VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a phone technology that allows you to make and receive phone calls using the internet instead of traditional phone lines. It is also known as IP telephony. VoIP services convert your voice into a digital signal that travels over the internet. The signal is converted to a regular telephone signal before it reaches the destination if you are calling a regular phone number. VoIP can allow you to make a call directly from a computer, a special VoIP phone, or a traditional phone connected to a special adapter.

Some VoIP services only allow you to call other people using the same service, while others may allow you to call anyone who has a telephone number, including local, long distance, mobile, and international numbers. Most business VoIP providers offer unlimited minutes without any extra cost. VoIP phones, also known as IP phones, include features and capabilities not found in traditional analog phones.

To use VoIP, you need a broadband (high-speed internet) connection, which can be through a cable modem, DSL, or a local area network. You also need a computer, adapter, or specialized phone. Some VoIP services only work over your computer or a special VoIP phone, while others allow you to use a traditional phone connected to a VoIP adapter.

VoIP phones convert voice calls into digital signals that are transported through IP networks, such as the internet. Several networking components are required to make VoIP phones work, including IP addresses, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, and domain name system. Various codecs exist that optimize the media stream based on application requirements and network bandwidth.