“Voice over IP” (VoIP) is the technology used to transmit voice conversations over the internet using IP. It is the 21st Century way to make and receive phone calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a standard phone line. Your phone calls are converted into data that speeds across the internet rather like an “instantaneous” email and is re-converted at the other end back into normal voice. The Hermes system gives you “carrier class” voice quality, in other words your voice sounds just the same as in a “normal” (old fashioned) phone call.