A VoIP System: How Does It Work?

When you’re looking for the best way to set up communication with customers, suppliers, and employees, you can’t ignore VoIP today. This modern communication technology is the digital successor to traditional analog phone calls. Just like before, you can make calls with a phone, but now the conversation takes place via your internet connection instead of a fixed line.

VoIP Is Digital Communication

VoIP is the technology that converts your phone calls into digital data packets that are then sent over the internet to the recipient. On the other end, these packets are converted back into analog sound fragments, making the conversation audible.

Since you’re no longer tied to a phone subscription, you can make calls at much lower rates, and line noise is a thing of the past.

One way to use VoIP is to connect an adapter to your traditional phone, which handles this advanced technology, or you can opt for full-fledged IP phones, which offer many more options. Of course, your VoIP system always depends on the functioning of your internet connection. Without this connection, you won’t be able to make calls. But rest assured, all modern VoIP phone systems come with the necessary security and backup provisions, minimizing the risk of interruptions.

Circuit Switching vs. Packet Switching

Traditional phone connections use a system called Circuit Switching. This sets up an uninterrupted connection between the caller and the recipient. Since communication flows in both directions, this is considered a circuit. Each time a new call is made, you switch circuits. However, this technique has two major disadvantages. First, a constant connection must be maintained between two devices for the duration of the call, making additional connections impossible. Second, large amounts of data are continuously sent in both directions, which can strain the connection. Even periods of silence or no speech still occupy the line.

A VoIP connection uses a much newer technique called Packet Switching, which offers several major advantages. For instance, there’s no need to maintain a constant connection during the call, as data packets are sent in blocks. The amount of data used can also be limited since only packets with useful information, such as speech, are sent. This allows up to four times more calls to be made with the same bandwidth on VoIP compared to a traditional line, not to mention the compression applied to these packets.

How a Call Works

A VoIP system can do much more than just make calls. You can offer the caller a menu to connect them directly to the right department, convert recorded messages via speech recognition into an email to read undisturbed during a meeting, and take calls on your VoIP phone with a wired connection, then transfer them to your laptop on Wi-Fi, and even seamlessly continue on your smartphone via 4G (or 5G) when leaving the office.

When you connect with your linked device, a signal is sent to the system. The system then sends a ringtone to your device to indicate that a connection is established.

Next, you dial the number of the person you want to call, and the system checks it. If it’s a traditional phone number, that number is dialed. If it’s a digital variant (IP address), that address is contacted. An access code is created, granting the two communicating systems permission to exchange data packets. During the call, the necessary data is sent back and forth to establish the conversation, and when you hang up, the session ends.

In practical terms, a VoIP system is no longer dependent on a physical connection or fixed number per device. You also have the option to connect a tablet, laptop, smartphone, or PC to this system. You’re not even tied to the physical location of your business. This makes it ideal for telecommuting, remote work, or when you’re on the go.