There is a common assumption in the Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA areas that Voice
over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Internet Protocol Telephony (IP telephony) are the one
in the same, however this is not the case even though the two go hand in hand. Although
many believe that VoIP and IP telephony are interchangeable, it is important to discern
the difference when conversing with vendors while shopping for business communication
systems. To understand the difference between the two, defining each of the terms
individually is necessary.

What is VoIP?

VoIP is in the simplest terms, a service that allows phone calls to be placed via the
internet. Using a broadband internet connection, VoIP has the capability of calling any
phone number including landlines, mobile phones, and long distance. VoIP calls can be
made through a computer, traditional phone, and specially designed VoIP phone devices
giving you the flexibility that is crucial for your business voice calling needs. When using
a traditional phone for VoIP, a specialized VoIP adapter is needed. Using a computer for
VoiP simply requires a mic and a straightforward software download. Additionally, with
a VoIP compatible device, wireless voice calling is possible wherever high speed internet
is available.

What is IP Telephony?

IP telephony on the other hand, is the umbrella term for communications that utilize
internet protocols to deliver various types of data communications including video, voice,
fax and more. More often than not, when people use the term IP telephony they are
referring to the phone system and devices that are used to implement various
communication services via the internet. VoIP services are made possible through the
infrastructure that IP telephony provides. IP based phone systems are typically
constructed on a PC and are easily scalable depending on your specific business
communication needs. IP telephony eliminates the need for traditional phone service, and
is excellent for streamlining all business communications.

IP telephony is the overall infrastructure that allows various communications over the
internet including voice, video and fax, while VoIP is the specific service of placing
voice calls over the internet. An IP telephony system is highly sophisticated and has the
capability of providing many business communication services using internet protocols,
while VoIP is just one of those services. For example, in addition to providing VoIP
service, your IP telephony system can also deliver web conferencing and multi-site
connectivity. When you choose an IP telephony system for your business communication
needs, you are getting a highly intelligent phone system that is designed to meet your
precise needs.

The difference between VoIP and IP telephony is easy to understand when looking at the
two terms individually. For more information on VoIP and IP telephony services, contact
America’s Phone Guys today.