Computer Phone Hardware Requirements
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Want to run voice-over IP (VoIP) in your home or office? Check out computer phone hardware requirements here.
Minimum Hardware Requirements (For Softphones/Software-based Telephony)
Using a computer and downloadable software to make calls usually means little or no extra additional hardware requirements. Aside from a computer with a broadband internet connection, you will need a means of audio input and output, typically a microphone and speakers combination, or on other occasions, a headset that provides both functionalities in one.
Softphones can use a USB computer phone or USB phone gateway, which connects to a computer's USB port from an internet source.
With a Regular Phone
A VoIP router, on the other hand, already provides the adapter/converter for the analog signal that comes from the telephone line. In addition, you will also connect your broadband internet here: a wire from your internet provider to this box, and a wire from this box to your computer's LAN card.
With an IP Phone
An internet protocol (IP) phone, which is specifically designed for internet telephony using VoIP, only needs to become connected to a local area network (LAN) router or switch for it work. Cordless IP computer phones provide extra convenience around and outside the home or office.
Going Wireless
Another emerging technology related to computer phones is VoIP over Wireless (VoW) or voice over wireless LAN (VoWLAN). Instead of using a wired local area network (LAN), to which analog or IP phones are connected, a wireless LAN which mobile devices such as laptops, cellular phones, and PDAs can make and receive calls.
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