Types Of VoIP Phones
There are many types of VoIP phones available in the market; however they can be clubbed in three main categories. Each category of the VoIP phones has its own advantages and drawbacks. The VoIP phones range from simple phones with basic features to phones that support advanced features like videoconferencing, etc.
Soft Phone
Softphones are the cheapest and simplest type of the VoIP phones. It is an abbreviated form for software phone. A software phone allows the user to run a program on his computer that basically acts as the VoIP conversion device. User can input the sound via a microphone and receive the output sound via speakers. Softphones are ideal for those users who travel a lot and take their laptops wherever they go.
Many VoIP providers allow the user to register a soft phone account with them in addition to regular account. User needs to simply enter in the data provided by VoIP provider and he can start making and receiving calls. The major drawback with Softphone is that user should have access to his PC and Soft phone software needs to be installed for making and receiving phone calls.
Regular Analogue Phone
Regular Analogue phone comes with an ATA device that can be plugged in the traditional regular phone handset. This adaptor acts as the translation unit between the analogue voice signals and digital voice packets. One good thing about these devices is that they are cheap. This device requires the user to have account with a VoIP service provider and in many cases, VoIP providers offers this ATA device for free with the account. Users should check with their service provider to ensure they receive it in case they want to use phone service across their home.
User can disconnect his outside phone line and plug in a regular phone line into a phone jack from his ATA device. This will allows the phone signal to travel across the house and user can easily use VoIP service like his normal home phone. User should take care in using the appropriate place of setting up his internet router and phone jack so that they can be used with great ease and convenience. If a user is using DSL then he should purchase a cordless phone that contains a base unit with multiple handsets. In this case, user needs to simply plug the base unit in and setup handsets all over the house.
USB VoIP phones
A USB phone can be plugged into the USB port of a PC and acts like a phone by using SIP soft phone software. Basically this phone is a device with a microphone and speaker and they appeal to the user because they look like a normal phone.
Hardware SIP Phone
A hardware based SIP phone is connected to data network and it looks like a normal phone. These phones come with an integrated mini hub which allows them to share their network connection with the PC. Examples of hardware SIP phones include Grandstream, Cisco, Aastra, Linksys, and Snom.
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Category: VoIP phones
