| Translating voice calls between digital for | | | | can be purchased for a few hundred dollars. |
| the Internet and analogue for telephone | | | | This type of device can offer three ports: |
| systems is a challenging task, and that is | | | | one for a telephone jack, one for a broadband |
| the task that VoIP gateways perform by | | | | modem or router and one for a computer or |
| switching the calls between analogue and | | | | network device. They are suitable for a home |
| digital. They can also help direct VoIP calls | | | | or a small office. |
| to specific users. Translation from one VoIP | | | | |
| protocol into a different protocol is another | | | | At the mid range of gateways, additional |
| function of the gateways. This protocol | | | | functionality such as signal encryption and |
| translation is important because it enables | | | | voice compression is offered to ensure |
| different VoIP systems to talk to each other. | | | | security and efficient bandwidth usage. |
| These benefits make VoIP gateways an | | | | |
| essential part of any commercial VoIP network | | | | The high end gateways are used by large |
| that must cater for different users and uses. | | | | corporations and telecommunications providers |
| | | | to provide complex VoIP infrastructure, and |
| More VoIP gateway products have become | | | | they can cost several thousand dollars. These |
| available to customers as the popularity of | | | | systems have sophisticated functionality such |
| VoIP as a stable telephone service has | | | | as interactive voice response systems for |
| increased. Some of the well known | | | | automated voice response functions, and they |
| manufacturers of gateways include Nortel | | | | can carry thousands of simultaneous telephone |
| Networks and Cisco Systems. | | | | conversations. They also offer other |
| | | | functions like conference calling and call |
| VoIP gateways can either be hardware or | | | | recording. |
| software based. The hardware gateways tend to | | | | |
| cost more than software gateways and can be | | | | There are new features and functions for VoIP |
| purchased as a stand alone box. They do not | | | | gateways being built all of the time, such as |
| put additional load on existing servers and | | | | support for emerging VoIP standards and |
| are generally believed to be more reliable | | | | faster translations. Distribution of these |
| than the software ones. | | | | upgrades tend to be very quick and efficient |
| | | | since most of them are sent out over the |
| There are many functional options available | | | | Internet as software upgrades. |
| for gateway products, including fax, STN, and | | | | |
| PBX enabled products that offer more than | | | | The future sees VoIP gateways customers |
| just simple call handling. | | | | getting more products and enhanced features. |
| | | | It will allow VoIP networks to build, expand |
| The basic VoIP gateways at the lower end of | | | | and upgrade their networks and provide better |
| the cost graph comes equipped with a | | | | quality and even more inexpensive calls. |
| firewall, a router, and a telephone jack, and | | | | |