People can now interact with one another almost instantly even though they are thousands of miles away due to advancements in communication technology. We are talking about VoIP calling. Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP for short, is a call that is placed between two devices via the Internet. VoIP calling is a cost-effective and efficient way to make phone calls, especially for long-distance and international calls. A VoIP caller can avail of several advanced features like call waiting, call routing, caller tones, auto-attendant, multiple phone numbers, and more.
In this blog, learn more about VoIP calling, how it works, what is caller ID, and how you can make secure VoIP calls using NordVPN.
What is a VoIP call?
A VoIP call is a phone call made over the Internet using Voice over Internet Protocol technology. It is a digital alternative to traditional phone calls that use analogue signals transmitted over copper wires. VoIP calls are made using software applications like Skype, Zoom, Facebook Messenger, etc that convert voice signals into digital packets and transmit them over the internet to the recipient’s device. VoIP phone calls can be made using a variety of devices, including computers, smartphones, and tablets.
What is the VoIP caller ID?
VoIP Caller ID is a function that identifies and displays the phone numbers and, if available, the names of incoming callers. With the help of the caller’s ID name and number, you may identify who they are. Up to 15 ASCII characters can be used for the Caller ID Name, whereas the Caller ID Number is typically ten digits.
The person making the call determines the VoIP Caller ID Number. Landlines are fixed, and the phone number associated with that specific line will be displayed on the display. Conversely, callers who use a VoIP number have far more options. The numbers that appear on the screens of call recipients are completely within the control of the calling parties, and they can change or swap these numbers for different calls.
How does VoIP calling work?
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It is a technology that allows you to make and receive phone calls over the Internet instead of traditional phone lines. When you make VoIP phone calls, your voice is converted into digital packets and transmitted over the internet to the recipient’s device. The recipient’s device then converts the digital packets back into voice signals, allowing you to communicate in real time.
Here is a brief overview of how VoIP calling works:
Analogue to digital conversion
When you speak into a microphone, your voice is converted into an analogue signal. This signal is then converted into a digital signal using a codec (coder-decoder).
Packetisation
The digital signal is then broken down into small data packets and transmitted over the internet to the recipient’s device.
Transmission
The data packets are transmitted over the internet using a variety of protocols, including TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol).
Digital to analogue conversion
When the data packets reach the recipient’s device, they are reassembled and converted back into an analogue signal using a codec.
Voice transmission
The analogue signal is then sent to the recipient’s speakers, allowing them to hear your voice in real time.
VoIP calling offers several advantages over traditional phone calls, including lower costs, portability, better voice quality, advanced features, greater accessibility, increased security, and scalability.
How to secure your VoIP caller ID?
Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) caller ID is a feature that allows phone numbers and, if available, names of incoming callers to be recognized and displayed. Caller ID spoofing poses a threat to caller ID security. VoIP Caller ID spoofing is a technique used by attackers to manipulate the caller ID information displayed on the recipient’s phone. This technique is often used to trick the recipient into answering the call or to hide the caller’s true identity.
However, there are several ways to secure VoIP caller ID:
1. Secure Telephone Identity Revisited (STIR) and Signature-based Handling of Asserted information using toKENs (SHAKEN) protocols can be used to validate caller ID information and prevent caller ID spoofing.
2. Use a two-factor authentication method that records the caller’s IP address.
3. Choose a reliable VoIP provider that offers secure and encrypted VoIP calling.
There are several VoIP providers that you can choose according to your requirements, however, when you are concerned about your caller ID and credential safety, it is important to secure your internet connection. NordVPN encrypts data packets sent over the internet, therefore, it’s a fantastic and reliable option for safe VoIP calls.
Benefits of making VoIP calls using NordVPN
NordVPN offers private and secure internet connections. It doesn’t offer VoIP calling service but helps you protect your security and privacy online by increasing the difficulty of third parties accessing your data or intercepting your calls.
Some benefits of using Nord VPN for VoIP calls include:
1 . Increased security: Your internet traffic is encrypted using NordVPN, which makes it more secure than regular phone calls.
2. Privacy protection: Nord VPN protects your VoIP caller ID by hiding your IP address and location, making it harder for others to follow your online activities.
3. Reliability: NordVPN has a 99.9% uptime guarantee and offers 24/7 customer support.
4. Speed: NordVPN has a large network of servers that ensures fast and reliable internet connections.
5. Affordability: NordVPN offers competitive pricing and a 30-day money back guarantee.
How to connect to the NordVPN server for making VoIP calls?
NordVPN offers several subscription plans, including a 2-year plan, a 1-year plan, and a 1-month plan, subscribing to which you can use NordVPN’s service to secure your online identity and also make VoIP calls.
To use NordVPN for VoIP calling, you need to install the NordVPN client on your device and connect to one of the VPN’s servers. Once you have connected to a NordVPN server, you can make VoIP calls using your preferred VoIP app.
Here are the steps to use NordVPN for VoIP calls:
1. Download and install the NordVPN client on your device.
2. Enter your login information to access your NordVPN account.
3. Connect to a NordVPN server located in a country of your choice.
4. Open your preferred VoIP app and make a call as you normally would.
Conclusion
VoIP calling is cost-effective and more secure than conventional calling. It also keeps the details of VoIP caller private thus adding more security. VoIP calling may be costlier for businesses as compared to personal use. This is simply because businesses may have to take subscriptions for all their members to avail better cybersecurity features. So, it’s essential to choose a reliable VoIP provider whether for business or personal use. For added security over your internet connection, no doubt that NordVPN is your best bet.
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