One of the easiest ways to use Internet telephony and make Internet calls is to install an instant messenger on your computer, which is a kind of virtual phone. An instant messenger is an application that allows you to make phone calls using a computer and headphones and microphone connected to it. There are quite a lot of such programs on the Internet, so it is enough to search for them with the use of search engines, e.g. by typing “softphone”.
For the most part, these are free solutions with basic functionalities, enabling calling and answering phone calls. Their extended versions are usually paid for. In search results we will receive many links to websites that provide this type of software. A good way to do this is to choose a VoIP service provider first and then download the recommended softphone software from the provider’s website.
Figure: Using softphone software
Legend: WAN socket (type RJ-45) – connection from the Internet LAN socket (type RJ-45) – connection of: computer, local IP network, network devices Twisted pair computer cable (Ethernet) terminated with RJ-45 plugs
Individual applications differ from each other in some nuances, but are always equipped with a keyboard as in a traditional phone and a display showing the numbers dialed, and in the case of incoming calls, the telephone number and possibly the name of the user who calls us. Using this type of solution is extremely easy. After installing the software downloaded from the Internet on your computer, you only need to enter the registration data of your user account, specified when you set it up on the website of a given VoIP operator in the form of a login, password and a service server supporting our telephone calls. The server address is given by each operator on their websites, most often in the help section or in the configuration manual of a given instant messenger – most often it is the address of type: or we will receive it in an e-mail sent to us automatically after the registration of the user account.
This action is performed only once and does not need to be repeated at the next start of the computer or software used for telephone conversations. If the registration is successful, an appropriate message will appear on the communicator’s display, and after pressing the green handset or another button, which in a given softphone is used to make a call, in the speakers of the computer or headphones connected to it, a telephone signal will appear as if after picking up the handset of an ordinary phone connected to a traditional telephone line.
To call someone, it is enough to run the program (if, of course, it did not start when the computer was switched on via the autostart option, put on the headphone with the microphone and dial the number: either using the numeric keys on the computer keyboard or with the mouse pressing the appropriate numbers on the keyboard displayed by the program. Then press the “Enter” key or click the green receiver displayed next to the program keyboard. After a while you will receive a ringing tone in your headphones, which means that the call has been established and the phone will ring on the other side. When the call is answered by the caller to whom we are calling, we can already make the call[1].
This is a very good solution for those who start their adventure with telephony via the Internet and want to check how it works and whether it is worth entering this technology. This solution does not require any investment on the part of the user and is very simple to implement. It also does not require any technical knowledge or special knowledge of foreign languages, because in the vast majority of cases operators show on their websites step by step what should be entered into the configuration menu of this type of software in order for the program to work properly. In addition, the configuration manuals usually show the correct views of the software and the places where it is necessary to enter the appropriate values.
Of course, there is no rose without spikes. This is a good solution for those who start or want to test telephony over the Internet, without investment and in a way that gives a general overview of VoIP technology. But remember that this method has some disadvantages.
The biggest thing is that in order to use this kind of solution, our computer must be switched on all the time – if we turn it off, neither we will be able to call anywhere, nor anyone will call us. The second important drawback is that during an ongoing call, the computer, apart from converting our voice into data and sending it to the world, often implements dozens of other processes and tasks, so that the quality of our connection can be worse than with the use of dedicated solutions, in the form of VoIP gateways.