VoIP Adapter

A VoIP Adapter is used to connect one or more standard analog telephones to a VoIP network. A VoIP Adapter is also known as an Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA). The adapter normally takes the shape of a small box with the following: a power adapter, one Ethernet port, one or more foreign exchange station (FXS) telephone ports and optionally a foreign exchange office (FXO) link. An analog telephone device is plugged into the adapter and once connected is able to be used on the VoIP network.

A adapter is used by a VoIP Business that is selling an alternative to traditional telephone services. The device is used to replace a user’s connection to the traditional telephone company. When the VoIP Adapter is sold with a VoIP Service the adapter is locked to the VoIP Service provider. The lock is placed so that competing VoIP Service Providers cannot be used.

The foreign exchange station (FXS) telephone port on an adapter is used to connect a traditional telephone to the VoIP network. The Ethernet port is used to connect the adapter to the Local Area Network (LAN). Using this adapter it is possible for a traditional telephone to be connected to a remote VoIP Server. Protocols are used by the adapter for communication and the adapter performs the job encoding and decoding a voice signal using a voice codec. Since an adapter connects directly to a VoIP Server it does not require any software. 

The adapter plays a very important part in a VoIP Communications setup.