Manufacturers have been quick to latch on to the potential of VoIP to sell new products, and have produced a range of devices to make VoIP a richer experience.
Firstly, there are VoIP handsets and handset adapters. VoIP handsets replace the microphone/headphones set-up with a more familiar telephone handset; an alternative is to use an adapter to convert a conventional phone handset for use as a VoIP handset. Cordless handsets are also available.
A slightly different concept is the IP phone. This is a telephone handset that can be attached directly to your ADSL modem or router - allowing you to make calls without the need for your computer to be switched on. There are also adapters that allow you to use a conventional phone as an IP phone.
Many manufacturers also produce dual-purpose phones that can be used for VoIP calls as well as conventional calls via a landline, thus avoiding the need for two phones.
