SIP Trunking and VoIP
Many businesses have converted to using voice over Internet protocol (VoIP)—and those who haven’t, will eventually. A VoIP system can offer businesses significant savings on their communications costs while giving them high-tech advantages.
VoIP systems are complex systems with a multitude of options. VoIP systems are scalable depending on the size of the business and its growth, which is one of the reasons these solutions are popular. The term VoIP is an all-encompassing term referring to any phone system that is sent over the Internet and not a landline from a phone company. Within VoIP there are several technologies, including session initiation protocol (SIP) Trunking.
SIP Trunking
SIP Trunking is a common VoIP technology offered by Internet telephony service providers (ITSP) that allows companies to send their telephone calls over the same line as their Internet. This is popular for obvious reasons, mainly because companies do not need to install additional lines or upgrade their hardware. SIP Trunking can be routed through the company’s existing Internet lines and current hardware, with limited new equipment.
In the most simple explanation of the technology behind SIP Trunking is that it blends the phone line data with the Internet data packets and sends them across a single line.
The popularity of SIP Trunking is increasing, as it can be installed through existing Internet lines and with limited hardware purchases or upgrades.
The only additional piece of hardware needed is an SIP-trunking device. There is significant savings that will more than cover the initial outlay for the device, as you no longer have the monthly costs of phone lines or additional Internet lines.
The reason many companies are switching to SIP Trunking technology is to:
- Reduced monthly expenses, as you only need one business-level Internet line.
- No need to purchase and maintain expensive gateway devices, PRI connections or similar hardware.
- Take advantage of low cost VoIP services.
- Ability to use high-tech VoIP features.
- Improvement of employee communications and capabilities.
- Can be implemented near the end of the life cycle of current hardware to minimize costs.
- Scalability to scale-up or scale-down the solution as necessary, including the ability to add and move locations.
- Equipment standardization improving IT functioning.
Implementation Costs
There are associated costs to implementing an SIP Trunking strategy as companies need to acquire an IP PBX, IP phones, firewalls capable of supporting SIP, and soft clients. Despite these costs most companies still see a ROI within six months from the money saved on long distance costs and other phone-based service providers.
Before it became a necessity during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, many companies had already begun realizing the benefits inherent in embracing remote work. These benefits are substantial and signal that (even when the pandemic is but a memory) remote work will continue to flourish and become a mainstay in the redefined workplace - particularly when it comes to VoIP. This guide will demonstrate how the workforce is changing and leaning toward remote work as a permanent business choice, explain the critical role VoIP will continue to play in supporting remote work, and highlight some of the new trends and innovations coming in 2021 for VoIP. more
