A VoIP phone is a telephone set designed specifically for use in a voice over IP
(VoIP) system by converting standard telephone audio into a digital format that can be
transmitted over the Internet, and by converting incoming digital phone signals from the Internet
to standard telephone audio. A VoIP phone allows the user to take advantage of VoIP technology
without involving a personal computer, although an Internet connection is required.
Physically, a VoIP phone set resembles a traditional hard wired or cordless telephone set. It
employs the familiar ear and mouth (E&M) arrangement with an earphone (or
earpiece) for listening to incoming audio, and a microphone (or mouthpiece) for transmitting audio.
Some VoIP phone sets offer enhanced quality audio, comparable to that on compact
disc(CD). A few VoIP phone sets allow for the transmission and reception of image data
during calls, so they can be considered video telephones.
This was last updated in March 2008
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