A VoIP gateway is a gateway device that uses Internet Protocols to transmit and receive voice communications (VoIP).
The general term is ambiguous and can mean many different things. There are many such devices. They are quickly becoming the most common type of voice phone service in many areas.
A typical VoIP gateway has interfaces to both IP networks and Public switched telephone network (PSTN) or POTS (Plain old telephone service) telephone services. The gateway may be configured to use these in several ways, including:
- An internal telephone instrument or PABX, with external connectivity through VoIP via the Internet.
- The PSTN interface to a telephone network, with IP connectivity to an in-house VoIP phone system.
- Both PSTN and VoIP interfaces externally, sometimes to offer a connection at local call charges to a remote call centre.
The PSTN interface is often either duplicated as, or can act as, connections for both a foreign exchange station (FXS) and a foreign exchange office (FXO). An FXS interface connects to FXO devices, such as local analogue telephone handsets or the exchange side of a PABX. The FXO interface connects to FXS devices, such as the PSTN.
A relatively potent device is needed to use better compression formats such as G.729a while a relatively inexpensive and simple device can easily handle a similar function using more bandwidth over G.711.
Any device capable of delivering audio in G.711 via Internet either or even both ways at once can be considered a VOIP Gateway, but one that is capable of sending and receiving simultaneously will perform better. One with support for more codecs will usually be able to perform better in a range of situations, for example where there is restricted bandwidth. Although it should be noted that doing so or not is not always easy to differentiate. The packets of data are quickly sent (as little as a few milliseconds between packets), most often using UDP. A lost packet or two will not usually result in any noticeable degradation of the signal.
Using G.711 as the codec, it is even possible to used a Fax Machine or Modem via these devices without issues. This is mostly due to G.711 being a relatively simple compression audio stream. Other Codecs will not usually perform this task.
Any modern PC with a microphone and speakers, or a headset serving both those tasks are capable of acting as a VOIP gateway. This still requires an Internet connection, and a SIP relay. Almost if not all SIP relays are commercial and charge either a flat rate for unlimited service on a number of channels, or pay-per-minute.
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