SIP trunking is something that has really attracted my attention as of late and I cannot read enough about it when time allows. If you follow this blog, Facebook or Twitter page, you already probably know about my recent fetish. I have posted some private label rights articles, republished articles from other websites where sip trunks are explained.
Recently I shared an article about SIP trunking security from http://www,networkworld.com, in which one person who left a comment felt that a business needs to treat their SIP trunk provider like they would any other public network. Most definitely agree and second that. You may be asking; “So do you need a business to use and take advantage of SIP?” This also applies to mobile devices like the iPhone and iPod Touch. You can even turn an iPod Touch into a SIP phone with the right application. However, keep in mind, this type of SIP phone is not completely secure and sometimes require you to share your SIP credentials with a 3rd party. Your choice, ensure you look into the security precautions and what your provider and 3rd parties require in regards to credentials and other information.
Do you want more information on SIP trunking or to shop around and compare SIP trunking solutions?
A Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunk is a service that businesses use for live communications including VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). It enables communication with others, outside the enterprise, over Internet Protocol by connecting the SIP to a traditional phone system. It is also very convenient as it helps in creating a single means for voice, video and data by externally connecting an IP phone system through SIP trunking, in lieu of the traditional phone system. But this can only be used with an installed PBX. Hence this service is slowly but surely gaining popularity, because of its cost efficiency and convenience.
3 main components:
IP PBX: The main function of this component is that it allows connection and communication with all endpoints over an IP network. It can switch calls between a VoIP connection and a traditional fixed phone, as well as between two traditional fixed services.
ITSP:Internet Telephony Service Provider ensures connection of the traditional phone system from an IP network. Also, it helps to transport IP communications across an IP network.
Border element: The internal VoIP network, traditional telephone system and the external IP carrier are all connected with the help of this border element. This is usually of two forms: either a switch that transfers calls between the phone system, or it can also be a firewall which is SIP-friendly.
But how does it work?
For example, you need to call a client of yours who is in another city. So you call your client in the same manner as you do now, and your call gets converted to an IP call before leaving your office. This IP call then travels over the IP network provided by your service provider. And before it reaches your client, the call gets converted back to the traditional phone system, and your client receives the call just like a normal fixed line call.
It essentially converts both data and voice into a single conduit. It lets the data network carry voice traffic by transfiguring between the traditional fixed phone and the company’s Internet connection.
Benefits
This service is considered to be really beneficial for businesses. Here’s a quick look of the numerous advantages it brings to businesses:
Doesn’t require a costly TDM-gateway infrastructure to be purchased.
It eliminates the need to purchase costly equipment to convert data between the traditional phone system and the IP voice.
Monthly expenditures are reduced considerable as there is only one voice and data connection.
Outsourcing the connectivity of the traditional phone system is now a definitely possibility, and results in saving money.
The benefits of the VoIP can now be used, without compromising on the traditional phone system.
As a whole, it is considered to be really cost efficient, and is a good long-term investment.
Hence this SIP based technology is a great boon for businesses, especially those that need to constantly exchange audio and video data to others in other parts of the world.
You need to get a real time quote of how much a SIP trunking solution will be for your organization using our SIP quote engine.
A Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunk is a kind of service using which businesses can use real-time communications such as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). But this service can only be used with an installed PBX. It allows communication over Internet Protocol with others outside the enterprise by connecting the SIP to a traditional phones system. Businesses can also take this to the next level by creating a single passage for voice, video and data. This can be done by connecting an IP phone system externally through SIP trunking, instead of using the traditional fixed phone system. Hence in an increasingly global world that we face today, this service can be really cost efficient and reliable at the same time.
But how does it work?
Lets take an example to understand this better: Say you are a sales representative based in New York city, and you need to call your client in California. So you call in the usual manner, dialing the dialing code followed by the number. The call, before leaving your office, is converted in an IP call and then travels to California over the IP network of your service provider. And just before it reaches your client, the call is converted back to the traditional PSTN.
Hence this service converts both data and voice into a single conduit. It allows the data network to carry voice traffic by converting between the traditional fixed phone and the business’s internet connection.
