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A broadband phone company provides voice calling over an internet connection using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). You might make calls through an app, a regular telephone plugged into an adapter, or a compatible IP phone. The calling company does not have to be the company that supplies your broadband internet.
What does “broadband phone company” mean?
It is a consumer description for a company that offers phone service using broadband and internet protocol (IP), rather than relying solely on a traditional telephone line. The service is also called VoIP, internet phone service, or broadband phone service.
The phrase is not a universal legal category. Regulators may define VoIP differently for a particular jurisdiction or proceeding. For example, a 2005 Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decision describes the services covered in that proceeding by their use of IP, North American Numbering Plan telephone numbers, and connections to or from the public switched telephone network (PSTN), the conventional phone network. That proceeding-specific definition should not be applied to every internet calling product. CRTC Telecom Decision 2005-28
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How is broadband phone service different from broadband internet?
Broadband internet is the connection that carries data; broadband phone service is the calling service that uses an IP connection to carry voice. A customer may buy internet access from one company and phone service from another. Some VoIP services use the customer’s existing internet connection, while other arrangements provide voice over a connection to the phone provider’s IP network. The exact arrangement depends on the service.
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How does a broadband phone call work?
VoIP converts voice information into data packets and transports them across an IP network. The call may reach another compatible internet-based service, or, when the service connects to the PSTN, travel to or from a conventional telephone number. The route and features available depend on the provider and service.
What equipment can you use?
A broadband phone service may offer one or more ways to make calls:
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- TLS and SRTP security encryption technology to protect calls and accounts
- Automated provisioning options include TR-069 and XML config files
- LED indicators - POWER, NET, PHONE1, PHONE2 Supports 3-way voice conferencing Failover SIP server automatically switches to secondary server if main server loses connection
- Supports T.38 Fax for creating Fax-over-IP
- Softphone software: An app or computer program that acts as the phone.
- Telephone adapter: A voice box connects a conventional telephone to the IP service.
- IP phone: A telephone designed to connect to an IP network.
These are general endpoint types, not a guarantee that any device works with any provider. An Australian Competition and Consumer Commission filing from 2007 described software, voice boxes, and VoIP-enabled telephones configured for the named provider’s network; it is a historical company filing, not evidence of current operations or universal device support. ACCC public-register filing by MIBroadband Pty Ltd trading as Engin
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- Item Package Dimension: 8.070L x 4.88W x 1.53H inches
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- Compatibility: Compatible with Google Workspace Voice Paid Version ONLY, Will NOT Work With Free Version. Setup is done on workspace admin not obitalk.
- Product Type - ELECTRONIC ADAPTER
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- Supports 2 SIP profiles and 2 FXS ports
- Strong AES encryption with security certificate per unit
- Supports T.38 Fax for reliable Fax-over-IP
- High performance NAT router
- 3-way voice conferencing per port
What should you check before choosing a service or phone?
- Confirm whether the service uses your existing broadband connection or includes a separate underlying connection.
- Check whether it provides a telephone number and supports calls to and from the PSTN if you need to reach conventional phone numbers.
- Ask the provider which adapters and IP phones it supports before buying equipment.
- Check the service’s availability and regulatory terms for your location. Regulatory oversight can vary by provider classification and jurisdiction; for example, the North Carolina Public Staff telephone page illustrates state-specific oversight rather than a rule for all markets.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
