Stated simply, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is nothing more than making telephone calls over an internet connection. The process is accomplished by taking analog signals and converting them to digital data. (1) This digital data can then be transmitted over the internet.

The origins of VoIP can be traced to the Department of Defense and, specifically, the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET). ARPANET was the world's first packet switching network and essentially the mother of the internet. (2) Packet switching will be dealt with in more detail later, but for now, one simply needs to understand that packet switching allows data networks to send and retrieve "packets" of data as they need it. That is, a constant connection (like a traditional phone system) is not necessary. The advent of packet switching eventually led to the development of Network Voice Protocol (NVP) which allowed for the transportation of human speech over packetized communication networks. (3) NVP is the precursor of VoIP.

This web brief is dedicated to exploring VoIP. Specifically, the brief looks at the technology behind VoIP, the legal issues that surround it, the business implications of the technology, the pros and cons of the technology, and finally, what the future holds for VoIP. We begin with a synopsis of the technology behind VoIP. Please click here to begin.