VoIP Caller Guide

Your phone said VoIP caller, but you have no idea what it means? If so, we’re ready to help you – today’s article will provide you with all the information you need, including what a VoIP caller is, how it works, why people use VoIP, and so on. So let’s have a look at all the key details to improve your workflows, as well as become a true expert in the telephony sphere.

What is a VoIP caller?

Let’s start with the basics – what is a VoIP caller?

A VoIP caller (Voice over Internet Protocol caller) is phone service, as well as a way to get in touch with people. It works through the Internet, not via a traditional phone line as usual.

The main difference between VoIP and a traditional phone line is that, as mentioned above, it uses Internet technology to deliver calls. For comparison, landlines transfer audio data through wires and fiber optic cables, and cell phones do it through radio waves.

In addition, with a VoIP caller, you can use much less hardware than any other phone system – if you have a good Internet connection, it’s enough to make calls. Laptops, desktops, tablets, and smartphones are perfect for working with VoIP.

Regarding VoIP’s features, as well as advantages and disadvantages, we can highlight the following ones:

• Features (common functions, plus advantages): Call hold, transfers, conference calling, auto-attendant phone menus, “Find Me” call routing, and much more.
• Disadvantages: Costly updates, intrusive reconfiguring, complicated physical maintenance and repairs, and limited flexibility.

Plus, you can benefit even more from choosing a VoIP caller – it allows you to save money on installation costs, and using it long-term is considerably less expensive as well.

How does VoIP work?

Making voice communications work took a bit more time than data transmission did. That’s the reason why it became possible to bring a VoIP caller to life only in 1973.

In the mid-1990s, VoIP evolved from phone services that used codecs to convert analog voice signals into digital bit streams. Later, those bit streams could be processed and transferred in packets through the Internet. Nowadays, VoIP technology uses multiple elements.

The first VoIP apps could be found in individual telephone rooms with special switching devices and cabling. Today, VoIP services are an essential part of business communications systems. Data centers that have VoIP servers connected with their hardware usually run such applications.

An important difference and advantage of a VoIP caller over a standard number are that it isn’t attached to a single location. That means anyone, including business owners, is free to choose a number and area code. In addition, there is no need to change the number when moving – you can easily attach any area code to VoIP.

What is VoIP caller ID?

Now, let’s move on and take a closer look at what a VoIP caller ID is and how it works.

VoIP caller ID is an identifier that displays the incoming call number on a display. It uses the same phone line and phone number connection as the call to the telephone network.

Actually, VoIP and caller ID operate on the same digital network infrastructure; however, they use different protocols. Here are some that are used by caller ID:

• Session Initiation Protocol
• Session Description Protocol
• IP
• User Datagram Protocol
• Real-Time Transport Protocol
• TCP

How do I do a VoIP caller ID lookup?

If you want to know who the VoIP owner is, we’re happy to say it’s possible – below, you’ll see some ways to get the user’s information:

• First of all, you can do a reverse phone, CNAM, or IP address lookup.
• Try to set your device to show the caller ID.
• Using a VoIP service provider, a softphone or hard phone, and a domain can help you as well.

Can people do VoIP caller ID spoofing?

Since VoIP scamming is cheap, you can, unfortunately, face such a situation. Cybercriminals are quite clever and inventive – to steal your money, they’ll try to attack your VoIP channels. To avoid this, let’s have a look at some helpful tips provided by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission):

• Don’t answer any calls from unknown numbers.
• If you’ve answered the call, don’t answer any questions, especially yes-or-no- questions.
• Don’t provide any personal data, such as names, passwords, account numbers, etc.
• Be cautious if you notice you’re pressured for information immediately/
• Contact your phone company to take advantage of call blocking tools or something similar.

Free VoIP caller

There is good news for those who aren’t willing to spend money on a VoIP caller – there is free VoIP software, as well as apps to make and receive calls. The most well-known and convenient ones are WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Duo and Hangouts, Skype, and Viber.

Why do people use VoIP?

Since VoIP phone services are becoming more and more popular with each passing day, people are using them much more often. In most cases, they’re businesses, but there are also residential VoIP services that easily allow people to avoid traditional landlines.

Both large and small enterprises use VoIP services because they provide them with a perfect chance to improve their phone communications. Thanks to that, they can offer better customer service.

