Terminologies are used everywhere. They are technical terms used in a particular technology. This article helps to explain about some terminologies used in VoIP technology. If you have planned to have VoIP technology or you want to choose a VoIP provider in the UK, it is essential to know these terminologies. Otherwise you may be cheated by some VoIP providers. Some of VoIP terms are listed below.

• Backbone
This term refers to an internet infrastructure which has a high capacity. This term combines two distinct providers as backbone namely VoIP or web hosting provider.

• Band Width
This is the total amount of data transferred through internet connection. If you have more band width internet access, you are eligible to get reliable VoIP service.

• Compression
It means reducing actual size of files without sacrificing quality for storage or transmission. Compression is vital in VoIP because the analogue audio data has to be compressed to convert them into digital data.

• Congestion
It represents a network's actual counts of communication traffic. If more computers are linked in a network, there are possibilities to get congestion while they communicate at the same time. If there is more congestion in your network, you can have only distorted conversations.

• DSL
DSL stands for “Digital Subscriber Line” which is a type of internet connection commonly used by home users as well as business people. This type of Internet access requires a standard telephone line. VoIP technology can be obtained through DSL internet connections.

• Firewall
It is a security feature which can be a hardware and software for protecting computer or Local or Wide area networks. This has the potential to act as a wall against virus attacks or infections.

• Router
It is a hardware mainly used for routing data packets between networks. For which it needs protocols. There are different types of routers available namely wireless routers and portable routers. Networking can be completed with the support of routers.

• Cable Internet
Most of the home users need this type of internet access which uses cords to get internet connections. Standard cable cannot execute the task. You have to use television coax cable to get broadband connections. It is not expensive and the bandwidth of cable broadband is always measured with a unit of measurement called “Mega Byte” (MB).

“Voice over Internet Protocol” is shortly known as VoIP. It is nothing but an advanced technology for converting analogue signals into digital data usually created during online conversations. Everyone gets excited about this amazing technology as it allows every user to make phone calls using internet. Lots of VoIP providers are ready to offer distinct VoIP plans around the UK.

Making a VoIP Call
Totally there are 3 ways to make a VoIP call. ATA is an initial requirement of VoIP calls. ATA is a short way of saying – Analogue Telephone Adapter. Take this adapter and simply plug into it and start your conversations. The second method of making a VoIP call is buying an IP phone. A phone which has featured with software to make VoIP calls is known as an 'IP Phone'. Conversations between a system to another are possible through VoIP technology. But you have to install necessary software to access this technology.

Packet Switching
It is a technology mostly used with VoIP which breaks up phone conversation and it transmits by eliminating the waste space. Therefore the quality of conversation will be unbelievable. This packet switching technology is used by VoIP.

VoIP Requirements
If you are interested to make VoIP calls with the help of your computer, check whether you have fulfilled all the below requirements.

• Broadband
You have to understand the meaning of the term 'broadband'. It is a method of getting internet access with the minimum speed up to 90 kbps and more by using ADSL or DSL or cables.

• Ethernet
It is a network which is built by connecting equipments through cables. You can get the benefit of most stable home network with affordable cost.

• Phone Adapter
You need not buy this hardware from your own pocket. It is usually offered by most of VoIP providers at free of cost. Phone adapter is needed to translate ordinary voice to data. Then the data would be sent online. It is not expensive. If it is placed you can make VoIP calls like other phone calls.

VoIP Obstacles
As the performance of VoIP technology mostly depends on electrical power, if there is power failure, you cannot receive or make VoIP calls. Sometimes you may face poor quality conversations due to transmission errors. It also depends on your PC configurations as well.

Skype launched its Skype 3.6 for Windows, the upgraded version of its communication software that will enable its users to make/receive High Quality Video calls. These free video calls will display pictures that are sharper, smoother and of better quality than any other Skype instrument could display in the past.  This announcement has come after Sky has signed a pact with Logitech, one of the major manufacturers of webcams to jointly launch a new kind of communication software with superior video quality.

The High Quality Video that comes with Skype 3.6 for Windows will have VGA-quality video calls with pictures set in 640×480 pixels)and to 30 frames per second (fps) to Skype users who use a broadband connection (384 kbps connection or higher). The basic requirements to enable this service are a High Quality Video-certified Logitech webcam and a PC with a dual-core processor. The Video calls not only accompanied with sharper and smoother picutures/videos but you can also set the display to full-screen mode.

Skype, the world’s leading VoIP provider takes the VoIP video calls to a new dimension with its Skype 3.6 (for Windows). Logitech, with its new set of redesigned drivers used in its QuickCam software not only offer the best picture quality but also its software has the capability to recognize the Skype callers who are using the most recent version of Skype sotware.

There are also options to integrate Skype 3.6  with a variety of Logitech Webcams - the Logitech® QuickCam® Pro 9000, the Logitech® QuickCam® Pro for Notebooks and the Logitech® QuickCam® Orbit AF (Logitech® QuickCam® Sphere AF in Europe).

Other features:
Skype 3.6 for windows, which is available in 28 languages can be downloaded from skype.com without any charges. For free download of Logitech’s QuickCam software version 11.5, visit www.logitech.com/downloads

Regarding the launch of its new communication software with high quality video capabilities, Skype issued a statement:
“Our recent announcement made many people realize that sharp, smooth and life-like video calls on the internet should be available to everyone, not just big companies with expensive video-conferencing equipment,“ said Gareth O‘Loughlin, Skype’s general manager, mobile and hardware devices. “Those who’ve previewed High Quality Video have been blown away by its realism. Today, with Skype 3.6 for Windows, the Genie is out of the bottle for good.”

BT Home Hub, the wireless router supplied with BT broadband packages is reported to be vulnerable to the attacks of hackers and other external threats, according to Adrian Pastor and Petko D. Petkov who say all Alcatel Speedtouch 7G routers will have same problem as Home Hub and these routers are made by Alcatel. Due to the presence of many bugs in these routers, a hacker can easily override password authentication system and assume the role of administrator. This makes these routers quite incapable of providing complete security to your PC and network, thereby it is open to exploitation of your VoIP service or Wi-fi service, according to the report in theregister.co.uk.

Even without knowing the administrator password, a hacker can gain control of the PC/network just by making the user to visit a specific site which is used by hackers to collect all vital information about the user. The crafty design of the hackers may also include the secret listening to your VoIP calls or stealthily getting your WPA key.

However, BT issued a statement saying that it was seriously looking into the matter. BT further said: "However, as part of a series of ongoing improvements, this week we began pushing out a new firmware update to Home Hub owners which further improves security in a number of areas,"

VoIP or broadband calls help you to save the money you spend for your phone services.
Voice over Internet Protocol is a way to use your internet connection to call some one who is online with same audio equipment you have. This type of VoIP calls are free and you need not pay any service provider for making and receiving these calls.

Say, you want to call some landline or mobile number. Although the normal VoIP will not allow this, you can get this service by subscribing to VoIP providers like Skype or Vonage. Various call plans are available to suit your needs. You may also read VoIP guides to know how to setup VoIP and use it.

A few broadband providers like BT offer free VoIP calls with their packages. For instance, their BT Total Option 1,2 and 3 offer free evening & weekend VoIP calls to 01 and 02 numbers. After 60 minutes usage, there will be a charge of pence per minute. To avoid this, you can disconnect before 60 minutes and redial the number.

If you do not wish to go for a stand-alone VoIP service, these packages help you to use this technology along with your conventional phone service. BT business broadband packages also include VoIP calls. Whether you look for a home broadband package or a business package, VoIP calls included in BT broadband packages make them complete packages.