The Future of Voice over Internet Protocol

Introduction
What is Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)?
The two-way transmission of audio over a packet-switched IP network. When used in a private intranet or WAN, it is generally known as 'voice over IP,' or 'VoIP.' When the transport is the public Internet or the Internet backbone from a major carrier, it is generally called 'Internet telephony.

Introduction
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
History Implementation Service Types Benefits Drawbacks Current and Projected Use

History of VoIP
Network Voice Protocol
Created in 1973 by Danny Cohen at USC Project Goals
Wanted to create digital high-quality, low-bandwidth, secure voice handling capability

Control Protocol Data Transport Protocol

Circuit Switching
Current Phone Systems Dedicated line with a constant connection Originally very expensive Each call transmits at 64 kilobits per second
64 kbps x 2 directions = 128 kbps 128 kbps = 16 kilobytes per second During a 10 minute call, about 10 MB Highly inefficient

Circuit Switching
Example: Circuit Switching

Packet Switching
VoIP Phone Systems Connection only long enough to send a packet of information Thousands of possible paths for packet to go Network uses cheapest and least congested paths Quality of Service (QoS) A 10 minute call transfers only about 2 MB

Packet Switching
Example: Packet Switching

Quality of Service (QoS)

Defined in the International Telecommunication Union standard X.902 A set of quality requirements on the collective behavior of one or more objects. Control mechanisms to provide different priorities to different users or data flows Important for real-time streaming applications

VoIP Implementation
Sender picks up the phone Analog telephone adapter (ATA)
Data converted by a codec

Soft Switch Receiver picks up ringing phone Data transfer during calls is handled by current internet infrastructure

Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA)

Converts audio between analog and digital signals Need one on each end of the call Sends signal to handle connect and disconnect

Codecs
Coder-decoder or codecs Conversion from analog audio signal to digital signal Most common codec is the G.729A
sampling rate of 8,000 times per second

Conjugate-structure Algebraic-code-excited Linear Prediction algorithm (CS-ACELP) Responsible for the large gap in performance

Soft Switches
Database mapping program Endpoint-to-Endpoint
Location Phone Number IP address

Allows phones, computers, and WiFi phones to work together

Industry Protocol Standards

H.323 Protocol Suite

Main flaw not designed for VoIP

Industry Protocol Standards

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
Smaller, more efficient Designed specifically for VoIP

Handles
User location User capabilities User availability Call setup Call handling

VoIP Service Types

Home Phones
Requires an ATA Usually provided for free

IP Phones
ATA technology built in Ethernet Phones WiFi Phones

Computer-to-Computer calls

Computer-to-Computer VoIP
Simplest and cheapest way to use VoIP Requires
Microphone Speaker Sound card Broadband internet

Costs: Software and ISP service Calls: Free Example: Skype Download Service

Benefits
Uses technology already in common use Cost Bundled Services
Caller ID Voice Mail Call Waiting Call Forwarding Many Others

Long Distance and International Rates

Benefits

Cost of Calls Made from US to Foreign Countries

Drawbacks
911 Emergency Calls Dependence on Wall Power Latency issues, jitter, and packet loss Viruses, worms, and hackers Integration with land-line dependant hardware
DVRs, digital television service, and home security systems

Drawbacks
Security Problems sending faxes Dependence on Internet Service Providers Requirement of broadband connectivity WiFi hotspot dependence

Current and Projected Use

Roughly 6 million in US in 2006 Expected to climb to 24 million by the end of 2008 Increase in service providers
Traditional phone companies
At&T, Sprint, Nextel, Time Warner

VoIP companies
Skype, Vonage, VoIP Inc.

Conclusion
VoIP will be a dominate force in the 21st century Probably at least another 10 years before possibly replacing current phone systems If the current flaws are fixed sooner rather than later, it could be much sooner than a decade