VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

Voice over Internet Protocol is a category of hardware and software

that enables people to use the Internet as the transmission medium for
telephone calls by sending voice data in packets using IP rather than by
traditional circuit transmissions of the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone
Network).
VoIP converts Analog voice signals into digital data packets and supports
real-time, two-way transmission of conversations using Internet
Protocol (IP). VoIP calls can be made on the Internet using a VoIP service
provider and standard computer audio systems. VoIP offers a
substantial cost savings over traditional long distance telephone calls.

Figure 1 VoIP

Telephony

Understanding the terms are a first step toward learning the potential of this technology:

IP Telephony encompasses the full suite of VoIP enabled services including the interconnection
of phones for communications; related services such as billing and dialing plans; and basic
features such as conferencing, transfer, forward, and hold. These services might previously have
been provided by a PBX.
IP Communications includes business applications that enhance communications to enable
features such as unified messaging, integrated contact centers, and rich-media conferencing with
voice, data, and video.
Unified Communications takes IP communications a step further by using such technologies as
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and presence along with mobility solutions to unify and simply all
forms of communications, independent of location, time, or device. (Learn more about unified
communications.)

The steps and principles involved in originating VoIP telephone calls are similar to traditional digital
telephony and involve signaling, channel setup, digitization of the analog voice signals, and encoding.
Instead of being transmitted over a circuit-switched network, however, the digital information is
packetized, and transmission occurs as IP packets over a packet-switched network. Such transmission
entails careful considerations about resource management different from time-division multiplexing
(TDM) networks.
One of the most significant advantages of VoIP (over a traditional public switched telephone network
(PSTN - also known as a legacy networks) is that one can make a long distance phone call and bypass the
toll charge. Furthermore, when compared with circuit-switched services (yet another name for legacy
networks), IP networks can carry 5 to 10 times the number of voice calls over the same bandwidth.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

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's 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. Wi-Fi phones allow 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-tocomputer calls, no matter the distance.

VoIP is available on many smartphones, personal computers, and on Internet access devices. Calls and
SMS text messages may be sent over 3G or Wi-Fi.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

Historical Milestones
1973: Network Voice Protocol (NVP) developed by Danny Cohen and others to carry real time voice over
Arpanet.

Figure 2 1973, First Voice Data

Packet Transmitted

1974: The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) published a paper titled "A Protocol for
Packet Network Interconnection".
1974: Network Voice Protocol (NVP) first tested over Arpanet in August 1974, carrying 16k CVSD
encoded voice first implementation of Voice over IP
1975: CompuServe is born
1977: Danny Cohen, Vint Cerf, Jon Postel agree to
separate IP from TCP, and create UDP for carrying real
time traffic
1981: IPv4 is described in RFC 791.
1985: The National Science Foundation commissions

Figure 3 1975, CompuServe

Born

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

the creation of NSFNET.
1986: Proposals from various standards organizations for Voice over ATM, in addition to commercial
packet voice products from companies such as StrataCom
1991: First Voice Over IP application, Speak Freely, released as public domain. Originally written by John
Walker and further developed by Brian C. Wiles.
1992: Voice over Frame Relay standards development within Frame Relay Forum
1993: The room type video conference system developed by AT&T.

Figure 4 1993, Video Conference

System by AT&T

1994: MTALK, a freeware VoIP application for Linux

1995: VocalTec releases the first commercial Internet phone software.

Beginning in 1995, Intel, Microsoft and Radvision initiated standardization activities for VoIP
communications system.

1996:

ITU-T begins development of standards for the transmission and signaling of voice
communications over Internet Protocol networks with the H.323 standard.
US telecommunication companies petition the US Congress to ban Internet phone technology.

1997: Level 3 began development of its first softswitch, a term they coined in 1998.
1999:

The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) specification RFC 2543 is released.

Mark Spencer of Digium develops the first open source private branch exchange (PBX) software
(Asterisk).

2004: Commercial VoIP service providers proliferate.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

2007: VOIP device manufacturers and sellers boom in Asia, specifically in the Philippines where many
families of overseas workers reside.

History
There are two fundamental technologies that are necessary for the existence of VoIP. The first, and
most widely used, is the telephone. The second technology is the Internet. The telephone was as direct
result of the (independent) work of Alexander Gram Bell and Elisha Gray in the 1870s. Early telephones
were leased in pairs to subscribers. The subscriber was required to put up their own line to connect with
another.

Figure 5 Alexander Gram

Bell and Elisha Gray in the 1870s

In 1889, Almon B. Strowger, a Kansas City undertaker, invented a switch that could connect one line to
any of 100 lines by using relays and sliders. This switch became known as "The Strowger Switch" and
was still in use in some telephone offices well over 100 years later.4 To make a call, the user needed to
push a button on their phone the required number of times to dial the receivers phone number. This
button was replaced in 1896. Interestingly, Philadelphia was the last city to give up the dual service
(rotary and button) in 1943. About the same time the transistor was invented, mathematician Dr.
Claude Shannon published "A Mathematical Theory of Communication," which promoted the concept of
communicating in binary code. Dr. Shannon's paper formed the basis of the entire digital
communications revolution, from cell phones to the Internet.
In 1968 the Internet was first developed by ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network),
founded by the U.S. Department of Defence in 1957. ARPANET was developed to provide a
decentralized communications network that would not be disrupted by a potential global war. As the PC
became popular, online service companies formed to provide proprietary information and email

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

services. Subscribers would dial into the network with their telephone lines would pay an hourly fee to
receive the services offered.
Although the telephone and Internet were vital to the existence of VoIP, there is another technology
that is closely related, and just as important. In 1972 Dr. Vint Cerf was the man who invented
Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) the technical protocol that defines the form
of net data packets and how they travel to their destinations. VoIP started in February of 1995 by a small
company in Israel called Vocaltec, Inc. Their product, Internet Phone, allowed one user to call another
user via their computers, a microphone and a set of speakers. Additionally, this application/product only
worked if both the caller and the receiver had the same software setup. By 1998 some entrepreneurs
started to market PC-to-phone and phone-to-phone VoIP solutions.

