What are IP Phones and How does it Work?

 

Traditional phones relied on landlines for making calls, but in recent years, IP telephony has taken over voice communications, allowing IP phones to connect via the internet instead of using traditional landlines.

IP telephony systems provide unified communications, integrating voice, video, messaging, faxing, conferencing, and more, at a significantly lower cost by transmitting voice calls over data networks instead of traditional telephone lines. This article will explore IP telephony technology, how it works, and how it can improve business communications with clients.

 

What are IP Phones?

 

IP telephony refers to any telephone system that uses the internet to send and receive voice data. Unlike traditional phones that depend on landlines to transmit analog signals, IP phones connect to the internet through a router and modem.

IP phones have evolved greatly, now offering high-definition (HD) audio quality, lower operational costs, and advanced features for business phone systems. IP phones are not limited to voice calls; they also support video calls, conference calls, text messages, instant messaging, and faxing.

How Do IP Phones Work?

IP phones transform analog audio signals into digital data packets and transmit them via Internet Protocol. As the data packets travel through networks, they pass through devices like routers, which read the packet headers and redirect them to their destinations.

The key protocols supporting IP phones include:

• The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a communication protocol designed to handle the initiation, control, and termination of call sessions and signaling processes.

• Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) and Real-time Control Protocol (RTCP) are utilized for transmitting and managing voice traffic streams.

• H.323, an older VoIP protocol.

If you're using an IP PBX system, data is transmitted digitally over a Local Area Network (LAN) and then converted into analog signals and sent to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). 

Hosted VoIP services have become the most popular solution for IP telephony, allowing businesses to benefit from advanced PBX features without on-site hardware.

 

The Difference Between IP Phones and VoIP Technology

 

IP phones encompass any communication system that uses the Internet Protocol to transmit voice and data. This includes both traditional phone systems upgraded to use IP and newer VoIP systems.

In contrast, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a dedicated technology that leverages IP networks to facilitate voice call transmission. VoIP is a subset of IP telephony, specifically dealing with voice traffic transmission. All VoIP systems are IP phones, but not all IP phone systems are VoIP.

The term VoIP initially referred only to the technology used for making and receiving internet-based calls. Lately, VoIP providers and telecom companies have begun using the two terms synonymously. Both IP telephony and VoIP technology utilize a Local Area Network (LAN) to establish internet connectivity through a modem or router.

 

Best IP Conference Phones for Managers

• Grandstream GAC2500 IP Phone

• Grandstream GAC2570 IP Phone

 

Grandstream GAC2500 IP Phone

• Supports 6 lines and SIP accounts

• 7-way audio conferencing

• Android 4.4 OS with access to Google Play Store

• 4.3-inch responsive touch screen (800 x 480) with HD audio support

• Bluetooth connectivity

• Gigabit port with auto-sensing and PoE support

• Built-in Wi-Fi

Grandstream GAC2570 IP Phone

• Dual full-duplex speakerphone with HD audio room and advanced echo cancellation

• 12-microphone array with MMAD technology

• 5-meter capture range

• Wireless microphones for up to 20 meters of coverage

• 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet port with +PoE support

• Bluetooth 5.0 support

• Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 technology (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) with support for 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax standards.

 

Best 4 Wi-Fi IP Phones (No Extension Needed)

• Grandstream WP810 IP Phone

• Grandstream WP820 IP Phone

• Grandstream WP822 IP Phone

• Grandstream WP825 IP Phone

 

Grandstream WP810 IP Phone

• Dual-band Wi-Fi support (802.11a/b/g/n/ac)

• 2 SIP accounts and 2 lines

• 1500mAh rechargeable battery

• 6 hours talk time and 120 hours standby

• Micro USB charging port and 3.5mm headset jack

 

Grandstream WP820 IP Phone

• 2 SIP accounts and 2 lines

• Dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)

• Bluetooth support

• 1500mAh battery with 7.5 hours talk time and 150 hours standby

• Customizable push-to-talk button or other functions

• Micro USB charging port and 3.5mm headset jack

Grandstream WP822 IP Phone

• 2 SIP accounts and 2 lines

• Dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac)

• 2000mAh rechargeable battery with 8 hours talk time and 200 hours standby

• Bluetooth for headset connection

• Customizable push-to-talk button or other functions

• Micro USB charging port and 3.5mm headset jack

Grandstream WP825 IP Phone

• Durable, waterproof, dustproof design, shock-resistant up to 2.5 meters

• 2 SIP accounts and 2 lines

• Dual-band Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n/ac)

• 2000mAh rechargeable battery with 8 hours talk time and 200 hours standby

• Bluetooth for headset connection

• Micro USB charging port and 3.5mm headset jack

 

Best 5 IP Desk Phones for Small and Medium Businesses

• Grandstream GXP1625 IP Phone

• Grandstream GXP1628 IP Phone

• Grandstream GXP1630 IP Phone

• Grandstream GXP2135 IP Phone

• Grandstream GXP2160 IP Phone

 

Grandstream GXP1625 IP Phone

• 2 SIP accounts with 2-line keys

• 3-way conferencing

• 3 customizable XML programmable keys

• Dual 10/100 Mbps ports with PoE support

• HD audio on speakerphone and headset

• EHS support for Plantronics headsets

• Up to 1000 contacts, 200 call history records

Grandstream GXP1628 IP Phone

• 2 SIP accounts with 2-line keys

• 3-way conferencing

• 3 customizable XML programmable keys

• HD audio on speakerphone and headset

• Gigabit ports with PoE support

• 8 dual-color BLF keys

• Up to 1000 contacts, 200 call history records

Grandstream GXP1630 IP Phone

• 3 SIP accounts with 3-line keys

• 4-way conferencing

• 3 customizable XML programmable keys

• Gigabit ports with PoE support

• 8 dual-color BLF keys

• EHS support for Plantronics headsets

• Up to 1000 contacts, 200 call history records

Grandstream GXP2135 IP Phone

• 8 lines, 4 SIP accounts

• Customizable BLF/Speed Dial keys (32 keys)

• Gigabit ports with PoE support

• Built-in Bluetooth for headset and mobile device sync

• HD audio on speakerphone and headset

• EHS support for compatible headsets

• 4-way audio conferencing for easy group calls

Grandstream GXP2160 IP Phone

• 6 lines, 6 SIP accounts

• 5-way audio conferencing

• 4.3-inch color LCD (480x272)

• 24 dual-color BLF/Speed Dial keys

• Gigabit ports with PoE support

• HD audio on speakerphone and headset

• Built-in Bluetooth for headset and mobile device sync