What are VoIP calls, and how do you make them?

When we hear the word "calling", most of us think of the huge number of ways to talk to our family, friends, colleagues or business partners. Voice calls have long since ceased to be the privilege of landlines, and they also take place over mobile networks and the internet protocol. It is the last of these options that our article today is devoted to. The abbreviation VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It is a technology that enables digitised voice to be transmitted via the UDP or TCP/IP protocols, and it is used to make calls not only over the internet, but also over an intranet and other kinds of data connection. 

Put simply, VoIP technology allows you to make voice calls without needing to own a landline or a mobile – you only need a good-quality internet connection. Besides the classic connection, VoIP calls can be made via the mobile data network, Wi-Fi and other types of internet connection. Instead of an analogue signal, the voice is transmitted by a digital route, and the signal is digitised with the help of codecs. VoIP calls can be made not only between two internet subscribers – with this technology you can also call a landline from a device with internet access, and vice versa. VoIP calls are in most cases carried out using IP protocols from the TCP / IP family, and making a call requires suitable hardware and software. Besides computers, VoIP calls can also take place, for example, using VoIP phones, which are able to communicate on a local network via an assigned IP address. Nowadays, however, VoIP calls most often take place on personal computers equipped with the necessary software – which in most cases is available completely free of charge for basic purposes. VoIP calls can be made, for example, via Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or Google's services. Besides computers, this type of software can also be used for VoIP calls on mobile phones connected to data networks, ideally 3G.

For high-quality and trouble-free VoIP calls, choosing the right provider is also one of the key factors. There really are a large number of them on the domestic market, and the quality of the services they offer often varies greatly. If you want to make VoIP calls at a higher level, it is a good idea to ask the chosen provider for free advice about the options for implementing a VoIP solution that will fully meet your requirements for quality and price. VoIP calls do away with a number of costs, such as the fees for maintaining a landline, and calls as such are cheaper. However, as we mentioned in the introduction to our article, you cannot do without a good-quality and stable internet connection – this can be achieved by choosing the right solution and a well-executed setup of your home network. The quality of a VoIP call is very much endangered by changing latency, or even a small packet loss during data transmission. 

If you are still looking for the right internet provider, take a look at the page https://uvtnet.cz/en/internet/ and check your options without any obligation, or call us on 227 023 023.

Updated 13 March 2024