Voice Over Internet Protocol - VOIP uses the same packet based technology as the Internet. In fact your voice is actually turned into data, such that it is simply information that gets transferred via the Internet - the same as web page information is transferred to your computer.

Webopedia defines it as a category of hardware and software that enables people to use the Internet as the transmission medium for telephone calls. For users who have free, or fixed-price Internet access, Internet telephony software essentially provides free telephone calls anywhere in the world.

When you are using Public Switched Telephone (PSTN) line, you typically pay for the time you use: The more time you stay on the phone the more you'll pay. And you generally don't have the option of talking with more than one person at a time (or you can, but at increased cost).
With VOIP, you can talk all the time with any person you want (the requirement is that the other person has an internet connection), with no regard to distance, and you can talk with many people at the same time.

Still not convinced - read the rest of the FAQ to cover other questions or concerns you may have.

Other than our base infrastructure costs, calls transferred via the Internet are free. We pass these savings onto you. It is best to illustrate the differences between traditional carriers and VOIP.

Traditionally - You pick up your phone and dial a telephone phone number, the call goes through your local telephone company who charges you a connection fee and per minute charge (for long distance calls), billed monthly in your long distance phone bill.

We only charge for calls that need to be passed into the traditional carrier network (calls to normal telephones, mobiles etc). We have to pay for these calls, so we feel it is only fair to ask you to cover the cost here.

Anywhere from nothing upwards, depending mostly on how you are going to use the system and convenience. If you have the basic requirements, you can start today without spending any money.

- An Internet Connection (although we can (and prefer to) provide this for you).
- Computer with a full duplex sound card (most computers will have this)
- Speakers and a microphone
- Softphone (free software)
- You FREE WAN Communications account

No not necessarily but it certainly is the preferred method, we can not gaurentee connection quality on dialup connections

We are using G729 which is around 20k per sec per conversation. Thus the data usage is pretty light.... All this said we recommend the use of unlimited data plans for piece of mind.

No. Where possible we do prefer this how ever.

There are many options with IP telephony to make things easier for you. Whilst the possibilities are virtually endless, the core options are laid out below for you

Softphone
This is a piece of software that is loaded onto your computer (or other computing device). It enables you to connect to your WAN Communications service in order for you to make free calls. There are many types of softphones that are available that may provide additional functionality such as:
- Conferencing multiple phone calls together
- Integration of your existing contacts in MS Outlook and other contact management programs
- Encrypted calls
- Access for other devices such as Pocked PCs

You simply need to click here if you would like us to supply the complete package (Broadband Internet connection and VOIP service) or click here for the VOIP only online application form and enter your details as requested. An account will be automatically created for you such that you can begin making free phone calls straight away.

If you have a question that has not been answered by the FAQ (or you would like further details), email voip@westnet.net.au and we would be happy to cover this for you.