| Still confused on how you can make a phone call with | | | | IP calls. Keep a look out for all the Wi-Fi IP phones |
| VoIP? Don't fret though, as with all new technology, | | | | that will be introduced soon, which will enable you to |
| not many people are aware of the many different | | | | make calls from any of the many Wi-Fi spots. This |
| ways they can make VoIP calls. With VoIP, there are | | | | also means that you can take your IP phone with |
| actually three ways to make a call. | | | | you whenever you travel, go to any Wi-Fi stop in |
| Analog Telephone Adaptor or ATA | | | | any Internet café, hotel or other location, and |
| The ATA is one of the most common methods for | | | | you can call home, wherever that may be. |
| VoIP right now. With the ATA, you just need to | | | | PC To PC |
| hook up your regular telephone to your Internet | | | | This is the easiest way to use VoIP. Not only are the |
| connection or your computer. The ATA will convert | | | | long distance calls free, many companies are offering |
| your analog signals from your telephone into digital | | | | software for you to utilize VoIP technology at no |
| data, which will then be transmitted over the | | | | charge or at very minimal costs. All you would need |
| Internet. | | | | for VoIP are the software, a microphone, speakers, |
| This is the method that Vonage employs, and | | | | a soundcard and a broadband or cable DSL Internet |
| AT&T's CallVantage will be using. The ATA is | | | | connection and ta-daa, your relatives sound like |
| provided at no cost with their services. It's easy to | | | | they're in the next room. And the best part is, with |
| use and anyone can do it. All you have to do is to | | | | the exception of your regular monthly ISP fee, the |
| take the cable from your phone and plug it into the | | | | computer-to-computer calls are free of charge, no |
| ATA instead of the usual wall socket and you're | | | | matter where you call! |
| ready to go. You might have to install the software | | | | And you know what? You've probably even used |
| into your computer, but this depends on your | | | | VoIP while making a long distance call recently |
| computer, where you live and the type of Internet | | | | without even realizing it. Today, many of the |
| connection that you have. | | | | telephone companies are already utilizing VoIP |
| IP Telephones | | | | technology to ease their own bandwidth. It's really all |
| IP phones look just like your regular phones. | | | | a simple matter of routing all the calls through a |
| However, these IP phones use an RJ-45 Ethernet | | | | circuit switch into an IP gateway. Once the calls are |
| connection instead of the usual RJ-11 phone | | | | received on the other side of the gateway, they are |
| connectors. This means that they are connected | | | | decompressed, reassembled and rerouted to a local |
| directly to your router and the necessary software | | | | circuit switch. |
| and hardware are all in place for you to handle your | | | | |