All you need to know about VoIP calls

December 08, 2011 | Rebtel

If you have a computer or a smartphone, then you will probably have come across people stating they are making free VoIP calls to their friends and family. What exactly is VoIP calling? What kind of technology do you need to utilise it? How does it work? And what companies can you find today that take advantage of this technology to offer outstanding call services across the globe? For all the answers, read on!

What is VoIP calling?

VoIP is an acronym that stands for Voice over-Internet Protocol. It is a form of technology that allows verbal and communication, such as that conducted over the phone, to be converted into a digital format, transmitted across the Internet to the recipient. There are many other names that VoIP is known by, including broadband phone, internet telephony, voice over broadband and IP telephony.

The advantages of VoIP technology are that it is cheaper to transmit this data via the Internet, than it is to use satellite services or normal phone lines. Therefore, it is much cheaper to transmit any calls, video calls or text messages via the Internet and this allows VoIP providers to offer previously expensive services at a much cheaper rate than traditional phone operators.

Innovative new technologies have allowed some companies, such as Rebtel, to use their VoIP solutions to work from phones as well as over a personal computer. This has opened up VoIP technology greatly to handset users across the globe and has allowed providers to develop new software and technologies to make keeping in touch with your contacts easier and cheaper.

What kind of equipment do I need to use VoIP?

Initially, many companies tried to take advantage of VoIP and developed a range of add-ons that would be attached to your landline in order to make the service accessible. This however created two major problems; it would not work for mobile handsets and that if your home suffered with a loss of power, then you would not be able to make or receive any type of phone call.

However, there are several specialist companies that have been able to take advantage of VoIP calling technology and have developed software and technology that allows it to be used without expensive hardware. Some of the most popular are listed below:

- Skype: Possibly the most famous of all VoIP providers, uses VoIP technology to allow free conversations and texts between users via handsets and personal computers.

- Vonage: Vonage offer VoIP calls to their customers via existing broadband connections, through PC or smartphones, and also via normal digital telephone handsets.

- Rebtel: As above, Rebtel offer a complete range of VoIP services for their customers via PC, landline and mobile phones. They also offer a range of apps freely downloadable from their site for Android, BlackBerry and iPhone, and also offer the innovative ‘Keep Talking’ facility, which alerts users if their call quality is diminishing due to going out of range of a broadband or 3G connection, allowing them to reroute their call without losing contact.

How do I make a VoIP call?

Making VoIP calls is very simple. Once registered with one of the companies above you simply add a friend or family members number to your contact list. Get in touch with your contact and ask them to install the same provider as you onto their device or PC. Once they are registered, you are able to then use VoIP technology to stay in touch by making a call in exactly the same way as you would using traditional means.

And the benefits?

VoIP technology is quicker, cheaper and as easy to use as traditional calling technology. In addition to the voice, other information, such as video, can be transmitted at the same time at no extra cost. The upshot of this is that users get better quality international phone and video calls, completely free, or at the cheapest possible prices, especially if you are with a quality provider.