Knowledgebase and FAQs - VOIPo

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ATA
Analog Telephone Adapter. A device that allows a standard telephone to be used with a Voice over IP service, over the internet, such as VOIPo.

Bandwidth
Bandwidth refers to data sent over your internet connection over a period of time. Internet service providers usually define bandwidth in megabits per second, or mbps.

Broadband
Internet service that is usually much faster than dial-up. Common broadband services include cable, DSL, and fiber optic.

BYOD
Bring Your Own Device. BYOD generally refers to hardware not provided or provisioned by VOIPo.

Cable Internet
Cable internet is a type of internet service that uses a coaxial connection to send and receive data.

Call History
The private online listing of calls made and received on your VOIPo line. You can access this by selecting "Call History" in your VPanel.

Call Waiting
A feature that allows you to receive more than one incoming call, by putting the first caller on hold and answering the second call.

CNAM
Calling Name Delivery. Caller ID information that can be displayed on a telephone when receiving an incoming phone call.

Codec
Computer software that encodes or decodes data, commonly audio or video.

DHCP
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. A protocol used to assign dynamic IP addresses to devices or computers connected to a network.

DSL
Digital Subscriber Line. DSL is a type of internet service that uses your phone line to send and receive data.

E911
Enhanced 911. A service that associates your address with your telephone number. As long as you have your current address set up in the E911 section of your VPanel, an emergency call will be automatically routed to a local PSAP (public safety answering point).

Ethernet
A computer networking term that refers to a wired line of communication. An ethernet cord is commonly used in a network to connect devices or computers to a router or each other.

Firewall
A hardware device or software that provides security to a network by intelligently blocking traffic based on type or source. Most consumer routers use a NAT firewall.

FUSF
Federal Universal Service Fund. A fee telecommunications providers are required to charge on behalf of the FCC. The FCC uses the collected capital to provide subsidies to areas and people in need.

Internet Phone Service
A synonym for VoIP, internet phone service allows you to make phone calls over your internet connection with special software or hardware.

Internet Service Provider
The company that provides your internet connection and other related services.

IP Address
A number used in a private or public network to identify a device (such as a router or computer).

IP Phone
A phone with a built in phone adapter. This differs from a regular analog telephone as it does not require a separate phone adapter to be used with a VoIP service.

ISP
Internet Service Provider. The company that provides your internet connection and other related services.

Latency
The amount of time it takes for an IP packet to get from one physical or virtual location to another.

Letter of Authorization
A document that is used to authorize a provider to port a telephone number. To port your current telephone number to VOIPo, you will need to submit a Letter of Authorization along with a phone bill from your current provider. The VOIPo LOA can be found here: http://www.voipo.com/Porting.pdf

LNP
Local Number Portability. The act of transferring a number from one carrier to another. Also referred to as number porting or a number transfer.

LOA
Letter of Authorization. A document that is used to authorize a provider to port a telephone number. To port your current telephone number to VOIPo, you will need to submit a Letter of Authorization along with a phone bill from your current provider. The VOIPo LOA can be found here: http://www.voipo.com/Porting.pdf

Modem
A device used to convert digital and analog data so it can be used appropriately by the destination. Phone lines and coaxial lines contain analog data, so it needs to be converted before computer software can appropriately use it.

NAT
Network Address Translation. A system for assigning IP addresses to devices or computers that route traffic to one central public IP address. Most consumer routers available in stores use NAT to create a wired or wireless network.

Number Porting
The act of transferring a number from one carrier to another. Also referred to as LNP or a number transfer.

Number Transfer
The act of transferring a number from one carrier to another. Also referred to as number porting or LNP (Local Number Portability).

Phone adapter
A device that allows a standard telephone to be used with a Voice over IP service, over the internet, such as VOIPo.

Power Cycle
The act of rebooting a piece of network hardware.

Provisioning
The remote or local configuration of a telephone adapter so it can connect to a VOIPo server and provide phone service.

Proxy
In VoIP, proxy generally refers to a server to which a device or software can register, send calls, and receive calls from.

PSAP
Public Safety Answering Point. A call center that answers 911 calls and contacts the appropriate authorities.

PSTN
Public Switched Telephone Network. This refers to the system that controls and administrates telephone numbers and allows them to communicate with one another. Sometimes this is referred to as POTS.

Registration
The connection that VoIP hardware or software maintains to a VoIP proxy for the purpose of sending and receiving calls. Your VOIPo device will maintain a registration to a VOIPo server.

RJ11
The type of connector used on the end of a phone cord.

RJ45
The type of connector used on the end of an ethernet cable.

Router
A device used to intelligently send traffic to devices or computers on a network. Most consumer routers do this with NAT.

RTP
Real-time Transport Protocol. An internet protocol for sending audio and video over an internet connection. VoIP uses RTP to handle incoming and outgoing audio.

SIP
Session Initiation Protocol. Voice over IP uses SIP to communicate call information between an end user, VoIP proxies, and upstream providers.

Softphone
Software that allows you to make and receive phone calls using your computer and your internet connection.

SPI
Stateful Packet Inspection. A process some routers and firewalls use to keep track of traffic. Sometimes SPI will block or redirect traffic, causing issues for services such as Voice over IP.

Virtual Number
An incoming only telephone number that forwards to another telephone number. Many people use virtual numbers so a caller in a different area code can avoid long distance charges from their phone service provider.

VoIP
Voice over Internet Protocol. Also referred to as internet or broadband phone service, VoIP allows you to use your internet connection to make phone calls using software or hardware.

VPanel
The online control panel interface for configuring features on VOIPo service. You can access the VPanel login at https://secure.voipo.com