Demystifying SIP Calling

June 18, 2018

Any enterprise preparing to upgrade a phone system may be a bit mystified by the many options available, particularly if transitioning from a traditional private branch exchange (PBX) setup. One of the options you may be considering is session initiation protocol trunking, or SIP trunking. Making sense of SIP trunking versus other types of telecommunications can be a clarifying step toward choosing the right system for your enterprise.
First, where you’ve been: Traditional business communication has been set up to access the public switched telephone network (PSTN) through static copper wires, while tools like voicemail and call routing occurred over the PBX. While a reliable communication system, there are challenges inherent in the design of PBX. The physical lines require the assistance of a telephone engineer if your company wants additional phone lines. But there are reasons far beyond that to make switching to a virtual solution like SIP calling a real consideration.
The age of cloud communication: Enterprises are shifting away from static copper wires in favor of virtual communication tools because they create not only cost savings, but also flexibility, agility, and a variety of collaborative communication opportunities.
SIP calling is just one example of the technology that can improve communication at your enterprise. Using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), SIP calling uses an online connection for data transmissions, whether voice calls or video. There are several benefits to implementing SIP calling:

  • The ability to scale use up and down according to factors like seasonality, without requiring the on-site involvement of an engineer
  • Cost-savings on monthly communication, in addition to long-distance calls, because calls between SIP users are free worldwide
  • The ability to prioritize data transmissions (so that a conference call’s quality is never compromised due to an employee streaming a video over a lunch break)
  • Options for collaborative tools like unified communications, which combines all formats into a single application, including text, video conferencing, email, and voice calls
  • Residual benefits, such as time savings caused by improved and efficient communication

It’s important when you choose a VoIP provider to determine whether they are also equipped with SIP calling. While SIP is one of the more common tools used in VoIP, you don’t want to get too far in your conversation with a provider without verifying that they can connect you with SIP calling.
To learn more about the benefits of SIP calling, contact us at Access Tech. We can help you navigate the various telecommunications options and determine the right fit for your enterprise.

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