| Translating voice calls between digital for the | | | | one for a computer or network device. These |
| Internet and analogue for telephone systems is a | | | | low end VoIP gateways targets the home user |
| challenging task, and that is the task that VoIP | | | | and small business owner. At the mid range of |
| gateways perform by switching the calls between | | | | gateways, additional functionality such as signal |
| analogue and digital. Directing calls to specific users | | | | encryption and voice compression is offered to |
| is also a function performed by the gateways. | | | | ensure security and efficient bandwidth usage. At |
| And they are able to translate between different | | | | the higher end of the market are VoIP gateways |
| VoIP protocols. This protocol translation is | | | | that cost several thousand dollars and are widely |
| important because it enables different VoIP | | | | used by telephone carriers and large companies. |
| systems to talk to each other. Because of all of | | | | These systems have sophisticated functionality |
| these benefits it is easy to see why VoIP | | | | such as interactive voice response systems for |
| gateways are highly recommended for any VoIP | | | | automated voice response functions, and they |
| service. Since VoIP technology is becoming ever | | | | can carry thousands of simultaneous telephone |
| more popular, VoIP gateway customers have a | | | | conversations. They also offer other functions like |
| lot of products available. Mediatrex Telecom and | | | | conference calling and call recording. There are |
| Cisco System are two examples of | | | | new features and functions for VoIP gateways |
| manufacturers that produce leading VoIP gateway | | | | being built all of the time, such as support for |
| systems. VoIP gateways can either be hardware | | | | emerging VoIP standards and faster translations. |
| or software based. The hardware gateways tend | | | | Many of these improvements are software based |
| to cost more than software gateways and can | | | | and therefore can be sent to customers very |
| be purchased as a stand alone box. They tend to | | | | quickly and cheaper in the form of a software |
| be viewed as more reliable and do not consume | | | | upgrade. One can expect to see many more |
| computer power. Buyers of VoIP gateways can | | | | enhancements and improvements before VoIP |
| select from products that offer numerous phone, | | | | and VoIP gateways can be considered a matured |
| fax machine, PBX and STN support capabilities. | | | | and saturated market. The end user benefits |
| The basic VoIP gateways at the lower end of the | | | | from these improvements because quality and |
| cost graph comes equipped with a firewall, a | | | | range of services increase while overall call costs |
| router, and a telephone jack, and can be | | | | tend to be constantly driven downwards. |
| purchased for a few hundred dollars. This type of | | | | At you can get Voice over IP help, as well as tips |
| device can offer three ports: one for a telephone | | | | on where to find VoIP reviews. |
| jack, one for a broadband modem or router and | | | | |