient way to make phone calls, this is done by converting your voice signal into a digital signal. VoIP can be used in 3 ways, connection via a regular phone or adapter, a special Internet phone or by downloading software and using your computer.

VoIP can be used to record phone calls, which means that it can be applied in the radio industry to record telephone interviews. Because of it’s efficiency and cost effective method VoIP can be used in a business environment as a conferencing tool. As of 2007 it was reported that 20% of businesses in the US already used VoIP. VoIP allows business professionals all over the world to connect with each other using their existing phone line, whereas state-of-the-art conferencing equipment can be expensive. However, if a business or individual is switching to VoIP from a regular phone line a downside can be that they will most probably not be able to keep their phone number. It’s not impossible but unlikely, as most VoIP providers do not have the ability to provide local numbers and therefore cannot allow a user to keep their old number which can be important to major business and large radio shows.

Another negative of the VoIP technology is that there is a minor glitch, which as a result means that not all VoIP providers have the ability to register your address and number with the emergency services. This means that if the emergency services were contacted using a VoIP system and the caller was unable to tell the operator their location help would be unable to reach them because they would not know where to go.

Security risks and worries are becoming increasingly prominent where VoIP is concerned. In its early days people were not highly concerned about security issues ad they were mainly focusing on its functionality, reliability and most importantly its cost.  Fraudsters are now turning to VoIP as a tool to gain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details. This is known as Vishing, or VoIP Phishing. Just like regular phishing a party calls faking to be trustworthy organisation such as your bank and request confidential and often critical information. This is become an increased risk as VoIP starts to become more commonplace within society, however this sort of criminal process can take place via regular phone lines, mobile phone lines and email so is not an isolated issue simple involving VoIP technology.

Skype is the most well-known computer application that uses VoIP technology to allow uses to make calls over the Internet. Calls can be made to traditional landlines and mobiles at a fee but all calls made to other users within the Skype network are free. Skype has become so popular because it allows users to take advantage of the additional features, such as instant messaging, file transfer and video conferencing. Skype uses a proprietary Internet telephony (VoIP) network, called the Skype protocol.