The SIP Calling Protocol Explained
SIP definition and how does it work?
SIP is an acronym of Session Initiation Protocol, and it uses the Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). With SIP, you do not need multiple phone lines and any physical connection to the office phone. Multiple phone lines are replaced by SIP trunk, which is a kind of virtual connection through your internet that connects directly to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
SIP technology is different from the traditional phone system. The traditional phone had two parts: PBX and PRI lines. PBX tackled call management features such as voicemail while PRI lines were responsible for connecting calls to PSTN. As a result, PSTN routed calls to any region they were supposed to go. With SIP, the PRI line is bypassed and the calls connected directly to the PSTN through the internet.
How do you set up SIP for calling?
SIP is easy to set up, run, and manage. To set up SIP for calling, first, you have to get a SIP address and a SIP client on your smartphone or PC. Note there are also other things you will need, which will be discussed in another section to set up the SIP system. When you are done, you should set up your SIP client. There are some technicalities involved when setting up SIP. However, this is simplified by the wizards. Configuration wizards simplify the procedure of filling out the needed fields using your credentials.
What do you need to set up SIP for calling?
This is what you will need so that you can set up a SIP and begin communicating.
SIP address or SIP account
Many SIP providers will offer you an address or account for free after you ahve registered with them.
A SIP client application
A SIP client is an application or solution you install on your smartphone, tablet, or computer through which you communicate with. This solution comes with many features, including softphone infrastructure. Various SIP clients are characteristically designed for SIP. Such SIP clients can be used with any SIP address or account or within a PBX environment. But there are also other kinds of SIP clients. Some come with VoIP service providers which can be utilized for free with their Voice over IP. Most VoIP providers support SIP.
Reliable Internet connection
If you want to use SIP for voice calls, you do not need a secure internet connection. However, if you’re going to use SIP for video connection, you need reliable bandwidth. A DSL connection is faster and is often preferred.
A microphone, headset, and webcam
To be able to communicate with SIP, you need to talk and hear the other party involved in the communication. In case you are doing video communication, you also need to see, if not the other party is the subject of the communication. Thus the need for a webcam, headset or earpiece and microphone.
With those four requirements, you’re good to go. You just need to do is share your SIP account with others, and incase you are also using SIP; you can place calls for free.
What are the advantages of SIP calling to a business?
Benefits of SIP calling to a business
There are so many benefits a company can experience from adopting SIP calling.
SIP trunking is inexpensive
SIP is affordable since your company saves money in the following fields:
- Calling fees are decreased by up to 90% when placing international calls and about 40% on local calls
- You will not need multiple networks with SIP
- SIP call will save you multiple subscription charges
- SIP call will save you the capital for buying hardware, maintenance fees, and installation charges
- SIP changes all calls into local calls which effectively saves on costs linked to international calls.
SIP calling provides better voice quality
Currently, most of the systems utilize HD wideband audio and voice to amplify the sample rate of phone audio and to extend the frequency level. This indicates SIP calling; you can easily distinguish between the syllables and thus clearly understand the person you are communicating to.
SIP enhances flexibility
The SIP phone system performs both basic call functions and VoIP functions. SIP calling is flexible and can quickly identify user locations, determine user availability, and negotiate media capabilities. The system is also managed call sessions and sets them.
SIP calls can also be used for other kinds of communications, like enhanced emergency calls (911), instant messages, multimedia conference, and user preference information.
SIP calls help you to be more available and avoid missed call
Even if you are out of office, SIP call will route your call automatically to another extension. It can also route calls automatically to your smartphone. Call routing feature allows you to comfortably attend to your customers and other business matters all the time.
SIP enhances scalability
SIP makes it easy for your company to grow. If your business requires more medium or twenty more mediums, that is all you need to buy. You get the exact number without being concerned about having additional equipment that you pay for and not use. Nonetheless, this has not always been every time. With traditional phone lines, they were purchased in groups. Therefore people bought more than they needed. Even worse, you are required to consider the additional hardware and room to fit it all in. This makes scaling while using a traditional phone system is challenging.
SIP calling is easier to use
SIP is user-friendly: the configuration, installation, and adoption of the SIP system are easier. You do not need to worry maintenance since online control panel takes care of that. Besides SIP consolidates all your information in one device. Therefore you can train your employees easily since they have to learn from one system.
Simple management
Your IT team will not have to use their mobile devices to wait on hold to speak to a customer service representative with SIP. Besides maintaining a SIP phone system involves monitoring a few tools.
Moreover SIP trunking and VoIP phones provide easy-to-use administrative portals for on-site management, including changing extensions, adjusting call routing, or adding phone lines fully on-demand.
SIP is a reliable technology
Whereas traditional telephone service can be interrupted as a result of weather events, issues in the telephone room or destruction of a telephone pole- SIP is reliable technology. With a vendor that provides mobile-failover as a kind of redundancy, your telephones can be used for communications even in cases of some failure by letting you route your calls to another employee mobile device or offices.
SIP enhances immediate ROI
With most technology investment, companies may not appreciate returns on investment for years. Luckily, SIP is a well-established technology with minimal upfront investment costs. With no capital investment, companies who switch to SIP start appreciating cost savings from the first monthly billing report.
SIP opens global potential and mobility
SIP supports your company’s need for rapidly growth multiple geographic locations. By mixing your data and voice into a single network, your business’s geographic areas and remote workers can be consolidated.
Is SIP calling right for your business?
Every business wants to experience the benefits of new technology. This is the same case when it comes to SIP calling. But, is this phone system suitable for your business.
To start with, SIP calling is suitable for small businesses and startups because of their low setup cost and maintenance costs. SIP trunking is also flexible and scalable, which allows a company to grow.
When it comes to big companies, SIP calling allows them to save on cash. Thus as a business expands and becomes significant, the more it benefits from SIP calling. Other ways which big companies can help from SIP calling include data gathering tools, free internal calling, better customer service for both international and local clients, data gathering tools, unified communication, and the opportunity to work remotely anywhere around the globe with access to the internet.
