Voice over IP digitizes analog audio, compresses it using codecs, and transmits it as discrete data packets across a packet-switched network. It replaces circuit-switched telephone networks by routing calls over the public internet or private enterprise WANs. Engineers use signaling protocols like SIP to set up the calls and RTP to deliver the actual media streams.
Heard on the job
The new branch office won't get a traditional PBX, we're putting them entirely on Voice over IP.
Also heard as
- IP telephony
Do not mix it up with
- VoIP: Voice over IP is the full technical term, while VoIP is the ubiquitous acronym used daily in the field.