VoIP

Online system that enables telephone calls to be made over the internet. VoIP handsets convert the input analogue speech into digital signals which can be carried over the Internet. The main advantages of VoIP are that call costs are lower than using a traditional service, and in a corporate VoIP setting the only cabling needed to each desk in an office is a data cable, saving the cost of separate communications cabling. The main disadvantages are line echo, delays, and reliability.

In 2007 mobile phone devices were introduced that support VoIP by using Wi-Fi and similar protocols to establish Internet connectivity. The limitation of this is that as the range of a Wi-Fi connection is limited to about 30 m/98 ft, a mobile phone using VoIP is not truly mobile.