Internet Telephony and Conferencing

Conventional telephony is based on switched circuit voice networks, which are integrated with computer-based data networks to varying degrees. The need for dual networks in enterprises has been the subject of debate, and the need to unify voice and data applications into a single integrated network has come to the forefront.

At their core, IP telephony and conferencing technologies are built around very simple concepts. A personal computer (or other device) is used to capture audio and video signals from the user (for example, by using a microphone attached to a sound card, and a video camera connected to a video capture card). This information is compressed and sent to the intended receivers over the local area network or the Internet. At the receiving end, the signals are restored to their original form and played back for the recipient. Audio can be rendered by using speakers attached to a sound card, and video, by creating a window on the display of the computer.

Windows 2000 includes two different sets of technologies that enable the unification of voice and data networks.

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