There is no doubt that we are living in the digital age and our reliance on digital technology will only grow from here. Communication is the cornerstone for all digital activities and two that we often hear is VoIP and blockchain technology.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has completely transformed how phone calls are made, allowing calls to take place over the Internet. On the other hand, blockchain is revolutionising how data is stored and privacy is kept.
Is it possible for these two technologies to work together? Let’s take a look.
The Rise Of VoIP For Communication
VoIP technology enables phone calls to be made over the Internet instead of using traditional landlines. As the user speaks, their voice is converted into digital data which is transferred over an Internet connection. On the receiving end, the data is put together again and the message is heard in real-time.
A lot of businesses have made the switch to VoIP, and for good reason. It doesn’t require as much infrastructure as traditional copper wiring does, making it far more affordable especially for long-distance and international calls.
VoIP systems are also incredibly feature-rich, helping companies to make their communications more efficient both internally and externally.
A big advantage of VoIP is that it doesn’t need to be used solely by businesses. Even for individuals who have loved ones overseas, it’s a great way to keep in touch.
What Is Blockchain?
Blockchain is a digital ledger system that is decentralised. Instead of having one authority in place like a server, the data is spread across multiple computers. So once the data has been recorded, it becomes nearly impossible to change it.
You may have heard of blockchain through popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum but it’s about much more than just digital money. Blockchain is able to securely store large amounts of confidential data which includes call logs and messages.
The Role Of Blockchain-Based Communication Platforms
These platforms refer to systems or apps that make use of blockchain to encrypt sensitive communication and authenticate users to prevent any unauthorised access or have the data tampered with.
What makes these platforms stand out is that they are often peer-to-peer which means that they are not controlled by one single entity or company.
How Could VoIP And Blockchain Fit Together?
If the question is can blockchain-based communication be supported by the VoIP, the short answer is yes. Although, it does come with its own set of challenges. But first, let’s look at how they could work together.
VoIP systems often need to be logged into using a phone number or e-mail to authenticate the user. If you used a blockchain wallet address to verify your identity, it can add an extra layer of privacy and reduce the risk of having your account hacked.
To make calls, VoIP relies on centralised servers to be able to connect the calls between users. But with blockchain, call data like caller ID and call durations can be stored on a decentralised network, both securely and anonymously.
Call billing is also a big part of VoIP and blockchain is able to automate certain aspects such as pay-per-minute charges and international call rates. Moreover, payments could be made using cryptocurrency which entirely eliminates the need for banks or credit cards.
What Are The Challenges With This Integration?
Integrating VoIP and blockchain can be a powerful combination but in reality, it’s not as simple. Here’s why.
Storage will be costly: When it comes to storing data files, blockchain is expensive. The voice data from VoIP is a vast amount and it just isn’t practical to store entire calls on blockchain.
Speed and real-time data: VoIP’s capabilities rely on real-time for communication to take place instantly. However, blockchain networks are not really built for speed. So if there were a delay on the blockchain side, the VoIP calls could drop or lag.
User-adoption can be a challenge: In reality, most people aren’t at the stage where they are willing to use crypto wallets just to be able to make a call.
Can VoIP Actually Support Blockchain-Based Communication Platforms?
It’s definitely possible for VoIP to work with these blockchain platforms but it won’t be a quick or easy setup. It would take a fair amount of technical know-how to actually get the process running smoothly.
But with that said, this integration has plenty of potential. Not only can conversations become more private, it can also automate tasks like managing subscriptions and paying for calls.
At this stage, the most practical approach would be to use a mix of these technologies as a sort of hybrid solution. But as blockchain technology continues to develop, we could see the implementation of fully-decentralised VoIP systems.
This area will certainly be exciting to watch in the coming years!
