Voice over IP (VoIP) Technology Essay Example

be seen as referring to the capability routing voice calls over Internet Protocol based networks allowing individuals to experience PCs in a totally different manner.While most of VoIP services are offered via computers, there are also those services that are offered over mobile phone networks particularly through VoIP Phones (Christie, 2007, p. 202). VoIP services networks usually interface with traditional telephone networks which are public switched to enable transparent phone communications globally. These networks make use of session control protocols in controlling the set up and tear down of voice calls.

Moreover, the networks employ audio codec in encoding speech in and allow for voice transmission over the internet protocol in form of digital audio through as audio stream.However, the use of Codec varies across different implementation of voice over internet protocol with a range of codec been used in different systems. In this regard, some VoIP implementation relies on compressed speech and narrowband while others rely on high fidelity stereo codec (Michael, 2005, p. 556). History of VoIP Two fundamental technological developments are important in understanding the history of VoIP. These include the telephone and the internet as a means of communication.

The telephone which was first developed in 1870s required that an individual put his or her line in order to connect with another individual.By then, telephones were leased to subscribers in pairs. In 1889, the first switch which enabled the connection of one telephone line to another hundred lines was developed and relied on relays and sliders. The switch was commonly referred to as Strowger Switch a name that was adopted from its inventor Almon Strowger. The switch had spread use for

many years that followed its invention and required an individual to push a button on his or her phone for certain required number of times in an effort to dial the receiver’s phone number.

This button was replaced in 1896 a time around which the transistor was developed and which promoted the idea behind binary code communication. A publication by Dr. Shannon laid the basis for the present entire digital communication systems inclusive of the internet and cell phones. In 1963, based on this publication, the first touch tone dialing was developed and this technology allowed paved way for digital switching of calls. Further, this new technology allowed for automated functionality and menus which basically eliminated many of human operators.

In 1984 and with the efforts of US government, leasing of phones was eliminated and individuals and businesses were allowed to purchase their own phones and consequently, a new wane of designs and functions was reached for home phones. Another technology that contributes much to the history of VoIP technology is the internet which was first developed in 1968 by Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) and with the help of funding from the United States defense department.In 1970s and in line with the internet, time share computer networks were developed and were owned by corporations. In this context, corporations used to rent out their mainframes to these networks whenever they were not using them. The first time share computer services was thus developed in 1979 and as PC became popular, online service companies developed in an effort to provide consumers with proprietary information and emailing services.

Here, consumers were required to dial into a network through

their telephone lines to get services on a certain fee (Randolph, 2005, p. 153).In 1989, hyper text transfer protocol was developed coupled with universal resource identifier which today is widely known as universal resource locator and aimed at identifying the location of documents over the internet network. These two technological inventions are seen as the foundation for the World Wide Web. Despite the fact that the invention of the telephone and the internet are seen as the major force behind the development of VoIP, another development in 1972, of Transmission Control Protocol or what has been termed as Internet protocol also contributed much to its development.

Internet Protocol in this regard defines the form of network data packets and the manner in which they travel from one point to another. Having explored the foundations, it is true to comment that VoIP developed as a result of many technological inventions and inventions. It was not until late in 1995 that VoIP developed despite the fact that technological developments that forms the basis for it occurred many years ago. It was first developed by a company in Israel by the name Vocaltec Inc.and their first product was known as Internetphone which allowed users to call others through their computers, a set of speakers and a microphone (Bill, 2006, p.

2332). However, the application only worked if and only if the two users involved possessed the same software setups in their computers. By the year 1998, PC to phone and phone to phone VoIP services started to be marketed by entrepreneurs in the field of information and technology.Advertisements always accompanied any calls made through these applications and it was

mandatory to listen to them before getting connected to the other user. In the same year, three VoIP switching software were developed as a standard for routing voice calls over the internet.

However, VoIP calls only made a little percentage of all the voice calls by the end of the year 1998. Over the years however, the number of individuals using VoIP to make calls has been increasing significantly and today, VoIP forms a major means of communication around the world.How VoIP works VoIP process is dependent on media transport and signaling and in this sense, a signaling protocol such as session initiation protocol (SIP) is responsible fro performing the legwork inclusive of locating users around the network, call parameters, building or ending a session and modifications. On the other hand, media transport protocols are responsible for handling the voice portion of any given call including digitizing, ordering and encoding. An example of a media transport protocol is the Real Time Transport protocol (RTP).In essence, network protocols are usually wrapped around voice over internet protocol when they are transmitted to the right servers.

An individual can be able to make a VoIP call over local area networks or on WANs as is the case of internal calls made on an organization network. However, if an individual wants to make a call over POTS, a special gateway is used. These gateway acts as connectors between the data network and SS7 network which is used by POTS. They are responsible for translating data in a format that the intended recipient be it an internet protocol or a SS7 network can understand.VoIP converts an individual’s voice in a

form of digital signal that is then transported over the internet.

In this case, if a regular telephone number is been dialed, the signal is usually converted to a telephone signal before it reaches its intended signal. In essence, one can be able to place a direct cal to another computer, a traditional telephone line that has been connected to a special adapter or to a VoIP enabled phone. Moreover, wireless hot spots such as those found in parks, cafes and airports can allow individuals to have easy access to the internet network thus enabling them to easily access VoIP services (Dan, 2005, P.102). Notably, whether an individual can be capable to place a call to another computer connected to the internet or internal network or to a VoIP phone or even to a telephone line is dependent on the VoIP service been used. Some services or applications to be particular may not allow for telephone calls while others may offer a whole range of services.

Given the increasing development of VoIP services and technology, almost all the above services can be provided by many of the VoIP applications existing in the modern information technology market.