3 main components of SIP Trunking:
IP PBX: Connecting and communicating with all the endpoints over an IP network is the main function of this component. It switches calls between a traditional fixed phone and a VoIP connection, or between two traditional fixed lines.
ITSP (Internet telephony service provider):This component helps in connecting the traditional phone system from an IP network. Also, it helps in transporting IP communications across an IP network.
Border element: usually managed by the service provider, these border elements helps connect the internal VoIP network, the traditional telephone system and the external IP carrier. The border element can either be a switch transferring calls between the phone system, or SIP-capable firewall.
Benefits
SIP Trunking service has numerous advantages for businesses. Some of the benefits that companies get by using this service are:
No need to purchase a costly TDM-gateway infrastructure
Eliminating need to purchase costly equipment that can convert data between IP voice and the traditional phone system
Only one data and voice connection reduces other monthly expenditures
Companies can now outsource their traditional phone system connectivity to a third party
Enables making use of the advantages of a hosted VoIP service, without giving up on the services of a traditional phone system.
In essence, companies can realize a lot of savings by investing modestly in a SIP trunking service
Hence for growing businesses, with a global nature, the SIP based technology can really save costs and increase convenience. It is even far more reliable, and you can realise savings in as short a period as 6 months!
Hence this SIP based technology is a great boon for businesses, especially those that need to constantly exchange audio and video data to others in other parts of the world.
You need to get a real time quote of how much a SIP trunking solution will be for your organization using our SIP quote engine.
An SIP trunk is a logical connection from one point to another via the Internet.
A SIP trunk is simply the use of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to set up communication using the net between two parties, i.e. a customer and an Internet telephony service provider (ITSP). The SIP calls are then transferred to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). As opposed to traditional telephony, there are is no need for physical wires were.
The advantages that Sip trunking offers are as follows:
1. Freedom from BRIs/PRIs/PSTN Gateways
SIP trunking greatly lowers telephone costs by eliminating the need to purchase Basic Rate Interfaces (BRI), Primary Rate Interfaces (PRIs), or local PSTN gateways. Although it is simpler and less costly to extend one’s system over IP, additional hardware costs have to be incurred to move from E1/T1 to two.
2. A SingleVoice and Data Connection
The need for separate voice and data connections is eliminated, the costs go down drastically. Another added advantage is that a single SIP trunking account can handle voice/data traffic for the entire organization. Thus, as the business grows, there is no need to upgrade the infrastructure further.
3. All Calls are now Local Calls
The providers of SIP trunks to businesses, enable firms to outsource their PSTN connectivity to a third party. SIP calls are transferred over the Internet to a termination point which is owned by a service provider. Further the call is transferred to the local PSTN, thus, long-distance charges go down considerably
4. Get the convenience 800 Numbers, but Not the Costs
A SIP Trunking service provider establishes local numbers in specific locations for customers to call on instead of giving them a 800 number. These calls are then terminated locally and placed on the net and delivered to the company’s call center.
Infrastructure Investment Vs. The ROI
For the enterprise, converting to Voice over the net the following investment in infrastructure is required:
the purchase of an IP-PBXIP Phones or soft clients i.e. those which operate on typical PCs or laptops
a SIP-aware firewall to maintain security while admitting VoIP traffic.
SIP trunking can generate a reasonably good return on investment. In fact the initial cost of installation might be paid back as soon as six months from installation.
Summary
Thus, even though a small investment is essential before one can avail the benefits from the use of SIP-based communications. However the overall reductions in costs in terms of eliminating the need of Basic Rate Interfaces (BRI), Primary Rate Interfaces (PRIs), or local PSTN gateways and enabling savings on long distance calls, makes the investment more than worth it. To conclude, it’s a robust enterprise solution for telephone bases communication which has huge potential in the coming years in the world of Voice over Internet communication solutions.
Hence this SIP based technology is a great boon for businesses, especially those that need to constantly exchange audio and video data to others in other parts of the world.
You need to get a real time quote of how much a SIP trunking solution will be for your organization using our SIP quote engine.
