A VoIP phone can be defined as an entity that is used to make telephone calls over the internet. A VoIP phone utilises the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology wherein our voice is converted into digital signal that is transmitted over the Internet. VoIP phones enable you to enjoy the benefits of VoIP technology. The VoIP technology is based on protocols, such as SIP, H.323 or proprietary ones like Skype.

How is voice transmitted using the VoIP technology?

VoIP phone--->broadband router---> Internet---> voip service provider

Well, if you do not wish to spend on purchasing a new VoIP phone, just connect your existing analogue telephone to a VoIP phone adaptor and enjoy the benefits of VoIP. There are many VoIP service providers who allow you to use the service on your analogue telephones. With the VoIP phone adaptor, you do not need a VoIP phone or a computer to avail the VoIP service. The analogue telephone connects to the broadband router through the adaptor. The router connects to the Internet.

standard analogue telephone--->voip adaptor--->broadband router---> Internet---> voip service provider

The UK phone users may need an RJ11 adaptor to convert their standard BT Connector to an International Connector. RJ11 adaptor may be bought with a VoIP Phone Adaptor. Broadband routers have built-in VoIP and can also be used as VoIP Phone Adaptors. You can buy these routers online.

What are the things required to avail the benefits of VoIP service?

• VoIP hardware:
voip phones can be plugged it straight into a network or a broadband router
• voip adaptors
used when you need to avail voip service through an analogue telephone
• voip-compatible router provide access to the Internet for multiple devices (can be wired or wireless)
• softphone
a software-based phone that operates from a PC uses Internet connection to make VoIP calls can be used with a USB Phone or PC Headset

• Internet connection
• subscription to a VoIP service

VoIP is indeed a cutting-edge technology that has revolutionised the telephony system to a great extent.

The phone cards works on a pre-paid system, where you can access the telephony service immediately with a certain value of currency in your card. In other words, it can be said that a calling card is a communication credit card that is used by the consumers to avail telephony services.

If you want to talk to your friends and family members overseas, and you need immediate credit to call on a specific country for a short period, then calling card would be a right option for you. You can easily go for international calling cards, which would help you to make a call in almost any country of the world with any handset.

It is advisable to go for the region specific calling cards by which you can save a significant amount of money. Suppose that you have to talk exclusively to Caribbean then, you should buy a card meant for that specific Caribbean region only, which can help you save up to 40 percent on the call charges.

The calling cards come in cheaper rates because the calling card providers purchase the call credits in huge amount from the major telecommunication companies, with a huge discount, and they pass this benefit to the end users as well.

One of the great advantages with a calling card is that you are aware of your spending and that also where you are spending that amount. This is almost similar to pay-as you-go mobile phones and you can avail a minimum call credit of £5 as well.

Undoubtedly, calling cards will pave a way for growth in the saturated UK telephone market. Nowadays, free calling cards are also offered to attract the customers. In the coming years, calling cards will become the biggest telephony business opportunity in UK.