What is VOIP & How to make Free Phone Calls using it?

VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. If you've never heard of VoIP, get ready to change the way you think about long-distance phone calls. What VoIP does is, it converts the voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that travels over the Internet. This means NO phone charges! And this is why VoIP is such a buzz word today.

So at the end of this article, you can speak to any person in the world without spending any Paisa, if both of them have VOIP enabled in their PCs.. VoIP can turn a standard Internet connection into a way to place free phone calls. The practical upshot of this is that by using some of the free VoIP software that is available to make Internet phone calls, you are bypassing the phone company (and its charges) entirely.

VoIP presents businesses and consumers a like with an option to save on their phone bills. It is very simple to set up and use, and requires very little equipment. For instance...If you are calling a regular phone number, the signal is then converted back at the other end. Internet Voice can allow you to make a call directly from a computer.

The interesting thing about VoIP is that there is not just one way to place a call. There are three different "flavors" of VoIP service in common use today:

ATA:
.The simplest and most common way is through the use of a device called an ATA (analog telephone adaptor). The ATA allows you to connect a standard phone to your computer or your Internet connection for use with VoIP. The ATA is an analog-to-digital converter. It takes the analog signal from your traditional phone and converts it into digital data for transmission over the Internet. Providers like Vonage and AT&T CallVantage are bundling ATAs free with their service. You simply crack the ATA out of the box, plug the cable from your phone that would normally go in the wall socket into the ATA, and you're ready to make VoIP calls. Some ATAs may ship with additional software that is loaded onto the host computer to configure it; but in any case, it is a very straightforward setup.

IP Phones:
These specialized phones look just like normal phones with a handset, cradle and buttons. But instead of having the standard RJ-11 phone connectors, IP phones have an RJ-45 Ethernet connector. IP phones connect directly to your router and have all the hardware and software necessary right onboard to handle the IP call. Soon, Wi-Fi IP phones will be available, allowing subscribing callers to make VoIP calls from any Wi-Fi hot spot .

Computer-to-computer:

This is certainly the easiest way to use VoIP. You don't even have to pay for long-distance calls. There are several companies offering free or very low-cost software that you can use for this type of VoIP. All you need is the software, a microphone, speakers, a sound card and an Internet connection, preferably a fast one like you would get through a cable or DSL modem. Except for your normal monthly ISP fee, there is usually no charge for computer-to-computer calls, no matter the distance.

What Do You Need To Get Started?

A broadband Internet connection is required to make VoIP calls. Some services allow you to use a regular telephone, as long as you connect it to an adaptor.

Some companies allow you to make calls from a computer or a VoIP phone that doesn't require an additional adapter. (Example Tata Indicom/VSNL) If you are calling a regular telephone number, the person you are calling does not need any special equipment, just a phone. More and more companies are entering the VoIP arena everyday.

For a low monthly fee you can make unrestricted calls anywhere (No PC required on the other side) without incurring any long distant charges. As you can see VoIP can be a real money saving opportunity for smart consumers and call centres. It is important to compare plans when considering a VoIP provider. Depending on the plan you might be limited only to other subscribers to the service, or you may be able to call any phone number, anywhere in the world. The call can be made to a local number, a mobile phone, a long distance, or an international number.

What Are Some Advantages of VoIP?
Because VoIP is digital, it may offer features and services that are not available with a traditional phone. If you have a broad band Internet connection, you need not maintain and pay the additional cost for a line just to make telephone calls.

So how to make Free Calls?
If you're interested to call another computer in the world, you can do it at free of cost. You should be able to download and set it up one freeware named SKYPE in about three to five minutes.
After that ask your friend (whom you want to call) to download the software, too, and you can start tinkering with VoIP to get a feel for how it works.