What is VoIP

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a methodology and group of technologies for the delivery of voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet. Other terms commonly associated with VoIP are IP telephony, Internet telephony, voice over broadband (VoBB), broadband telephony, IP communications, and broadband phone service.

Why use VoIP?

¿ Better bandwidth utilization by:

• Using compression

• Exploiting silence periods during conversations

• Sharing of equipment for voice and data traffic
(unified processing)

¿ Introduction of new services:

• Conferences, distance learning, etc.

Elements of a VoIP network

•  Terminals: LAN-based communication end-points
• Gateway (media and/or signaling
•  nterface between packet- and circuit-switched networks
• Media gateway: voice transcoding, protocol conversion
  
  •  Media gateway controller: call handling, call state
  •  Signaling gateway: signaling mediation
  •  Gatekeeper:
  •  Admission control, SNMP services, address translation
  •  MCU: Multipoint Control Unit:
  • • Handling of broadcasts / conference calls