Just when you thought your telephone system was state-of-the art, along came SIP Trunking to turn business telecommunications on its ear. And here are the reasons: deploying SIP Trunking can save money and improve productivity for businesses and institutions of any size.
A Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Trunk is a communication path that delivers voice and data on a single, converged line utilizing the speed and reliability of the internet. SIP has become the common signaling standard for real-time communications for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). By doing so, SIP lowers the operating costs for a business and maximizes the use of network capacity by leveraging bandwidth and sending more traffic along the same sized pipe. There’s no more paying for separate access for voice and data, since only one connection is needed; no more need to maintain a T1 line; no more PRI. The cost of domestic outbound calling can be lowered significantly. This all serves to maximize the effectiveness of a PBX system and generate a higher return on investment.
Voice & Data = SIP
A SIP Trunk is a virtual phone line that employs a broadband internet connection for access and uses existing customer premise equipment, applications and communication devices to simplify and expedite communication. It can create an on-line presence and allows for protocols that initiate, manage and terminate communication sessions. SIP can prioritize messages automatically for users, which saves time and increases employee productivity. In addition, SIP makes it easier to initiate a communication with someone because the initiator will know by what means and when an individual is available to receive that communication.
The three basic components needed to implement SIP trunking are: (1) an IP-based PBX that communicates with all endpoints or an analog or digital PBX capable of interfacing with SIP; (2) an enterprise border element to support and control the flow of data as it transitions to SIP trunking; and (3) an internet telephone service provider to supply the connectivity for communication with fixed phones and mobile devices.
In the instance that an existing telephone system is an analog or digital PBX rather than an IP-based PBX, by adding SIP the business can enjoy the benefits of a hosted VoIP service without discarding the investment it has in its traditional phone system.
SIP trunking saves money by removing the need for legacy T1 lines and PRIs. Further, it consolidates bandwidth for greater network efficiency and opens the opportunity to centralize resources and management. It provides full access to self-manage and configure call routing, extensions, voicemail boxes, groups and auto attendants. SIP trunks are now widely available and from an expanding number of service providers.
If a business anticipates migrating to a Unified Communications system (an integrated package of voice, data, text and video), then deploying SIP is the perfect first step along that path, as SIP delivers unified communications capabilities.
It may be that certain types of businesses experience wide swings in call volume by hour of the day, day of the week or by season of the year. Another advantage of SIP is that it adapts to those kinds of fluctuations in activity in a dynamic way and can add capacity without the business having to add costly T1 fiber optic lines.
To remain competitive in an environment that moves at the speed of the internet, businesses and institutions have to keep pace with advances in technology. Taking advantage of SIP Trunking is one important way to do that by improving productivity, reducing costs and having a more reliable level of telecommunications service.
