Voice over Internet Protocol[1] (VoIP) is a technology[2] that enables voice communication and multimedia sessions over the internet[3], instead of traditional phone lines. It works by converting voice signals into digital data packets that are transmitted over a network. This technology uses different protocols for communication, including SIP and H.323. VoIP is adopted widely due to its cost efficiency and the ability to consolidate various communication technologies into one system. It can be delivered through private solutions, hosted services, or cloud-based systems. However, VoIP can encounter quality issues like latency and packet loss, which are addressed using Quality of Service (QoS) methods. The evolution of VoIP has also seen the rise of unified communication services and continuous optimization of call quality.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), also called IP telephony, is a method and group of technologies for voice calls for the delivery of voice communication sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, such as the Internet.
The broader terms Internet telephony, broadband telephony, and broadband phone service specifically refer to the provisioning of voice and other communications services (fax, SMS, voice messaging) over the Internet, rather than via the public switched telephone network (PSTN), also known as plain old telephone service (POTS).