From POTS to Packets (VOIP)

VoIP technology enables traditional telephony services to operate over computer networks using packet-switched protocols. Packet-switched VoIPputs voice signals into packets, similar to an electronic envelope. Along with the voice signals, the VoIP packet includes both the caller’s and the receiver’s network addresses. VoIP packets can traverse any VoIP-compatible network. Because VoIP uses packets, much more information can be carried over the network to support and enhance your communication needs when compared to traditional telephony methods.
In a circuit-switched network such as POTS, routing is less dynamic than with a packet-switched network. In the POTS world, if a line is down, the call can’t go through. In a packet-switched network, multiple routes can be established, and packets can travel any of the available routes. If one of the lines supporting the network is down, the packet can switch to another working route to keep the call up.
With VoIP, voice signals can travel the same packet-switched network infrastructure that companies already use for their computer data. topic 7 goes into more detail about dedicated packet-switched networks that support VoIP.