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Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP, IPA) is a general term for a family of transmission technologies for delivery of voice communications over the Internet or other packet-switched networks. Other terms frequently encountered and synonymous with VoIP are IP telephony and Internet telephony, as well as voice over broadband, broadband telephony, and broadband phone, when the network connectivity is available over broadband Internet access.

VoIP systems usually interface with the traditional public switched telephone network (PSTN) to allow for transparent phone communications worldwide[1].

VoIP can be a benefit for reducing communication and infrastructure costs by routing phone calls over existing data networks and avoiding duplicate network systems. Skype and Vonage are notable service provider examples that have achieved widespread user and customer acceptance and market penetration. Other providers are also available. See List of commercial voice over IP network providers.

Voice-over-IP systems carry telephony speech as digital audio, typically reduced in data rate using speech data compression techniques, packetized in small units of typically tens of milliseconds of speech, and encapsulated in a packet stream over IP.

Can I call using the internet connection?
After its introduction, Internet telephony has been highly developed rapidly in a brief period. Many software developers currently offer PC telephony software. However, more importantly, gateway servers are rising to act as an interface between the Internet and the PSTN (It expands as Public Switched Telephone Network). With voice-processing cards, these gateway servers allow Internet telephony VoIP(It expands as Voice Over Internet protocol) users to communicate through traditional telephones over long distances without exceeding "Long Distance" telephone network.

A telephone call travels from the local PSTN to the nearest gateway server, which digitizes the traditional, analog voice signal, converts it into IP packets, and moves it to the Internet for transport to a gateway server at the receiving end. This server alters the digital IP signal back to analog and concludes the call locally. With its Internet telephony support for computer-to-telephone calls, telephone-to-computer calls and telephone-to-telephone calls, Internet telephony VoIP represents a vital step toward the merging of voice and data networks.

The History and Advances made in Internet Technology
Voice ove r Internet Protocol (VoIP) is becoming a substitute to traditional telephone service. The goal of VoIP Deployment is to receive the registered location information of a VoIP user to the most suitable public safety answering point (PSAP) through statewide standards using the 9-1-1 network.

Most VSPs will perform with a database provider known as a Voice Positioning Center (VPC) and have access to 9-1-1 network through an Emergency Services Gateway (ESGW). VPCs are utilized to update and store registered user location information. . It then imparts the details to PSAPs when a 9-1-1 call is rendered. ESGWs are those Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) that supply the connection interface into 9-1-1 network.

Initially regarded as just a novelty, Internet telephony is attracting a number of users due to the fact that it offers remarkable cost savings relative to the PSTN. Internet telephony service users can sidestep long-distance telephone carriers and their per-minute usage rates as they run their voice traffic over the Internet for a simple, flat monthly Internet-access fee. VoIP Internet telephony provides a viable threat to the providers of long-established telephone services that should stimulate enhancements in function and cost throughout the industry.