Types of VoIP phones
Low rates for long distance calls and international calls offered by VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) attract more and more users. VoIP phone systems are commonly integrated as an alternative to a traditional PSTN (public switched telephone network). VoIP phone systems are also called SIP phone systems (SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol) and consist of VoIP server and VoIP phones.
VoIP phones (SIP phones) are required to receive and place phone calls over IP (internet protocol).
There are several types of VoIP phones:
VoIP soft phones
VoIP softphones (SIP softphones) are part of VoIP software. A VoIP softphone is a program running on the computer to perform VoIP communication. Since you need to have a microphone or earphones on your computer to hear and transmit the voice VoIP soft phones make use of these devices in order to receive and make calls. VoIP software can be downloaded from the Internet and most VoIP providers offer VoIP soft phones for free.
USB VoIP Phones
A USB VoIP phone is plugged into the USB port of the computer and using VoIP software installed on the computer starts working as an ordinary phone. Generally, a USB VoIP phone is a microphone and a speaker and it performs the same function as the hardware of your computer does. But USB VoIP phones behave like ordinary phones do that makes them convenient in use and therefore USB VoIP phones are more preferable for the users.
Hardware VoIP Phones (SIP Phones)
Hardware VoIP phones look like ordinary telephones but have already integrated VoIP software so that you can make and receive calls via IP. Hardware VoIP phones share a computer network instead of a traditional PSTN thereby you do not need an additional PSTN point for your VoIP phone.
Analog Phones with a VoIP adapter
If you do not want to spend money on a hardware based VoIP phone you can use your analog phone with an ATA adapter (Analog Telephony Adapter). VoIP adapters are plugged into the Ethernet network and connected to the analog phone to convert the data. VoIP adapters may be easily added to your network and thus you will have your analog phone working as a VoIP phone. In case you decide to switch to ordinary PSTN system you can replace the ATA adapter.
Using VoIP softphones is the cheapest way to use VoIP services as you can get VoIP software for free but VoIP phones based on hardware may offer more convenience as you do not need to use your computer.
