Everybody says that VolP will the way we communicate today. But what exactly is 'VolP'? To help me answer that question, I'm joined by Sue Reid, a specialist in telecommunications. Sue! VolP for Voice over Internet Protocol, a technology that lets you make phone calls using the Internet instead of the regular phone line. And how does it work? VolP analogue voice into digital data and transmits it over the Internet with IP technology rather than via the traditional telephone network. When the data packets reach their final , they're converted into voice again. The person you're calling doesn't need any special equipment, just a phone. But if I want to make a VolP call, what sort of equipment do l need? Well, you can make a call in three different ways. The way is computer-to-computer. All you need is a program like Skype or DialPad, a microphone, and a fast internet connection. You can download telephony from the Net - it's even free - or you can make calls directly from a website. Another way is the use of a device called an ATA, an analogue telephone adapter, which converts the analogue signals of your traditional phone into digital signals. In this you don't even need a computer. You just connect your telephone to the phone adapter, and the adapter to your . , you can use a special VolP phone with an Ethernet connector, which plugs directly into your internet connection. There are also wireless VolP phones that let you make calls from any Wi-Fi point - or hotspot - in many public . A Wi-Fi phone looks like a mobile phone, only it sends and receives audio signals via a wireless network. But if I have a mobile phone, why use a Wi- Fi phone? Well, with a Wi-Fi phone you're using the Internet, so the calls are free or at least much cheaper. And you don't have to pay roaming when you go abroad. And do I need to have an account with a VolP service provider? Yes, you need a VolP provider. They usually offer free calls to their and flat rates for other VolP calls. Some providers charge a few cents for long distance calls. What is the future of VolP, in your ? Some experts are concerned about security and that a new type of spam will appear; they call it spit, or spam over internet telephony. This means that our phones could be blocked with unwanted voice messages. But the future of internet telephony looks really . According to some industry analysts, internet telephony will probably replace the traditional phone system and all phone calls will be free.