Thanks to technological advances in the field of communications, it is now possible to transform audio signals and turn then into digital data, enabling the transmission of the data over a network to take place.

As people around the world learn to bypass traditional phone companies with VOIP telephony, they learn to use their existing internet connection and hook their phone unit up to it. With a simple software package, usually free, people can hook up their existing phone system to a program such as Skype and can use Voice over IP phone software to make calls around the world from their computer.

There are essentially three different ways that people can use VOIP telephony services. The first is through the use of a device called an Analog Telephone Adapter or an ATA. An ATA enables VOIP phone system users to connect to a standard telephone through a computer or internet connection.

The ATA is what is called an analog-to-digital converter in that it converts the traditional analog digital symbols of your conventional telephone into digital symbols or data through the internet, thus transmitting your telephone call across the information superhighway's network. Many service providers of VOIP systems include an ATA with their package, negating the use for an actual VOIP phone for the user.

The second way people can use VOIP service is through an IP phone. These phones actually look just like normal phones, complete with a handset and buttons. Instead of having standard telephone connections, however, the IP phone has an Ethernet connection and can connect directly to your router.

They also have all of the hardware to go with it and include a software package to enable the user to go online immediately for their first calls. The IP phone is evolving to include Wi-Fi technology, enabling its user to get or send telephone calls from any Wi-Fi hotspots around the world.

The third way people can use VOIP service is through computer-to-computer service. This is often the preferred line of VOIP telephony service because, frankly, it is free to the user. Several companies are offering free software packages that enable connection to a network that, in turn, enables connection to other computers thus including computer-to-computer calling.

The user simply needs a computer (obviously), software packages, a microphone, speakers, and a soundcard along with an internet connection. The faster the internet connection, the better it is for the user of computer-to-computer VOIP telephony. There is usually no charge for calls on these programs, amounting to great savings on your long distance bill.

VOIP telephony is becoming a popular way to talk on the phone and send voice messages over a network. It is rapidly changing the way people are having conversations and changing the way people make their long distance calls, too. VOIP telephony will certainly prove to be advantageous as we progress in an era of global communications.