Pros and cons of VoIP

As we’ve noted above, a VoIP caller offers people the same functions as a traditional landline. As usual, it has both advantages and disadvantages – let’s take a look at what you’ll face while using VoIP phone services:

Advantages: lower costs, increased accessibility, full portability, higher scalability, improved voice quality, multitasking support, advanced features for any team, and so on.

Disadvantages: VoIP requires a stable Internet connection, there is latency and jitter, and no location tracking for emergency calls.

VoIP phone numbers and regular numbers

VoIP numbers are quite similar to landline phones. Actually, it’s the same seven-digit phone number with an area code that you use like you always do.

The most enjoyable thing you’ll notice while using a VoIP number is that you can make and receive calls wherever you are, without needing to switch phone providers. Also, regarding the choice of a phone number and area code, you’ll be able to select any you like – there are no restrictions. Landlines and cell phones, in turn, are only available in particular geographic areas.

Is it possible to call back a VoIP number, you may ask? It depends on the number – if you’d like to call a fixed VoIP number back, you can easily do it. In the event it’s a non-fixed VoIP number, it’s almost impossible. The reason for that is the following: non-fixed numbers can be simply disabled after a call to avoid being tracked.

How do you know if a number is VoIP?

The simplest way to check if a number is VoIP is to use a website that allows users to carry out LRN (Location Routing Number) lookups. Thanks to that, you’ll be able to find out everything you need, since it shows you who the carrier is. After that, you can search for the carrier’s name to figure out whether it’s a VoIP provider. In addition, reverse phone lookup websites are also available.

Using VoIP phones internally within a business

If you’re a business owner, you can choose either fixed VoIP or non-fixed VoIP.

The first one is similar to PBX, and it works just like a standard phone line – it’s “fixed” to a physical location. Even though it requires internal wiring, installation is not as complicated as it may seem. A non-fixed VoIP number is a bit cheaper option and doesn’t require as much regarding setup. So it’s all up to you!

VoIP vs. traditional phones

We’ve already told you the main difference between VoIP and traditional phones, so we just would like to highlight that VoIP phones are cheaper and can considerably help your business, as they positively impact business communications. In addition, VoIP can also enhance collaboration between teams, motivating them to work smarter.

Conclusion

The Internet has vastly increased the opportunities available to business owners over the last several decades. We’re sure VoIP phone services will be of decisive importance to how you do your business today. Hopefully, our detailed guide helped you to get a full understanding of what a VoIP caller is, how the system works, why it’s worth using VoIP if you’re a business owner, how to stay protected while using such a phone service, and so on. Just bear in mind that if you’ve missed something crucial, you can always come back to this article and refresh your memory. Thank you for reading!

FAQs

Still have some questions about VoIP callers? If so, have a look at our FAQ list below.

Does “VoIP caller” mean it’s a scam?

Not always. Many small, medium and enterprise-level businesses use VoIP phone services, so your incoming call can be from an absolutely legitimate source. If you want to know for sure whether it’s a scam or not, just search for and verify the IP address, domain, or provider it came from. Also, you can do a reverse phone lookup.

Can a VoIP call be traced?

Yes. It’s possible because you cannot go unnoticed on the Internet whatever you’re doing there.

Can you call back a VoIP number?

As mentioned above, it depends on the number. If it’s a fixed VoIP number, it’s possible; if it’s a non-fixed number, you can’t do it, because such numbers can be easily disabled after a call so as not to allow you to track the caller down.

How do I find out who owns a VoIP number?

If you want to find out the owner of a VoIP number, contact the VoIP service provider. All you need to do is write down the caller ID and the time the call was made. After that, just share all the required information with the provider, and they will help you.

What is a VoIP caller on my caller ID?

It’s pretty simple: a VoIP caller is someone who’s calling you by using a VoIP phone service instead of a traditional landline.

What is a VoIP phone system?

A VoIP phone system is a technology that makes it possible for people to call each other through the Internet instead of a standard landline or a mobile network.

Why would someone use a VoIP number?

VoIP allows you to use one number on several devices. In other words, if someone is calling you and you’re using a VoIP system, you can answer the call anywhere you like, which helps you avoid missed calls from customers and transferring calls.