Protocols
Voice over IP has been implemented in various ways using both proprietary protocols and protocols
based on open standards. Examples of the VoIP protocols are:

H.323
Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP)
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
H.248 (also known as Media Gateway Control (Megaco))
Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP)
Real-time Transport Control Protocol (RTCP)
Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP)
Session Description Protocol (SDP)
Inter-Asterisk eXchange (IAX)
Jingle XMPP VoIP extensions
Skype protocol
Teamspeak

The H.323 protocol was one of the first VoIP protocols that found widespread implementation for longdistance traffic, as well as local area network services. However, since the development of newer, less
complex protocols such as MGCP and SIP, H.323 deployments are increasingly limited to carrying
existing long-haul network traffic. In particular, the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) has gained
widespread VoIP market penetration.
These protocols can be used by special-purpose software, such as Jitsi, or integrated into a web page
(web-based VoIP), like Google Talk.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

Working
To transport voice over a data network, the human voice must be packetized. This process contrasts
significantly with the circuit-switching mechanism used in traditional networks. Voice packetization
involves appending headers with routing information to the voice data. Multiple voice samples are
combined into a packet and the voice packet is switched hop-by-hop through the network. To
summarize, the voice signal is broken up into small pieces (packets) and sent though the network oneby-one. The process of packetization compresses the callers voice signal, transfers it over the IP
network and it is then decompressed at the other end.

Figure 6 Working

of VoIP

Operational Cost
VoIP can be a benefit for reducing communication and infrastructure costs. Examples include:

Routing phone calls over existing data networks to avoid the need for separate voice and data
networks.
The ability to transmit more than one telephone call over a single broadband connection.
Secure calls using standardized protocols (such as Secure Real-time Transport Protocol). Most of
the difficulties of creating a secure telephone connection over traditional phone lines, such as
digitizing and digital transmission, are already in place with VoIP. It is only necessary to encrypt
and authenticate the existing data stream.
Utilized existing network infrastructure to minimize the operating cost.
Eliminating the need of hiring personnel to greet and distribute incoming calls with the use of a
Virtual PBX

Benefits
When many people first learn about VoIP, they commonly say, So, we are sending voice over data
cables instead of voice cables...what is so big about that? It seems like the biggest benefit is saving
cabling costs, nothing more. After you dig deeper into the ramifications of running voice over data
networks, you begin to uncover many business benefits that were previously untapped. The business
benefits of VoIP include the following:

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

Reduced Cost of Communicating: Instead of relying on expensive tie lines or toll charges to
communicate between offices, VoIP allows you to forward calls over WAN connections.
Reduced Cost of Cabling: VoIP deployments typically cut cabling costs in half by running a single
Ethernet connection instead of both voice and data cables. (This cost savings is most realized in
newly constructed offices.)
Seamless Voice Networks: Because data networks connect offices, mobile workers, and
telecommuters, VoIP naturally inherits this property. The voice traffic is crossing your network
(relatively speaking) rather than exiting to the PSTN. This also provides centralized control of all
voice devices attached to the network and a consistent dial-plan. For example, all users can dial
each other using four-digit extensions, even though many of them may be scattered around the
world.
Take your Phone with You: Cost estimates for moves, adds, and changes (MAC) to a traditional
PBX system range from $55 to $295 per MAC. With VoIP phone systems, this cost is virtually
eliminated. In addition, IP phones are becoming increasingly plug-and-play within the local
offices, allowing moves with little to no reconfiguration of the voice network. In addition, when
combined with a VPN configuration, users can take IP phones home with them and retain their
work extension.
IP SoftPhones: SoftPhones represent an ideal example of the possibilities when combining voice
and data networks. Users can now plug a headset into their laptop or desktop and allow it to act
as their phone. SoftPhones are becoming increasingly more integrated with other applications
such as e-mail contact lists, instant messenger, and video telephony.
Unified E-mail, VoiceMail, and Fax: All messaging can be sent to a users e-mail inbox. This
allows users to get all messages in one place and easily reply, forward, or archive messages.
Increased Productivity: VoIP extensions can forward to ring multiple devices before forwarding
to voicemail. This eliminates the phone tag game.
Feature-Rich Communications: Because voice, data, and video networks have combined, users
can initiate phone calls that communicate with or invoke other applications from the voice or
data network to add additional benefits to a VoIP call. For example, calls flowing into a call
center can automatically pull up customer records based on caller ID information or trigger a
video stream for one or more of the callers.
Open, Compatible Standards: In the same way that you can network Apple, Dell, and IBM PCs
together, you can now connect devices from different telephony vendors together. Although this
benefit has yet to be fully realized, this will allow businesses to choose the best equipment for
their network, regardless of the manufacturer.