Internet Collaboration Tools: VoIP

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Internet Collaboration ToolsVoIP
Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences
Library University of Utah Health Sciences Center
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What is VoIP?

• Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
• aka Internet Voice, Internet Telephony
• a category of hardware and software that enables
  people to use the Internet as the transmission
  medium for telephone calls instead of a regular
  (or analog) phone line.
• VoIP converts the voice signal from your
  telephone or
• headset into a digital signal that travels over
  the internet
• then converts it back at the other end so you can
  speak to
• anyone with a regular phone number.

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What kind of equipment do you need?

• A broadband (high speed Internet) connection is
  required.
• This can be through a cable modem, or high speed
  services such as DSL or a local area network.
• Voice is sent via a
• Microphone attached to your computer and send
  your voice through a cable modem
• or a phone connected directly to a telephone
  adaptor.

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Types of VoIP services

• Skype
• PC to PC or Phone Anywhere (Skype is
  for calling other people on their computers or
  phones)
• Just need to register with Skype and you can call
  other Skype registered users online

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VoIP Skype features

• Use with a microphone headset
• Can search for users online
• IM feature available
• Conferencing calls (limit 5 participants)
• SkypeOut
• Additional service that lets you call traditional
  landlines or mobile phones anywhere in the world,
  but with a charge (which is minimal lt4
  cents/minute)

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VoIP Skype features contd

• Supported platforms
• Windows
• Mac OS X
• Linux
• Pocket PC

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For more info.

• See handouts at
• http//medstat.med.utah.edu/collaboration/handou
  ts.html

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Demo

• Skype
• http//www.skype.com/