VoIP - otherwise known as IP Telephony, Internet telephony, Broadband telephony, Broadband Phone and Voice over Broadband - is the routing of voice conversations over the Internet. In our experience VoIP has proved to be a complex subject for average end users to grasp. Fortunately, it is now getting to the stage where enough good software exists that enables one to largely ignore these technicalities. However, it helps to know a few of the other acronyms and technical details in order for one to determine how VoIP can be used personally or in support of your business.

In these sections we cover a glossary of terms in which we briefly describe the relevant technology as an aid to you in making a selection of what services you may require in the VoIP market. We then describe a number of the things you can do for free from existing providers – this being sufficient for those that do not require their calls to be routed over the Public Service Telephone Network (PSTN). Finally, where your personal or business requirement is such that you feel you may need to make use of the PSTN then we conclude with a section of the services you may subscribe to, their approximate costs and details of some of the hardware you may use to facilitate your use of VoIP over PSTN.