A VOIP phone looks like a conventional telephone except that it doesn’t connect into the normal telephone connector but either into a computer, switch/hub or router.
They have either a RJ45 connector (Ethernet) or a USB connection as opposed to the standard telephone connector (RJ11).
Some of the newer phones use WIFI to connect to the Internet. This can be via your local/office network or a public WIFI hotspot.
SIP and Skype
There are two types of internet/VOIP phone that you will encounter and it is important that you understand the difference.
SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) phones use the most common Internet standard for VOIP and are common in offices that have a VOIP internal telephone network usually using a VOIP PABX.
These are usually large offices e.g. large companies and goverment buildings.
Skype is the dominant player in the consumer/small business/home office VOIP market and use their own VOIP protocol.
The Skype softphone (desktop application) is the predominant way that Skype users connect to Skype service but there are several manufacturers that have developed phones that can be used with the Skype service.
If you have a Skype Voip phone it can only be used with Skype, and if you have a SIP phone it can only be used on a SIP based VOIP network.
Softphones
This is a computer application that you install on your computer/laptop/netbook that allows you to make phone calls. Most use a headset and microphone but can be used in conjunction the telephone handsets. (see below).
The nice thing about these phones is that they are easy to update as you just upgrade the software. However it also means that you are tied to your computer.
VOIP Adaptors
These allow you to use your old analogue phone on a VOIP network.
Again SIP networks require a SIP adaptor and Skype connections require a Skype compatible adaptor.
USB Connected Phones
These are the cheapest VOIP phones and connect to the usb port of your computer/laptop/netbook and so this must be on to use them.
Many people prefer to use these as opposed to using a standard headset.
You can get cordless ones that look like a standard cordless phone but the base station connects to your computer and not the phone line.
This means that you can wonder away from your computer and still use them, but your computer must still be on and connected to the Internet.
Ethernet Connected Phones
These usually plug into a Ethernet hub/switch or router and don’t require a computer as the phones have the VOIP software incorporated.
The preferred type is like a standard cordless phone were the base station is connected to the Ethernet network.
Most will also connect to the standard phone network and so you can choose to make the calls over the PSTN or over the Internet.
This makes them more flexible than the USB phones as you don’t need the computer permanently switched on and you are free to move around your home/office with the phone.
Wireless (WI-FI) VOIP Phones
There are two variants of these.
- Wi-fi phone
- Wireless phone (not Wi-Fi) with Wi-Fi base station
WI-FI Phones
These phones support WI-FI and connect to the WI-FI hotspot in a office, Internet cafe etc. To make calls over the Internet using them you will need a VOIP provider the most common one being Skype.
These type of phones are usually Mobile phones, in particular smart phones which can connect to a standard GSM mobile network or a WI-FI network.
Wireless Phone (not Wi-Fi) with Wi-Fi Base Station
This is the same setup as the Ethernet Ethernet Connected Phones except that the base station uses Wi-FI to connect to the network rather than an Ethernet cable.
Potential Problems with VOIP Phones
VOIP telephones aren’t standardised and so you cannot guarantee that VOIP phone made for one VOIP provider will work with that of another.
So if you are using Skype as your provider then you need a Skype compatible phone.
Most VOIP calls are made using computers and not phones.
Skype started out as a computer based application and even though there are many phones (handsets) that are Skype compatible you should be aware that changes to the Skype software may mean that you need to upgrade the application on your computer but it may not be compatible with your existing handset.
The VOIP market is still developing and you can expect changes. For example Tesco dropped out of the market in 2010 and because many VOIP phones are only compatible with the VOIP provider that supplied them.
Those who had those phones can no longer use them and in addition if they used a VOIP telephone number they lost that to.
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