VoIP Glossary
All the VoIP and calling terminology you need to know, explained in plain English.
VoIP
Voice over Internet Protocol. Technology that lets you make phone calls using the internet instead of traditional phone lines. This is how Phone by Ringee.io works.
WebRTC
Web Real-Time Communication. Browser technology that enables voice and video calls without plugins or downloads. Phone by Ringee.io uses WebRTC for crystal-clear browser calling.
SIP
Session Initiation Protocol. A signaling protocol used to start, maintain, and end VoIP calls. Think of it as the "phone number" protocol for the internet.
Codec
Software that compresses and decompresses audio. Better codecs mean clearer calls with less bandwidth. Common codecs include Opus, G.711, and G.729.
Latency
The delay between speaking and the other person hearing you. Lower latency means more natural conversations. VoIP typically has 20-150ms latency.
Jitter
Variation in packet arrival time. High jitter can cause choppy audio. Good VoIP services use jitter buffers to smooth out the audio.
Virtual Number
A phone number not tied to a physical phone line or SIM card. Virtual numbers work over the internet and can be used from any device.
DID (Direct Inward Dialing)
A virtual phone number that routes calls directly to you. When someone calls your DID, it rings on your VoIP device or browser.
PSTN
Public Switched Telephone Network. The traditional landline phone system. VoIP connects to PSTN to call regular phones.
Softphone
Software application that lets you make VoIP calls from a computer or mobile device. Phone by Ringee.io works as a web-based softphone.
Call Termination
The process of connecting a VoIP call to a regular phone number on the PSTN. Termination rates vary by destination country.
Caller ID
The phone number displayed on the recipient's phone when you call. With VoIP, you can often choose which number to display.