Chapter 1
Getting Down to Business with VoIP
In This Chapter
Getting over POTS
Packetizing plain old telephone service
Beginning with IPT on the LAN
Reaching out with VoIP
Uncovering the TCP/IP model
Technological innovation is hurling itself upon us once again. This time, it’s coming in the form of improving the way we communicate, bringing with it new capabilities that change the meaning of the phrase telephone call.
VoIP, which stands for voice over Internet protocol, basically means voice transmitted over a digital network. Well, that isn’t technically accurate because the Internet isn’t strictly necessary for VoIP, although it was at first. What is necessary for VoIP technology is the use of the same protocols that the Internet uses. (A protocol is a set of rules used to allow orderly communication.) Thus, voice over Internet protocol means voice that travels by way of the same protocols used on the Internet.
VoIP is often referred to as IP telephony (IPT) because it uses ...
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