Businesses are constantly looking for means to reduce their operating costs while optimizing their brands. This is because they manage various tasks like payrolling, shipping, merchandise, and so on. Each aspect of the business involves reaching out to potential and existing customers, which means they must spend money on communication.
To reduce communication costs, SIP trunking provides a suitable platform for these businesses to save more money on phone calls and improve telecommunication bandwidth. However, this service may be difficult to understand.
Therefore, this article will discuss the concept of SIP, how it works, and its benefits. This will help you decide whether it is good for your brand.
What is SIP?
SIP is an acronym for Session Initiation Protocol. It is a telephony protocol for initiating calls on the internet. Basically, it manages multimedia communications such as video and voice calls. It can establish and terminate connections for phone calls and control data transfer. Also, it enables services such as Facebook Messenger and Skype to provide calls for free anywhere in the world.
What is a SIP Trunk?
A session initiation protocol trunk refers to a link or line that carries the signals needed to connect the nodes of communication systems. It is like a funnel or pipe that contains data channels to connect several locations. Hence, with a SIP trunk, you can receive and make calls to anyone via the internet provided they have a phone number.
How Does it Work?
SIP trunk works by sending voice, text, or other communications to a receiver using the internet. The service uses a PBX (private branch exchange) that is IP-enabled. This PBX is a telephony system existing within an organization that can switch calls between two people who are communicating via local lines. When communicating, they can also share an external phone line.
The PBX helps to reduce costs by eliminating the need to own a line from the central office of a telephone company. With this platform, anyone can receive and send local and international calls, emails, and text messages. You can also surf the internet and do video calls.
The concept of trunking has taken over the old method of communication – PSTN (public switched telephone network). It is a network involving copper wires and circuits that make physical connections between 2 points before a call can go through.
In place of this old method, SIP uses a packet network that breaks down the communications into digitalized packets. Afterward, it transports them to a specified destination via a network. You can check out this video to get a visual explanation of how the session initiation protocol works.
SIP Channels
A single trunk contains unlimited channels. A line or channel is an equivalent of an outgoing or incoming call. Since one trunk holds several channels or lines as necessary, your business will need just one trunk – irrespective of the number of calls your business makes or receives at the same time. However, if more calls run concurrently, you may need more channels.
When you want to choose a service provider for SIP trunks, ensure you get an estimate of the channels you need. This will help in preparing an accurate quotation as most vendors charge for the number of channels you want.
Benefits of Using a SIP Trunk for Your Business
Are you still confused about how this service can help your business communication costs? SIP connects various devices in order to connect businesses and individuals globally and locally through text, voice, and video.
Additionally, it simplifies your business communication and makes your business technologically competitive. Let’s see how SIP does all these things.
1. Reliable Technology
The telephone services of a traditional telephone company can be interrupted by a faulty telephone pole, phone failure, or bad weather. But with SIP trunking, you will benefit from higher reliability. So even when there is a failure, you can still use your phone.
The service routes your calls to your other lines, mobile device, or offices. So despite the situation, your business will continue to go smoothly.
2. Space to Grow and Scale-Up
When growing a business, you expect that its needs will evolve over time. Sometimes, the changes may come at a fast pace. As your business relies on technology, it needs to grow alongside the business. SIP trunks offer an opportunity that can make it happen since you can have a combination of communications from different channels and offices in one network.
As the company grows, the volume of calls or concurrent calls increases. In this case, you do not need to speak with any customer service rep or get another IP infrastructure before adding extra phone lines. You can do it by yourself when you choose.
3. Virtual Presence
The service creates a virtual presence that is unified. This allows businesses and individuals to choose how and when they want to be reachable or available. For instance, when you are attending business meetings, all your messages and calls can go to your office assistant. And when you are on business trips, they are routed to your smartphone.
SIP offers a centralized system of communication. You may have multiple means of communicating, as well as multiple devices in your home and office for video chat, texts, and so on. SIP allows you to use the same address for your applications and devices. Therefore, wherever you are, your interactions will remain frictionless.
4. Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness
When using traditional phone lines, it is possible that you pay for additional lines that you do not use. You may also pay higher for international and long-distance calls. There is also an additional equipment maintenance cost.
But when you use SIP trunks, you will experience a simplified pricing system. You are charged per user or channel. As a result, you can easily predict any recurring expenses. You can also choose between an unmetered and a metered trunk plan. You can check out https://techdifferences.com/difference-between-sip-and-voip.html to read an interesting comparison between SIP and VoIP.
Conclusion
Session initiation protocol trunking allows you to make calls via the internet. This can increase the reliability of your communication system and significantly reduce costs. Ensure you carefully evaluate your communication needs to know if the service is a good fit for your company.