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Comparison of VoIP software
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<p>This is a comparison of voice over IP (VoIP) software that examines applications and systems used for conducting voice and multimedia communications across Internet Protocol (IP) networks. VoIP technology has transformed telecommunications by offering alternatives to traditional telephony systems while providing enhanced features and cost savings. </p><p>For residential users, VoIP services typically provide significant cost advantages compared to traditional public switched telephone network (PSTN) services. These systems eliminate geographic restrictions on phone numbers, enabling users to maintain local numbers in any area code regardless of their physical location. For example, a user can operate a New York phone number while residing in Tokyo, facilitating global mobility and reducing international communication costs. </p><p>In enterprise environments, VoIP technology enables the consolidation of voice and data networks into a unified IP infrastructure. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate voice and data pipelines while providing advanced capabilities including: </p> <ul><li>Unified communications integration</li> <li>Presence management systems</li> <li>Advanced call routing</li> <li>Mobile device integration</li> <li>Multimedia conferencing capabilities</li></ul> <p>Softphone applications serve as the primary client-side implementation of VoIP technology. These applications transform standard computing devices into full-featured communication endpoints, supporting voice and video calls over IP networks while providing standard telephony functions. Most softphone clients utilize the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), an open standard that supports various audio and video codecs. Some systems, like Skype, operate on proprietary protocols but can integrate with SIP-based systems through specialized business telephone system (PBX) software. </p><p>The VoIP ecosystem encompasses various specialized applications beyond basic communication endpoints: </p>