Looking around on the World Wide Web, I found the article below about saving on International calling. Feel free to read it and shop around for cheap international calling plans. When you purchase a plan through Brochin.net, 100% of our commissions go to the Brothers in Arms Foundation.
by: Bob Graham
There are a variety of low cost international long distance calling products on the market today but each has been designed to fit the needs of a specific group of consumers. Marketers and product developers have tried to broaden the appeal of their products but all have certain limitations. The purpose of this article is to review categories of international calling products on the market today and provide a brief overview of their strengths and limitations so consumers can make better choices.
One product does not fit the needs of all. People who are PC savvy and have high speed INTERNET connections may choose to use PC to PC or PC to Phone service or VoIP technology while others may want the convenience and flexibility of a phone card. Most people only make occasional international calls while others make multiple international phone calls each day. Therefore, some people are willing to sacrifice quality and convenience in order to save money while others are willing to pay a bit more for higher quality, convenience and flexibility. Consumers need to understand the limitations of each product type so they can make informed choices.
• Traditional Long Distance – Forget using traditional long distance from your home phone, cell phone or office phone unless you only make one or two short international calls each year and you don’t care about wasting money. There are products on the market today which offer the same quality at a fraction of the cost.
• VoIP Phone Service – This may be a good option for saving money on home phone service but it is not the best option for saving money on international calls. There is a monthly charge for VoIP service and in most cases international long distance calls cost extra. The cost for making international long distance calls with VoIP is typically cheaper than the rates charged by traditional long distance providers but there cheaper options that are more convenient. A high speed internet connection is required for VoIP and most service providers require a long term contract. VoIP service providers typically charge extra fees for set-up, activation, early termination and some even charge for equipment.
• PC-to-PC or PC-to-Phone Service – This service is used to make calls over the internet from a personal computer. A PC-to-PC service like Skype is required along with equipment like a head-set and micro phone. PC-to-PC calls are typically free so this is a very cheap option but it is not very convenient since both parties need access to a PC and an internet connection. Calls can be made from PC-to-Phone but they are not free. This is more convenient but the caller still needs access to a PC and an internet connection. There are other methods for making international calls that cost about the same as PC-to-Phone but are more convenient and typically offer better quality.
• Phone Cards – Prepaid phone cards have ultimate convenience since they can be used to make cheap international calls from almost any phone (cell, home, business, pay phone or even VoIP). The cost for making international calls vary from being dirt cheap to expensive depending on the card used and the location or type of phone called. Calls to cell phones are generally more expensive than calls to land lines. Shopping and comparing phone cards can be complex because fee structures vary along with quality and usability. Most phone cards provide good rates to a few locations but poor rates to others. Shop for phone cards that offer good rates to the locations you call the most. Also, check for access number availability in the locations where you plan to use the phone card. Purchase phone cards from a reputable phone card supplier that fully discloses all fees and charges in an easy to understand format.
• Prepaid Long Distance – These are sometimes call dial-around plans. Prepaid long distance plans like Tel3Advantage are popular with frequent international callers since they offer a variety of useful features, low rates, high call quality and the convenience of a phone card. Tel3 Advantage also does not charge hidden fees or taxes so users actually pay the advertised rate for each call. Features include on-line account management, on-line call history with a complete record of each call, speed dial and PIN free dialing. Tel3 allows users to register up to 10 telephone numbers in each account. Calls made from these phone numbers can be made without dialing an account number or PIN code. Tel3Advantage has a wide network of local access numbers but can only be used to make calls from the USA and Canada.
• International Call Back Phone Service – This is a good method for making low cost international calls from almost any country. Many countries outside of North America, Europe and the developed countries in Asia have very high tariffs on international long distance calls. International callback long distance uses a clever method to avoid these tariffs by placing calls through long distance providers located in low cost third countries. There are at least three common methods used to trigger or place calls so potential users should conduct further research to determine the best method for their location and situation.
As summarized above, there are a variety of technologies available on the market today for making low cost international phone calls. Multiple companies’ market products using these technologies and some of these products are high quality and others are not. Consumers should shop and be smart about purchases. It is usually best to try a product by making a small purchase before making a large purchase or enter a long term contract. Most reputable VoIP providers will offer a 30 day (or longer) money back guarantee and most phone card providers will offer cards in small denominations so consumers can try the product before making a large purchase or commitment. It is best to stay away from those who don’t.
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