The terms IP Telephony and Voice over IP are used almost interchangeably, but a recent story in VoIP News asked the question “do they mean the same thing?”
IP Telephony: This refers to VoIP calls using specialized hardware. In this definition, VoIP is a subset of IP telephony where “IP phones are specifically created for VoIP, using a data connection instead of a legacy phone network.”
VoIP: VoIP is the means by which IP calls are placed. “VoIP comes in many deployment types: you can have VoIP on your mobile phone that uses your data rather than your minutes. You can have a hosted, on-premises, cloud, or hybrid VoIP system. You could even use VoIP to place calls at home, in the office, or on the road with the same phone number to give the appearance of being locked into a standard location.”
The article explained “VoIP is a protocol, and IP telephony relates to the infrastructure in which VoIP resides.”
Regardless of what you call it, this exciting technology has completely changed the way the world communicates. Telinta’s robust portfolio of cloud-based softswitch solutions enables you to offer the high-quality services your customers demand.