26 July 2006

What you need to know to use an IP phone

To use an IP phone you will need to plug it into a network with an internet
gateway that, ideally, provides

DHCP
(Dynamic Host Control Protocol) and
DNS
(Domain Name Server) services.

For the home or small-business user this usually means having a DSL broadband
line connected to a router.

If you buy a phone from a Sip provider, it will often come preconfigured for
use with that service.

If you want to use a different provider or change your details you’ll need to
configure the phone. This isn’t always straightforward.