What is VoIP?One of the latest innovations in the telecommunications industry is Voice Over Internet Protocol technology (VoIP) technology which allows users to make voice calls over IP networks such as the Internet instead of a traditional phone line. Some VoIP services only work over your computer i.e. Skype, but some companies like Kasamore offer services that also works on a traditional phone line, and mobile phone.

So how exactly is a phone call processed for companies like Kasamore? First, the caller dials in, using an access number. The VoIP gateway, assisted by the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) server, then prompts the caller to enter his/her account ID (PIN) or no pin if its pinless dialing. Once the previous step is completed, the system authenticates the caller, prompts the VoIP gateway to announce the account balance to him/her, and signals him/her to dial the destination number. After the destination number has been entered, the system calculates the maximum call duration, and plays it back to the caller via the gateway’s IVR. Once the call is completed, it is charged to the caller’s account balance. The calling card user may log in to the account self-

provisioning interface at any time to access call history (CDRs), payment information (credit card info), language options, and many other features.

The core elements of a VoIP-based calling card solution include:

• A VoIP Gateway, this functions as an interface for the originated call from the PSTN (caller’s phone) to the IP network (Internet), and includes an IVR (Interactive Voice Response) server that provides voice prompts describing the account balance and minutes available for the call.

• Billing software, a real-time billing and customer care platform that keeps track of calls and corresponding charges; redundant system architecture (dual database) is already incorporated in the basic version.

• Call Control software, a call control software package based on the Session Initiation Protocol

(SIP), and providing a full array of call routing capabilities as well as a solution to the NAT traversal problem (only required by clients using PC phone software and/or when sending calls to a SIP carrier).

So, there you have it, now you know how VoIP services work. For more information about VoIP you can visit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website, or try out the services of Kasamore by visiting their website, www.kasamore.com.