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What Is a SIP Phone and What Are the Benefits?
If you’ve been shopping around for business telecom solutions, chances are you’ve seen the term “SIP phone.” But what is a SIP phone? And what benefits does a SIP phone have for your company?
SIP phones have changed the business telecom industry, offering a wider variety of features than traditional telephony at a fraction of the cost. Unless you’re an IT professional, you probably don’t know all the ins and outs of what a SIP phone is and how SIP phone service works.
Read on to learn all about what a SIP phone is, what the benefits of a SIP phone are, and where to buy the top SIP phones on the market.
What Is a SIP Phone?
A SIP phone is a device that enables voice communication over the internet. Unlike traditional landline phones, SIP phones use the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) standard to make and receive calls. They are popular for both business and personal use because of their flexibility, scalability, numerous features, and high-quality audio. SIP phones are a modern and reliable alternative to traditional phone systems.
If SIP sounds a lot like VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), that’s because the two technologies are related. Think of VoIP as the broad category of technology. There are numerous protocols that can be used to transmit voice and multimedia communication over an IP network. SIP, on the other hand, is a specific protocol used to make and receive calls. Other VoIP protocols include H.323, MGCP, and SCCP. However, SIP is the most commonly used protocol in VoIP.
SIP Phone Service
Now that you understand what a SIP phone is, let’s talk about SIP phone service. In order to use your SIP phone to make and receive calls, you’ll need to sign up for SIP phone service from a VoIP provider. Your VoIP provider will assign you a unique phone number, which can be used to make and receive calls using a SIP-enabled device. In fact, SIP phone service can be used on just about any internet-capable device, such as a computer, laptop, tablet, or hard phone. Because SIP phones work over the internet, you typically have access to a variety of advanced features, like call forwarding, voicemail and call ID, as well as management features.
If you already have an on-premise PBX system, a technology called SIP trunking allows you to connect your phone system to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) using SIP. SIP trunking is especially useful if your business has multiple locations because it lets you consolidate your phone systems and reduce your costs.
Overall, SIP phone service costs much less than traditional phone service. Traditional phone service requires expensive installation, regular maintenance, as well as costly equipment. Meanwhile, with SIP phone service, you can usually activate service within a day using equipment you already have. This allows you to save a considerable amount of money compared to traditional phone service.
Benefits of SIP Phones
Whether you’re just starting your business or are well-established, SIP phones come with a number of benefits for your business. Here are some of the top benefits of using a SIP phone:
1. Cost-effectiveness
Because they use the internet rather than a landline, SIP phones are much cheaper than traditional phones. There’s no expensive installation and no heavy hardware costs. Additionally, with a SIP phone, you won’t be charged for making long-distance calls and, depending on your provider, international calls are usually much cheaper.
2. Flexibility
Traditional phone systems tie you to the office, but with a SIP phone, you can make and receive calls from anywhere you have an internet connection. Plus, you can make phone calls from almost any device–tablets, computers, mobile phones. With so many people working remotely, this flexibility makes all the difference.
3. Mobility
Whether it’s on your commute to work or while traveling for business, your SIP phone can go wherever you go.
4. Scalability
SIP phones can easily be scaled up or down as your business grows and changes. Unlike traditional phone lines, new SIP phones don’t require expensive installation and hardware to add a new line.
5. Connection
With so many people working remotely, finding ways to stay connected is essential. SIP phones make it easy to stay connected to your team, even when you’re not in the same location.
6. Advanced features
SIP phones offer many more features than traditional landlines. Call forwarding, call waiting, voicemail, video conferencing, and more are available on most SIP phones.
7. Audio quality
This may surprise you, but one of the benefits of a SIP phone is high-quality audio. Voice quality is clear, with minimal delays and interruptions.
Overall, SIP phones are an excellent option for businesses looking for a cost-effective communication solution that comes with flexible options and rich features for running your business.
How Do SIP Phones Work?
SIP phones use the internet to transfer voice and other data between the phone to the recipient. But unless you’re an IT professional, you probably don’t know the intricacies of how SIP phones work. Here’s a quick breakdown of how SIP phones work:
- Initiation: The process begins when a user initiates a call by picking up the phone or clicking a button on a softphone application. The SIP phone sends a signal to the server, which indicates the phone’s readiness to make a call.
