The genesis of voice chats can be traced back to the development of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. VoIP allows for the transmission of voice data over the internet, enabling real-time audio communication between users. This technology emerged in the mid-1990s, with early applications like Internet Phone and VocalTec's Internet Phone software paving the way for voice communication over the internet.
As internet connectivity and bandwidth improved, VoIP technology became more accessible and reliable, leading to the development of popular voice chat applications and services. Platforms like Skype, launched in 2003, played a significant role in popularizing voice chats by offering free or low-cost voice calls over the internet. This was followed by the integration of voice chat features in various messaging apps, gaming platforms, and collaboration tools, making voice communication a standard feature in many digital interactions today.