| SIP, or Session Initiation Protocol, is fast turning into the | | | | market, a quality provider will ensure that all has been |
| standard term used by the Telecoms Industry to refer | | | | fully tested, well documented and able to be |
| to the replacement of traditional Analogue PSTN | | | | provisioned and supported. What should you expect to |
| ISDN connections with IP based solutions. But, SIP is | | | | be included in this careful testing and delivery? |
| not a standard solution like Analogue /ISDN PSTN | | | | - The IPPBX or SIP Gateway to be installed at your |
| have been for the last two decades in the United | | | | site |
| Kingdom. | | | | - The IP Network's connecting router and the IP |
| SIP has not yet become a standard and as a result | | | | Network which shall be utilised for support of your |
| integrating SIP devices to a SIP Network is not the | | | | voice connections |
| desired and familiar "Plug and Play". If you go looking to | | | | - The SIP Trunking Service itself |
| connect a SIP service provider to an IPPBX or SIP | | | | - Assurance that all components of the service are |
| Gateway you need to ensure that the device is tested | | | | completely compatible and that there is complete |
| for compatibility with the Service Providers network | | | | service support for the installation and ongoing fault |
| and that there is full support for all service features. | | | | management so that you spend your money on a |
| Nevertheless, SIP Trunking does have some very | | | | complete solution, not merely some collection of parts. |
| significant advantages over ISDN / Analogue PSTN | | | | Cheap minutes and channels are not the idea here. A |
| connections and of the most prominent of these is | | | | SIP trunk connection should represent the cost savings |
| numbering flexibility. Network providers who work | | | | by its nature, especially if it gets deployed across |
| traditionally provision the number that is sourced from | | | | multiple sites. So, what should you expect to have in |
| the local exchange, but, IP Telephony linkage services | | | | your package? |
| between numbering and location can be broken. | | | | - Number portability so that relocation does not require |
| So, with SIP, one of a kind cost-saving solution can be | | | | a new number. |
| delivered to clients who just cannot be matched within | | | | - Number flexibility, which means that DR plans for |
| an ISDN / Analogue PSTN network. A high-quality | | | | clients get supported at only a small percentage of the |
| service provider will understand how vitally significant it | | | | cost of current ISDN costs |
| is to provide UK numbers overseas so that such calls | | | | - It should be easy for any additional number of SIP |
| are reduced in cost, making it more efficient and cost | | | | channels to be added to a site for only a small |
| effective for internal calls and customers calling their | | | | percentage of the time and cost which deploying ISDN |
| overseas offices? This would also provide powerful | | | | would entail |
| cost savings in the event of an overseas relocation. | | | | - Adding the SIP trunk connection at a client's site and |
| SIP trunks can be supportive of numbers from | | | | retaining ISDN should be able to be enhanced without |
| different geographic locations at one individual site, | | | | the need for any sort of significant infrastructure to the |
| which provides amazing efficiency compared to even | | | | site |
| the best of today's standards. | | | | Hopefully this has provided you with a better |
| When it comes to taking SIP Trunking solutions to | | | | understanding of SIP and how to utilise it. |