Business VoIP A-Z: August Edition

Posted by: Jen Robinson

This month I'd like to highlight ten widely used Voice over IP (VoIP)-related terms. Whether you're just entering the VoIP world or are an industry veteran, these terms are vital to understanding VoIP or explaining VoIP to others.

Before we get started, here's a general definition of VoIP:

Voice over IP (VoIP) - A general term for a family of methodologies, communication protocols and transmission technologies for delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet.

Now on to the 10 VoIP terms for August!

1. Analog - The traditional telephone service is an analog system. An analog system works by converting a sound or video signal into electrical vibrations for transmission or reproduction
2. Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) - A device that converts a VoIP signal into a standard telephone signal, allowing you to use your traditional telephone handset with a VoIP connection. It provides an interface between your router and your phone and is available from most VoIP providers, such as Aptela.
3. Bandwidth - Measured in bits per second, it is the amount of data that can be sent from one computer to another through a particular connection in a certain amount of time. The higher the bandwidth available, the more information you are able to access in a given time.
4. Broadband - It is a general term for any Internet connection which receives and transmits at a bit rate of 100kbps or greater. Thus, frame relay, T-line connections, cable, DSL, and bonded or multi-channel ISDN are all considered broadband. Single channel ISDN and dialup modem connections are thus "narrow band".
5. Call processor - VoIP providers' equipment that receives the phone number you dial, checks it for format validity, and maps it to an IP address.
6. Codec- A device or computer program capable of encoding and/or decoding a digital data stream or signal. It converts audio signals into compressed digital signals to be transmitted across a digital network and converts the audio signals back to analog at the receiving end.
7. Conference bridge - A device for connecting several parties in a phone call so that all participants can hear one another.
8. Data compression - Methods of reducing the number of bits in a set of data so it can be transmitted more quickly over the network and then expanded to its original size when it reaches the destination.
9. Endpoint - A phone or computer associated with a phone number and temporarily or permanently assigned an IP address.
10. Full duplex- The ability of devices at both ends of a communications to send and receive information simultaneously.

Stay tuned for the next ten terms in September!