VoIP stands for "Voice Over Internet Protocol, or "IP" which means that voice phone conversations travel over a traditional "data highway" like the Internet or your own internal Local Area Network (LAN).  The voice conversation is digitized and broken up into small "packets" of data which are transmitted across the "IP Network".  Once the digitized voice packets arrive at the destination, they are reconstructed back into the original voice conversation.

Many people ask why is this such as big deal?

Well actually, VoIP is a big deal for some businesses, and a non-issue for others, it all depends on your business's applications and requirements.  For some, it really doesn't matter if their communications system is a VoIP system or not, as long as it serves their business needs.  After all, as long as both people can hear each other clearly on a phone conversation, what difference does it make how they get there?

Not so many years ago all phone conversations were carried over copper wires that connected the phone to a central switching system that acted as "the brains" to connect your phone call to the desired destination.  Along came VoIP which allowed the phone to act and connect much like a computer on the network, so that it is less reliant on "the brains" and more able to handle its own connections and applications since it is able to connect across an intelligent data highway instead of "dumb copper wires".

Well VoIP provides so many benefits, like:

• The ability to share internal wiring that serves the computer network using a common infrastructure for cabling, so separate wiring isn't required;    Learn about CAT 6 Data Cable!

• The ability to connect remote locations via a single "data pipe" as opposed to requiring both a data circuit and a voice circuit which reduces monthly cost;

• The ability to support "application" that take advantage of "IP Technology" like the remote phone at home or in a small branch office, or the TeleWorker phone;

• The ability to simplify "the brains" by using a single controller system that supports the entire enterprise, regardless of the location of the phone users;

In summary, VoIP is really about Connectivity and Applications!