| Translating voice calls between digital for | | | | computer or network device. These low end |
| the Internet and analogue for telephone | | | | VoIP gateways targets the home user and small |
| systems is a challenging task, and that is | | | | business owner. At the mid range of gateways, |
| the task that VoIP gateways perform by | | | | additional functionality such as signal |
| switching the calls between analogue and | | | | encryption and voice compression is offered |
| digital. Directing calls to specific users is | | | | to ensure security and efficient bandwidth |
| also a function performed by the gateways. | | | | usage. At the higher end of the market are |
| And they are able to translate between | | | | VoIP gateways that cost several thousand |
| different VoIP protocols. This protocol | | | | dollars and are widely used by telephone |
| translation is important because it enables | | | | carriers and large companies. These systems |
| different VoIP systems to talk to each other. | | | | have sophisticated functionality such as |
| Because of all of these benefits it is easy | | | | interactive voice response systems for |
| to see why VoIP gateways are highly | | | | automated voice response functions, and they |
| recommended for any VoIP service. Since VoIP | | | | can carry thousands of simultaneous telephone |
| technology is becoming ever more popular, | | | | conversations. They also offer other |
| VoIP gateway customers have a lot of products | | | | functions like conference calling and call |
| available. Mediatrex Telecom and Cisco System | | | | recording. There are new features and |
| are two examples of manufacturers that | | | | functions for VoIP gateways being built all |
| produce leading VoIP gateway systems. VoIP | | | | of the time, such as support for emerging |
| gateways can either be hardware or software | | | | VoIP standards and faster translations. Many |
| based. The hardware gateways tend to cost | | | | of these improvements are software based and |
| more than software gateways and can be | | | | therefore can be sent to customers very |
| purchased as a stand alone box. They tend to | | | | quickly and cheaper in the form of a software |
| be viewed as more reliable and do not consume | | | | upgrade. One can expect to see many more |
| computer power. Buyers of VoIP gateways can | | | | enhancements and improvements before VoIP and |
| select from products that offer numerous | | | | VoIP gateways can be considered a matured and |
| phone, fax machine, PBX and STN support | | | | saturated market. The end user benefits from |
| capabilities. The basic VoIP gateways at the | | | | these improvements because quality and range |
| lower end of the cost graph comes equipped | | | | of services increase while overall call costs |
| with a firewall, a router, and a telephone | | | | tend to be constantly driven downwards. |
| jack, and can be purchased for a few hundred | | | | |
| dollars. This type of device can offer three | | | | At you can get Voice over IP help, as well as |
| ports: one for a telephone jack, one for a | | | | tips on where to find VoIP reviews. |
| broadband modem or router and one for a | | | | |