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Basic VoIP Equipment To Make Free Calls 

You have it already

You don't need any fancy equipment or gadgets to use VoIP in its most basic form.

All that is involved are two pcs - one at your end and the other with the person you are callihg.

Because you are reading this, you already have almost all the equipment you need to make your first VoIP call.

Here is all that is needed to make a free VoIP call:

• A PC with a sound card
  
• Internet Connection - preferably broadband or adsl but a dial-up connection would do as well if you don't mind a lesser sound quality.
  
• Mike and speakers - standard equipment which comes with most modern pcs.
• With these you are ready to make free calls - the most basic and popular way to use VoIP.
  
  However if you want more ease of use of VoIP or added features you need other VoIP equipment.

http://www.squidoo.com/PnoneVOIP

This link is to my squidoo blog I have posted a discussion about the voip phone and it usage in a business aspect. MAny companies have converged to voip for the simple fact that it saves them a enormous amount of money on long distance calling. I have also found that outside of the business world it can save consumers money aswell because it it is offered to anyone who has internet service.

Productivity is a measure of the ability to produce something; it must work seamlessly within a wide range of pre-existing technology foundations including wireless LANs and must operate over multiple access devices including both wireline and wireless telephones and PDAs with embedded applications such as Web Access, SMS/IM and e-mail. All users whether remote or mobile workers, executive personnel, sales teams, engineers, and HR must take advantages of the productivity gains that a VOIP network brings. Productivity gains for virtual offices with integrated PC and phone, both with access to directory services, access to and more efficient use of enterprise information from the deployment of unified messaging applications and their database, faster workgroup decision-making brought about by universal connectivity, multimedia access, and access device agnosticism, deployment of wireless LAN access throughout the enterprise, efficiency gains that result from the deployment of secure VPN connectivity over broadband, deployment of a converged messaging system that allows users to access voicemail, SMS/IM, and e-mail, and finally the ability to deliver “computer information” even when there is no computer to deliver it.   

The advantage that VOIP offers to companies is savings on long distance calling. IP voice relies on digital compression to reduce bandwidth requirements in the network, but because of IP networks are not concerned with bandwidth they use "wide band phones" to improve audio quality carried at frequencies higher than 3.3kHz and as high as 7kHz. Higher sampling rates enable the network to capture harmonics that provide tone and richness applications like music when on hold. Wide band phones may also help people with hearing difficulties and improve productivity to enhance the customers experience using the telephone.

One of the first steps to evolve into a VOIP network is the desire to lower CAPEX (Capital expenditure) the cost of new equipment and OPEX (Operating expense). The arise of VOIP expectations is significant cost reduction to large and small busineses. One of the first is that it represents the best that convergence can offer in reducing CAPEX and OPEX. Second it can reduce the cost of long distance charges through internet telephony and toll bypass made possible by an IP environment. Third by implementing desktop VOIP in the interprise the cost of moves, adds, and changes is substantially reduced because the network can auto identify an IP telephone when it is unplugged from one location and plugged into another.

IT personell should be able to list and identify potential cost reduction areas under their control, examples servers that use toll-free 800-number access can be eliminated and replaced with modems, DSL, o broadband wireless through a secure VPN.

VOIP should result in a convergence of many data applications to a single coverage infrastructure. One is application consolidation such as moving voice, video, and data onto a single manageable network. Second is centralizing e-mail, and voicemail servers and third is for use of server-based applications such as audio and videoconferencing whch brings all these applications in-house rather than buying from service vendors.

The advantage that VOIP offers to companies is savings on long distance calling. Ip voice relies on digital compression to reduce bandwith requirements in the network, but because of IP networks are not concerned with bandwith they use "wide band phones" to improve audio quality carried at frequeincies highher than 3.3kHz and as high as 7kHz. Higher sampling rates enable the network to capture harmonics that provide tone and richness applications like music when on hold. Wide band phones may also help people with hearing difficulties and improve productivity to enhance the customers experience using the telephone.

There are two software funtions required for voice digitization and in some cases compression, one is coding in which the process of analog-to digital conversion, the other is decoding which is the opposite. These two together are called CODEC which sit between analog and digital systems in a IP-based network. There are many CODEC choices and typically dependant on voice quality and processing speed. The selection of CODEC must be  selective because of transcoding in which two or more parties are communicating using different CODECs such as a cellphone with a VOIP device the network must translate ("transcode") between the two coding schemes. 

VOIP Phone

To be able to place or receive a call , you need a hardware setup that will allow you to speak and listen.You might need simply a headset with your PC or a complete set of network equipment including routers and phone adapters. Here is a list of equipment that is normally required for VOIP.

ATAs (Analog Telephone Adapters)

Telephone Sets

VOIP Routers

PC Handsets

PC Headsets