What is VoIP?

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocols, essentially this means that your voice is carried over your broadband connection (as opposed to phone line) to the person at the other end of the line. Prounounced by those in the know as "voyp", VoIP offers residential users the chance to make free (or heavily discounted) calls to other VoIP users as well as landlines and mobile phones.

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What do I need to start making VoIP calls?

• In terms of hardware, you will only need to buy a headset to start making calls as long as your computer has both speaker and microphone slots (which most do).
• A pretty speedy connection, VoIP only really works over broadband connections of over 1Mb, long delays and poor reception are commonly sustained in slower connections.
• A VoIP package. Compare our broadband & VoIP deals and offers.

How does it work?

In the same way as you can send text files via email with your broadband connection, VoIP sends voice files by compressing them in order to make them smaller and therefore quicker to up and download.

Pros of VoIP

• More than one call can take place on the same line at the same time, as voice files are transported more efficiently by VoIP than traditional PSTN.

• Cheap and free calls. Many VoIP providers offer free VoIP to VoIP calls and all offer discounted calls to national and international destinations.

• Travel opportunities. With a VoIP account you can make VoIP calls from anywhere in the world without changing your number.

Cons of VoIP

• May not be suitable for those with a connection speed slower than 1Mb.

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