VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, and that stands for ‘revolution in the telecommunication industry’. Yes, with all the hustle and bustle going on about Voip or otherwise internet phone service, and the sudden wave of people shifting to it, leaving the traditional phone services behind, it makes VoIP undoubtedly the greatest innovation of the 21st century. VoIP phone service has given a new name to communication. People have begun to drift away from other traditional services whether for residential or business needs. The biggest reason for this shift is owing to the convenience and affordability factors in VoIP phones and the economical VoIP calls that one can make to any destination in the world.
Where did this start? The origination of VoIP, the idea, the concept and how it has managed to come a long way and become entitled as the ‘best’ communication tool. Let us go back in time and see how it all began.
According to the chronicles of VoIP, the technology came in existence in the year 1995 when a small company named Vocaltec launched the first internet phone software. This software was purposively created to function on a home computer, similar to the PC phones that are being used today. It made use of sound cards, microphones and speakers to perform its complete functionality. The software – named as the "Internet Phone" primarily utilized the H.323 protocol, instead of the SIP protocol that is used in internet phones today. Vocaltec’s launch gathered a huge acclamation, which led to a prosperous IPO in the year 1996. You can consider that it was more or less something similar to the Skype service that we have today. Unfortunately, the only drawback with using internet phone service was the unavailability of broadband internet in the 90’s, and therefore, this software had to make use of modems but, the voice quality wasn’t satisfying enough compared to the traditional phones’ service. Nevertheless, Vocaltec paved way for the development of VoIP phones and laid down the foundation for the service in the first place.
In 1998, VoIP subscribes grew over to roughly 1% of all voice communication subscribers in the United States. Entrepreneurs and researchers were working together to bring in devices, which facilitated for PC-to-phone and phone-to-phone calls. On the other hand, networking manufacturers including Cisco and Lucent brought in latest equipment for routing calls and by the year 2000, VoIP traffic increased to over 3% of all voice traffic in the US.
Now, in 2005, VoIP phone services underwent various developmental stages, mostly addressing VoIP traffic to a more ensure reliable, clear sounding, seamless VoIP calls. The income generated alone from VoIP equipment sales reached over $3 billion in 2005 and by 2009, it crossed over to $20 billion – a major jump isn’t it?
As mentioned earlier, the biggest reason for this evident growing number of sales and VoIP users is primarily the low costing unlimited VoIP calling plans with an even more enhanced and purposive internet phone features.
Today, we have a full on VoIP phone system with features for voice and video calling in economical rates and a convenient service, which can be used anywhere using a high-speed broadband internet connection.
