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• How to protect yourself against identity theft
  
  
• Wireless networking basics
  
  
• How to create mp3s and burn CDs using media players
  
  
• How to protect your computer from power surges
  
  
• Know when to upgrade your video card
  
  
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• What is broadband and do I need it
  
  
• What is VoIP and should I choose it

What is VoIP and should I choose it

The acronym VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, and the basic concept of the term can be fairly well understood by just looking at the words that make up the acronym. For a more complete definition, VoIP can be described as a means of converting analog audio signals (your voice) into digital data that can be transferred over the Internet.

Getting Setup:

When many people think of VoIP they instantly think of services like Vonage or Packet8, these are businesses that want to become your full feature telephony solution. Although these companies do offer VoIP services, the term can be used to describe something much simpler.

Taking a look at the basic definition again we can see that we only need to be able to capture the audio and transmit it digitally in order to have VoIP. This can be done without subscribing to a service and without a specialized telephone or other equipment. Basic VoIP can be accomplished by an internet connected PC with a soundcard sporting a microphone and speakers. Keeping that in mind, let us look at the basic ways people implement VoIP

The PC to PC version of VoIP is what was described in the previous paragraph. With a fairly typical computer connected to broadband internet, and some kind of software for managing the communications, anyone can be up and running with a basic version of VoIP that may be totally free. Such software is available as a free download, and Skype is one of the more popular applications in use. Skype allows members to make free PC to PC calls, regardless of distance, and for an extra fee they can send/receive calls from standard telephones. ComputerGeeks2Go have partnered with Skype to provide you with a special offer to get you started on the right track, just click below to find out more.

As mentioned, you only need a PC with a soundcard, a microphone, and a decent set of speakers, but there are also specialized Cordless Internet Telephones , like the one shown, that make it even more convenient. Using a USB VoIP phone not only makes the communication seem a bit more traditional, but it also frees up the soundcard for typical audio applications (MP3s, games, etc), while the phones circuitry handles all audio processing for phone calls.

Using an ATA, or Analog Telephone Adaptor, may be the most common form of VoIP in use today. With an ATA, a standard telephone can be plugged into the adapter just as you would plug it into a phone jack in the wall. The ATA is then connected to your network, or directly to your broadband internet gateway, in order to convert the analog audio into digital data for transmission over the internet. Vonage and other similar services use ATAs to implement VoIP, as it is a simple approach for people with existing phone equipment that they would like to continue using. In addition, it can allow for a home pre-wired for multiple phone jacks to continue operating as is, with the only new piece of hardware required being the ATA.