ATA (analog telephony adapter, or analog telephone adapter,) is a device used to connect your ordinary telephone to the VoIP network so that you can make VoIP calls without using headphones and mike.
In other words ATAs turn your ordinary phone into an internet phone saving you the expense of buying an IP phone. Moreover in this way you can use your phone as an ordinary phone by disconnecting it from the ATA and connecting it to the traditional phone line.
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An ATA usually takes the form of a small box with a power adapter, one Ethernet port, one or more FXS telephone ports and may also have a FXO link.
Users can plug one or more standard analog telephone devices into the ATA and the analog device(s) will operate, usually transparently, on a VoIP network. Being a physcal device, the ATA takes up space and also needs maintenance, needless to say that you have to pay for it as a separate item or as an accessory which comes with your VoIP plan.
Now what if you had a software which worked as an adapter without the need of maintenance and space of its own? If you don't already know such an ATA Software exists and is available to you for free from NCH Software.
Called Carousel Telephony Adapter, it is a software to connect VoIP calls to ordinary telephone lines and vice versa using one of a number of professional telephony devices.
And as I told you it is available free. Visit the publisher website for more details about the Carousel Telephony Adapter.