Modern society is increasingly refusing the services of telephone companies, because this type of communication is distinguished by the high cost of calls, especially long-distance ones. Adherents of traditional telephone communication remained except in areas not spoiled by civilization. With the development of Internet services, telephone lines have lost their relevance, and they have been replaced by more practical ways to communicate and exchange data. You can make calls regardless of your location, if your device has a built-in receiver of Wi-Fi waves. You just need to find and connect to a Wi-Fi source to make a call. The ability to use communication via the Internet at no additional cost is given to any holder of a suitable device.

IP-telephony is a relatively young form of communication, the rapidly growing popularity of which is due to comfort along with cheapness. Even if there is no IP-telephony provider in your city, you have the opportunity to connect an IP-phone and use the Internet connection. In this case, you need access to the network in any way, be it a local connection, using a modem or a Wi-Fi router, and no additional connections of telephone wires are needed.

Types of IP phones

An IP phone can be software or hardware. In any of the selected options, it does not matter how the connection to the network is made.

• An IP softphone is an application installed on a computer, such as the well-known Skype. To make calls, you must have a headset, internet access, and the computer and the program must be running.
• Hardware IP-phone looks similar to the usual, equipped with a tube. If you purchased a phone with a built-in Wi-Fi receiver, then turning on the computer to use the connection is not required. A PC will only be needed to set up an IP phone. Some models can be customized even without a computer.

IP telephony connection

You can choose any of the connection methods based on your financial capabilities and requirements for such a communication tool. The minimum cost will be required to use the software connection, since the purchase of a special device will not be required if there are already devices that support such a communication format.

Software connection with headset

In the case of a software connection, you simply download and install on your computer or other device a selected application that supports IP communication. For the most part, such programs are free and freely available, and their setup does not take much time. You need to create an account for the selected application, enter the necessary data, when installing, the parameters necessary for the work are set by default, then you can make your own adjustments to the settings. To make calls and video calls, you must have a headset, external or built into the device. In addition to computers and laptops, you can also use tablets or mobile phones. Modern devices with a Wi-Fi receiver have the ability to use such programs for calls.

Headset for computer calls

USB devices

You can make calls by plugging an IP phone into the USB port of your computer. Of course, you must first configure it. Instructions for each model will have its own, it is always attached. You can get the necessary network configuration data that you need to enter from your provider. Like any external device, the system must detect it. To synchronize the work of both devices will help drivers that are suitable for your phone, they usually come in the kit.

Options for the appearance of such a USB phone:

• mobile phone with USB cable;
• landline phone;
• cordless radiotelephone.

Panasonic cordless telephone

When you connect such a phone on your computer, you need to launch an application that supports communication over IP protocol. For the program, the correct operation should be pre-configured. Some software manufacturers offer devices that are customized for sale, such as wired Skype-tubes, but you can configure synchronization with the program on any phone, then it will not matter if your computer is turned on or not to make calls. Fixed and cordless telephones can be successfully used at home or for the office. It is very convenient to connect USB-tubes when the user is often on the road and connected to the network via Wi-Fi.

Sip adapter

An inexpensive and practical way to connect through the adapter is carried out in the presence of a Wi-Fi router as a standalone device, or built-in directly into the adapter itself. Both the computer and the adapter are connected to the router using USB ports. The network cable must be connected to the router, regardless of whether it is built-in or not. IP-phone must be connected to the adapter, and in the menu to set the tone dialing mode. Thus, there is no need to turn on the computer in this connection option. Different SIP adapters can support from one to several accounts simultaneously.

Phone sip adapter

SIP devices

This is the most comfortable, but also, respectively, an expensive way to connect. A variety of model range of devices is very large. The IP phone can be equipped with a Wi-Fi receiver, a screen for video communication, and an integrated router. Some models have the ability to connect to multiple SIP-servers, then you can make and receive calls by selecting the most appropriate. In the case when the IP phone is already equipped with a router, the network cable is connected to it, and the computer to the phone. When you connect the Internet to the phone, no PC or laptop is needed for it to work.

Yealink VP-530 4-line SIP phone

IP telephony setup

So, regardless of which device you choose and which provider are connected, there is a general configuration principle that applies to any IP phone, more details on how to configure the functionality of a particular model can be found in the instructions included with the device.

Before you buy a device, check with your provider what equipment will be most compatible with its network. Perhaps, the operator already has tuned adapters or devices on sale, then it will be easy to connect the device yourself.

When you connect all the necessary wires directly from the phone to the computer or to the adapter, turn on the device and wait for the download. Lift the handset and wait until the tone signal appears. An IP phone equipped with a Wi-Fi handset or a router (or if connected directly to it) can work without a computer.

The presence of an IP phone implies the possibility of being always in touch; if necessary, the menu can be configured to forward calls. The communication protocol used in IP telephony allows signal communication with different subscribers by converting the signal. You can make calls to mobile, landline phones at least to the other end of the world, while the costs for using the connection are minimal.