Computer Phone: Softphone VoIP
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One way to use VoIP is by using a softphone. Don’t be misled by the name – a softphone is a program installed on a computer, such as a desktop PC or a laptop. The 'phone' designation comes from the fact that you can make and receive calls using your computer and an Internet connection.
According to Wikipedia, a softphone is a "piece of software for making telephone calls using a general purpose computer, rather than using dedicated hardware". Because you are using the Internet as a global telephone network (the essence of VoIP), you can make and receive calls to and from any telephone in the world. This is especially advantageous for call center agents, who may handle clients from different parts of the world, all the while working from their homes or WiFi spots with laptops.
If you haven’t used a softphone before, don’t worry – these programs are made to function as regular phones. They often sport images / icons of a phone so new "virtual phone" users can instantly associate the software with their notions of what a regular phone should do. One example of a VoIP service that is softphone-based is Skype; the popular Windows Messenger can also be used as a softphone.
One disadvantage of softphones is that your telephony abilities are dependent on your computer. Obviously, your computer needs to be turned on if you’re going to make or receive calls, so any power outage is bad news. However, softphones are great for multitasking, as you can still use your computer for other purposed while talking on the phone.
In order to talk on the phone, you’ll need a microphone; some laptop models have these built in. You’ll need speakers to listen to whoever’s on the other side of the "phone line". You can use also a headset that allows you to talk and listen with one device. Better yet, you can go for a USB phone, a device that is attached to your computer via a USB port and retains the traditional phone’s look and feel.
Trivia: The first VoIP service in the United States (by VocalTec Communications) was softphone-based.
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