Softphone

Softphone is a word creation from Software and Telephone. It is an application program for Internet telephony that is installed on user PCs and can be used to make telephone calls via personal computers.

Softphone programs allow users to establish connections over the Internet and make phone calls using a PC speaker and microphone, a headset, or a VoIP phone. Softphone programs offer comparable performance and service features to other telephones, including conference calling, number storage, call forwarding, automatic number dialing and call answering, etc., and can be combined with other application programs such as Outlook.

Softphones are used in the private sector, but also in applications where computer technology and telephony are inseparable. For example, in call centers or in computer telephony integration( CTI). The best-known implementation of a softphone is Skype.