VoIP – Future developments for users
VoIP is a telephony term for a set of facilities to manage the delivery of voice information using the Internet Protocol (IP) and is the future of communication.
Here we will look at the changes that are coming and will add to what is already substantial growth in the industry.
With Voice over IP, businesses have the ability to manage calls at the IP layer, enabling productivity and operational benefits never before available at such an affordable price.
Worldwide revenue from voice-over-Internet technologies is expected to grow from about $13 billion in 2002 to almost $200 billion in 2007.
The Future of VoIP Projected Growth
When it comes to VoIP technology already available, long distance phone calls, conference calls, email and other communications are now affordable and flexible.
However, VoIP technology is developing and some of the developments that will ensure the future of VoIP are outlined below.
The future of VoIP SIP
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) retrieves responses from the server and handles requests from clients.
This technology is capable of determining the end system to be used for a communication session, automatically sets the relevant communication parameters at the receiver and user ends, and then manages the transfer and termination of calls.
In addition, SIP allows users to initiate and receive communications from any location, and networks can also identify users, wherever they are.
This technology is an alternative to H.323, which is the protocol used until now for IP videoconferencing transmissions for VoIP.
SIP has advanced VoIP technology in terms of operational efficiency and many VoIP providers now include SIP as a standard, bringing SIP to a growing audience.
VoIP The Future – VoIP Gateways
Another influential element in the future of Internet telephony is the improvements in VoIP gateways.
Gateways are being developed from PC-based platforms to more robust embedded systems, which will be able to handle a higher amount of call traffic.
The economies of scale of placing all traffic (data, voice, and video) on an IP-based network is very attractive to corporate users.
The reason for this is:
IP will act as a unifying agent, regardless of the actual underlying architecture (ie, leased lines, frame relay, or ATM) of an enterprise network.
VoIP The Future – Corporate Intranets and Business Extranets
Currently, the most promising development areas for VoIP are corporate intranets and business extranets.
Their IP-based infrastructures allow operators to control who can use a network.
Commercial extranets, based on conservatively engineered IP networks, will provide VoIP and Facsimile over Internet Protocol (FAXoIP) services to the general public by guaranteeing specific parameters such as packet delay, packet jitter and service interoperability.
Companies are already looking to remove fax traffic from the PSTN and relocate it to the Internet and corporate intranet, via FAXoIP gateways and IP-enabled fax machines.
video conference
Another growth area will be video conferencing.
Video conferencing (H.323) with data collaboration (T.120) will become a popular method for corporate communications in the future as network performance and interoperability increase.
VoIP The future Expanding services and lower cost
A broader audience is starting to see more user-friendly devices and more promotions, and this education, combined with the ease of use of VoIP technology, is necessary for any new technology to gain trust and growth.
For example, new VoIP phones are offered at lower prices in a variety of colors, with touch screens that are increasingly easier to use.
Prices on all VoIP services will continue to decline as the market grows and competition increases.
The future of VoIP as the main method of communication in the coming years is therefore assured. VoIP telecommunications are here to stay.