The development of digital data communications method, such as the protocols used for the Internet, it became possible to digitize voice and transmit it as real-time data across computer networks, giving rise to the field of Internet Protocol (IP) telephony, also known as voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), a term that reflects the methodology memorably.
Leta 1963 je American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T) predstavil novo tehnologijo s tonskim izbiranjem na tipke.