What is A Broadband Phone Also Called An IP Phone OR Internet Phone?

A broadband phone, ip phone or internet phone means the same thing.  These internet phones all a use what is called VoIP software or technology (voice over IP or voice over internet protocol) to make low cost phone calls using a normal high speed, DSL or Telkom ADSL  (preferably) Internet connection.

Broadband phone companies are mushrooming worldwide and very soon (October 2005) South Africa will see the VoIP service being made available to anybody. This VoIP service will enable users to reduce Telkom call charges significantly and especially long distance calls.Quite simply VoIP, Internet phones or Boraodband phones lets users make phone calls using the Internet instead of the normal Telkom system. With VoIP service, users can make calls using their computer internet phone or, by adding a special adaptor that connect to the normal Telkom phone. VoIP enable massive savings in phone bills and especially long distance phone calls VoIP is as applicable to large companies as it is to individual. Expect to save at least 50% on previous Telkom costs.

The most popular method from the above list for individuals using VoIP is to use IP telephony using a digital adapter. This adapter that is connected between a broadband or ADSL modem and a normal Telkom phone set. This allows direct access to the broadband phone line. This digital adapter unscrambles the digital data (the actual digitized voice message) that is received across the Internet. It then interprets the digital (data) signal to an analogue signal which anybody can hear using a Telkom phone.

VoIP is low cost (no big new cabling systems) since all the internet systems are in place.

You can make or receive calls using a broadband phone. Using a broadband phone and an Internet camera you can even send live video to anybody anywhere in the world at a fraction of the cost of doing it ay other way.

As internet telephony and its surrounding technology become more and more refined over the coming years, so will the technology that gives us access to it. Even over the coming twelve months, we will see a change from the use of a digital adapter to convert digital data from the web into analogue. Instead, we will see an increase in the availability of digital telephones and USB phones that plug directly into a USB port and that can make and receive phone calls digitally. You will also notice other mediums produce products that will attempt to bridge the gap between old technology and new. While other companies will keep their eye on the digital future and come up with more advanced variations of voice over IP to take us into the future.