What is Voice over IP? TechWatch report reveals all

The latest TechWatch report takes a look at the technologies behind Voice over IP (VoIP) and the new applications that it can support. At the moment the potential for very low-cost or free voice calls is driving the use of the technology, but in the long-term VoIP is more significant than just free phone calls - it represents a major change in telecommunications. The fact that VoIP transmits voice as digitised packets over the Internet means that it has the potential to converge with other digital technologies, which in turn will result in new services and applications becoThis TechWatch report examines some of the issues around VoIP as well as looking at the potential for future use within educationming available. 

However, the adoption of VoIP is not without complications. The traditional PSTN telephone infrastructure has been built up over the last one hundred years or so and has developed into a robust voice communications system that provides reliability figures of nearly 100%. In contrast, VoIP is a relatively new technology with a fledgling architecture that is built on inherently less reliable data networks. This means that there are therefore justifiable concerns about its deployment.

This TechWatch report examines some of the issues around VoIP and how they are being approached by UKERNA, as well as looking at the potential for future use within education in areas such as e-learning, research and administration.

The report can be downloaded at: TechWatch