What does "digitized voice" mean in communications?

Digitized voice refers to the process where voice signals are converted from their natural analog form into a digital format. This transformation involves sampling the continuous waveform of sound, quantizing the samples, and encoding them into a series of binary digits—zeros and ones. This process is essential for various modern communication technologies, as it allows for efficient data compression, better noise resistance, and enables the use of digital transmission protocols.

The significance of using a digital format lies in the advantages it brings to telecommunications, such as improved clarity, ability to encode multiple types of data, and integration with internet technologies. This conversion is foundational to modern voice-over-IP (VoIP) services and digital telephony. In contrast, analog signals represent sound waves in their original form without this conversion, which can lead to issues with transmission quality and compatibility with digital systems.