- Session establishment: The server sends a signal to the recipient’s device. This establishes a session between the two devices. During session establishment, the phone and the server send a series of messages back and forth to agree on the parameters of the call.
- Voice transmission: Once the session is established, the SIP phone sends voice data to the recipient’s device in real-time. This data is transmitted as packets over the internet and is decoded by the recipient’s device to produce audible sound.
- Call management: During the call, users can access a variety of features, including call transfer, call waiting, and call holding. When these features are used, the SIP phone sends signals to the server, which interprets the signals and sends the appropriate signals to the recipient’s device.
- Call termination: When the call is finished, either user can end the session by hanging up the phone. The SIP phone sends a signal to the server that indicates the call is over. When this signal is received, the server terminates the session, ending the call.
Types of SIP Phones
SIP phones can be categorized into two types: hard phones and soft phones. Both kinds of SIP phones perform better than a standard analog phone. The type of SIP phone that is best for you will depend on your unique business needs, as both hard phones and softphones offer different benefits. You can even combine the use of both hard phones and softphones.
Hard Phones
A hard phone is a physical device that both looks and functions like a traditional phone. Hard phones usually have a keypad, a display screen, and a built-in speaker and microphone. As opposed to analog phones, hard SIP phones connect to the internet or a local network and use the SIP protocol to make and receive calls.
Hard phones are known for their reliability as well as their high-quality audio. One of the down sides of a hard phone, however, is that they are not portable. In order to make and receive phone calls, you typically have to work from your office.
Softphones
Unlike hard phones, softphones are not physical devices. Rather, a softphone is a software application that runs on a computer, smartphone, or tablet. It allows users to make and receive calls over the internet using the SIP protocol.
Softphones often have a user interface that mimics a traditional phone, with a keypad and call management features. Softphones rely on the device’s microphone and speakers or a headset to communicate with the other party. Softphones are popular because they’re so flexible and portable. One thing to note is that you do need a reliable internet connection to use a softphone.
The Top SIP Phones Available
When it comes to SIP phones, there are a lot of great choices on the market. The best SIP phone for you will depend on the unique needs of your business and the way the phones will be used. You can even mix and match different SIP phones for different business departments or employees. SIP phones come in a number of price points, meaning there’s a SIP phone for even the smallest businesses.
Here are some of the top SIP phones on the market today:
- Cisco IP Phone 8800 Series: This series of SIP phones is highly regarded for its high-def voice quality, color touchscreens, and programmable keys.
- Yealink T5 Series: The Yealink T5 series has a sleek design and advanced features, including a large touchscreen display, HD audio, and Bluetooth connectivity.
- Polycom VVX Series: SIP phones from Polycom’s VVX Series come with an intuitive user interface, high-quality audio, Bluetooth connectivity, and video conferencing.
- Grandstream GXP Series: If you’re looking for an affordable SIP phone that still comes with a range of features, the Grandstream GXP series is a great option. Grandstream GXP SIP phones come with customizable keys, HD audio, and support for multiple SIP accounts.
- Fanvil X Series: For a stylish design with advanced features, SIP phones from the Fanvil X series are another great choice. These phones come with HD audio, color touchscreens, and support for up to six SIP accounts.
- Nextiva X-815: This sleek SIP phone can manage up to six lines and comes with a color LCD screen and a clean, well-organized user interface.
These are just some of the many SIP phones available on the market today. When you’re shopping around for SIP phones, you’ll want to do your research, compare features, and pick a model that fits your budget while also addressing your needs.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you probably want to evaluate the SIP service provider before picking a SIP phone. The service provider you choose will have more of an impact on features and call quality than the specific SIP phone you use.
The Right SIP Phone for You
What is a SIP phone? It’s basically a phone that works over the internet rather than over copper wires. And whether your business is small or large, the right SIP phone and service will make all the difference. From advanced features to crystal clear call quality, SIP phones can help you communicate better and run a more efficient business, even when you’re on the go.
If you need help finding the right SIP phone service provider, OneStop Communications can help. We work with all the best providers, like Nextiva, AT&T, and Vonage, and can help you find a plan that fits in your budget and suits your unique needs. We’re based in Atlanta but we serve all of the southeast including Orlando, Jacksonville, Auburn, and Miami! If you’re ready to make the switch to SIP, contact OneStop Communications today!
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