What is SIP Trunking?

SIP trunking is the key to extending VoIP communication beyond the corporate LAN to the Internet and eliminating dependence on the PSTN (Public Switched Telephony System).

Many enterprises only realize a limited sub-set of the benefits and cost savings available from a premise based VoIP PBX. These are the savings available from having all internal calls made over a LAN. While significant these savings are far less than they would be if VoIP communication could be extended beyond the LAN to external parties including: customers, prospective customers and suppliers.

The full potential of VoIP phone systems can only be realized by extending the reach of VoIP communication beyond the corporate LAN.

SIP trunking services are a solution to this challenge that also overcomes the necessity to invest in additional equipment.

There is an even better option that eliminates the necessity for a TDM connection altogether. Instead of breaking-out at a local PoP, it is possible to make end-to-end VoIP phone calls. Not only are the calls cheaper, but voice quality is also better as analog/digital translation is not required.

SIP software opens the door to direct IP-to-IP calls. A standards based Telephone Number Mapping or address translation technology called ENUM is used. It matches telephone numbers with SIP addresses. As the number of installed SIP-based VoIP PBX's increases the closer we approach the point of critical mass when there will no longer be a requirement to use the PSTN.

SIP PBX technology also applies to remote and mobile technology. Examples include , SIP phones, SIP softphones and WiFi SIP phones. Multiple devices can be registered with the same address or phone number to further increase the cost effectiveness of business phone communication.

What is SIP? SIP is the standard protocol for VoIP. The SIP protocol was designed to initiate all types of real time communication over the Internet. It is not just about voice. The adoption of SIP software consequently opens the door to much richer and more productive business communication.

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