VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology and VoIP services has allowed telephone operators to provide low-cost communications services in an ever-changing and developing global market. With VoIP technology, your voice can now be converted into a digital signal that travels over the Internet, which enables you to make phone calls directly from a computer, a smartphone, or a traditional phone connected to a special adapter.
The introduction of mass-market VoIP services that use existing broadband Internet access, through which subscribers place and receive telephone calls in the same way as they would via the public switched telephone network (PSTN), began in 2004. Now, after 13 years, there are a number of successful VoIP businesses such as Vonage, Comcast, Time Warner, Charter, 8×8, Jive, MITEL, Broadvoice, OnSIP, Nextiva, and new companies are entering the market each day.
VoIP services are targeted for individuals and businesses that want to stay connected with other people, families or employees around the world in a cost-effective manner. As more and more businesses go global, there is a continuous need to communicate through video conferencing, for it reduces travel costs, allows sharing of important files, and enables the building of professional relationships.
Businesses also have increasingly adopted cloud-based VoIP services, which allow automated calls and connections instead of needing a dedicated VoIP network server. Cloud-based technology also offers scalability in terms of both the number of users and the number of lines used.
As telecommunications continues to expand, so does the business of VoIP and the revenue it generates. The connectivity it offers is fundamental, but the market will certainly continue to change as more improvements and new features are introduced. There is no way of telling where we will see the VoIP technology in the next 10 years, but at the moment it is the most sought means of communication for individuals organizations across the globe.
