What Is Voice Over Instant Messenger (VoIM)?

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Sending a voice note through your instant messaging app is called "Voice Over Instant Messenger" (or "VoIM" for short). But what if that digital voice memo disappears forever? This is where the trending topic of #VoIMPacketLoss comes in handy. Think of an instant messaging app where your voice note never makes it to your friend because of a poor connection. Similarly, voice-over instant messaging (VoIM) packet loss occurs when some data packets carrying the voice information over the IM app are lost or dropped. This can lead to a choppy or broken call. It's as if you were trying to have a conversation with someone, but some words or sentences need to be included, making it difficult to understand the other person. Network congestion, aging hardware, and physical problems are all potential causes of packet loss. It's like when you're trying to reach your destination, but the road you want to take is closed or undergoing construction, and you have to take an alternate route. Another cause is when network traffic exceeds what the network is capable of handling. It's like cramming too many people into a small car; eventually, some will have to wait outside. Call drops, stuttering audio, and other issues can all be brought on by packet loss. It's like talking to someone on the phone who has a terrible signal, and you can't make out a word they're saying. In addition, it can hinder the caller's ability to understand the other party, leading to frustrating communication difficulties. Trying to communicate with someone who uses a language you don't understand is like having a conversation with someone who uses a vocabulary you don't know. Quality of Service (QoS) mechanisms that give voice traffic priority over other types of network traffic and error-correction protocols are two examples of approaches that can be taken to reduce and eliminate packet loss.

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