VoIP allows users to make voice calls using an Internet connection instead of a regular phone line. It works by converting voice into digital data packets that are transmitted over the IP network and then reconstructed at the receiving end. The key benefits of VoIP include lower costs compared to traditional phone service, open standards that ensure interoperability between vendors, and the ability to integrate voice and data onto a single network. Common VoIP protocols are H.323, SIP, and MGCP. VoIP sees broad use for internet calling and is widely used to provide phone services at a lower cost than traditional telephone networks.