VoIP Gateways and Adapters

A.k.a. ATAs, a.k.a. VoIP adapters, a.k.a. analog digital converters

A VoIP Gateway or an analog telephony adapter is an adapter that you will use to hook your phone up to your Internet. VoIP providers don't seem to mind giving consumers the idea that they are the only ones who can supply them with these adapters, when in fact these are available through many electronics retailers. VoIP Gateways also refers to the VoIP servers that you would use in providing VoIP service for business.

This is a small box that can come in many different colors (and the clear case is also cool). This will come with a power adapter, one port to your Ethernet and another to your telephone. VoIP gateways are only used in phone-to-phone VoIP. You plug the phone into your ATA (or VoIP gateway) and you route the ATA into your computer or modem.

The VoIP gateway that you get from a provider will only allow you to partially change your VoIP configuration. If you purchase an adapter from a retailer you will be able to configure it to your own specifications. These allow you to connect to a remote VoIP server using a VoIP protocol.

This is really the key to converting your phone into VoIP, as it converts your analog voice into digital packets that can be sent over the Internet. These are also called analog-to-digital converters and digital telephony adapter, but let's not quibble over semantics.

Let's quibble over semantics

Gateway is really a funny way to describe this product, since it's more of a router that only seems to be a gateway to VoIP."VoIP adapter" or "VoIP converter" would be a closer description of the function of this component.

The true VoIP gateway is a high-volume piece of equipment (servers and much more) that you'll find at the source - your VoIP provider. This makes up a kind of gateway (if there is one) for VoIP, where the critical routing of traffic occurs. These are also used by large companies providing VoIP service to a network of employee telephones.