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In order to make calls with VoIP, you will need a telephone which can be connected to the World Wide Web. If you wish to use a standard phone with VoIP you can get an Analog Telephone Adapter. This will digitize your voice and enable you to make phonecalls with VoIP. This adapter has an Ethernet connector and a regular connector. Ethernet connectors are the same as regular phone connectors but they are wider.
The ATA will save you money, because you won’t have to buy a new phone. Normally VoIP services will provide you with an ATA. But an IP phone will offer you many perks and extras that come with your VoIP account, such as call display, voicemail and call routing. Also, when you buy your own IP phone you may get a discount on your monthly fee. You can still take advantage of some of these extras with an ATA, but you will have to configure your VoIP account at the service provider’s site.
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All IP phones have an LCD display for caller ID and phone configuration. Of course the phones differ, ranging from simple phones for personal to complex machines for commercial use. Advanced models have features such as speakerphones and programmable keys. It is also possible to use wireless phones within an IEEE 802.11b wireless network.
IP phones give you the option to route certain calls. You no longer have to do this for each call individually. Anonymous calls for example can be routed to your voicemail or another number. Your IP phone can also be used to store names and phone numbers. Every call that comes in can be added to your phone and edited or deleted.
