So how does it work?

Just like a modem converts digital signals from the PC into analogue (voice) traffic for transmission over a phone line, a VoIP-enabled phone or VoIP adaptor converts your voice into digital packets (using the special SIP protocol) for transmission over the internet.

If you make a call to another VoIP phone, the opposite process occurs at the other end, and your voice emerges intact from the ether. If you make a call to a mobile or landline, Yoofone's gateway decodes the call and sends it on as an ordinary voice call to the telephone exchange (PSTN).

Who can benefit from Yoofone's VoIP service?
Small to medium-sized businesses with several employees, and especially those with distributed offices and teleworkers, are likely to get the maximum benefit from our system, which has been carefully designed to provide all the features that you will need in a professional package.
You can assign one or more external numbers that people can dial; these can be mapped to a voice menu so they can chose an internal extension, or directly to an internal extension, hunt group, or diversion to another number. Calls that go unanswered can either be forwarded to another number, or a voicemail.

Individual users benefit if they make international calls to family and friends, or would just like a second line at home without the "hassle".

Why use Yoofone's VoIP service?

1. Your business/private telephone costs are dramatically reduced. All calls to other VoIP phones are free, and calls to other lines are very competetive.

2. Using our Centrex service, you get a get a fully featured PBX system for your business for a very modest rental cost. With every VoIP number, you get ten extensions on your virtual switchboard for your members of staff in your office, or remote through a broadband connection. You get all the facilities you expect: a voice menu, extensions for specific people, hunt groups and call forwarding to name a few - all controlled through our online control panel, as well as detailed call statistics and billing information.

3: You can configure your system to give whatever impression you want to customers. For example, if you have employees in other areas of the UK, on the road or even abroad, you can provide them all extensions on the same number, or their own numbers with the same area code as your head office. No-one need know whether you have city centre offices, or a virtual office!

What you need

There are three main elements to the service:
1. A VoIP-enabled telephone. This can be an all-in-one handset, or a normal handset plugged into an adaptor, or a softphone: a computer program that uses a microphone and headphones attached to your computer to emulate a real handset.

2. An internet connection. A leased line or ADSL/cable broadband is ideal; dial-up (ISDN or ordinary telephone line) or a satellite internet connection will likely cause a reduction in sound quality. A standard 256Kb ADSL connection can accommodate 2-3 simultaneous calls; if you expect to need more frequently, you may wish to upgrade to a higher-bandwidth package.

3. An account with Yoofone. This gives you a VoIP external number: which is what other people dial to call you.