Voice Over IP

The future of international broadcasting?

Voice over Internet protocol allows you to send voice communications over the Internet. Developed as a way to avoid phone call charges, merging technology means you could get news-on-demand to a hand-held device rather than wait for the on-the-hour bulletin on the radio. Note I can’t use the word “wireless” any more. The term has been hi-jacked by the computer industry.

To send voice, the information has to be separated into packets just like data. Packets are chunks of information broken up into the most efficient size for routing. On reception, the packets need to be put back together in an efficient manner. Clever in theory, but voice communications over the Net are not as seamless as they are over a traditional phone lines. While the technologies are improving, there are still concerns about the quality of voice communications over the Net.

The race is on to find the best packet-based transfer system, although those who pioneered packet radio on the Eighties must be quietly smiling…