Ass#4: Voice over Internet Protocol

Feb 13, 2009 at 10:52 AM
1 comment

Telephone is an instrument used in voice communication. It converts voices into signals and send over to the telephone network. Today, the traditional telephone has become old and is replaced by the new technology called VoIP. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It is the telecommunication technology that sends the signals of voices over the internet. This article will discuss the example of VoIP’s application and services on the telephone and computer.

The first example is CAT 009 which is the VoIP service for landline telephone provided by CAT Telecom, a Thai telecommunication company. In Thailand, CAT telecom has the biggest market share of international telecommunication because of the implementation of VoIP technology. CAT 009 has 44 percent of international telecommunication generated from Thailand. If we focus on the international VoIP service, CAT 009 has up to 77 percent of market share (Sewu-cat.com). Moreover, I interviewed some friends about their experiences of international call; they said that the international VoIP is better than using the traditional telephone. International VoIP cause less delay and less losing of voices during the communication. That is why CAT 009 is so popular in Thailand.

Another example is 0033 international Mobile-Plan, the VoIP service for mobile phone offered by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation or NTT. It is a Japanese company, which dominates the telecommunication market in Japan. NTT is the largest telecommunication company in Asia and the second largest in the world (Wikipedia.com). For the international call, the differences of time cause a lot of inconvenience especially the delay and the additional charge. Anyway, 0033 allows you to make an international call from your mobile phone at a flat rate regardless when you call at night or in the morning (506506.ntt.com). However, I really do not know how effective it is because I have never tried it yet and I do not know anyone who ever try 0033 of NTT.

The third example is an application that helps users communicate via the internet by using their computers known as Skype. Skype allow users to make a call over the internet, not necessarily an international call, and it is free! There are a few people who know that Skype implement the VoIP technique because it looks very similar to an instant message application. Nevertheless, Skype is quite popular among teenagers and middle age people because it is free. Besides, Skype has some interesting additional features such as file transfer and video conferencing. Lastly, Skype is very easy to use if you just want to try!

In conclusion, VoIP is a new technology that makes telecommunication more effective. Today, there are many VoIP services and applications. CAT 009, 0033 Mobile-Plan, and Skype are the examples of VoIP services and applications which we are quite familiar with. Up to this point, I hope this article has made you more interested in this new technology. The more you know about it, the more effective it will be!