 |
||||||||||
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
ATA
What is it? Basically a box that connects a regular telephone to a broadband enabled network. It encodes the voice signal as a digital signal which can then be routed over the broadband network to anywhere you want. It also contains the intelligence to do this network routing and handle things like passwords and logins transparently (i.e. you don’t have to ‘log in’ when you make a call), and so ensure that you are billed for your calls only. What types are there? Two. Stand alone in which you have a socket for CAT 5 ethernet and a socket for regular telephone connection, and built in, where you have a smart phone which incorporates the network smarts and plugs into your broadband network. There are also smart phones which will log on to your wi-fi network wherever that can be reached. Stand alone boxes are probably the most flexible in that you can connect any type of regular phone to them including cordless or DECT phones which can be used around the house. Standard ‘smart’ phones typically need to be plugged into the network and hence located near your computer. Wi-fi connected phones don’t have this issue, but you are paying for a wi-fi connection when you only have to pay for a cordless one. This site’s choice? |
|
|