VOIP AND SIP EXPLAINED SIMPLY
12 COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT SIP AND VOIP ANSWERED HERE
- SIP is the abbreviation for Session Initiation Protocol which is simply the way that almost all information – text messages voice data video and other data – is transmitted from one device – like a smartphone or laptop – to another over the Internet.
- For a more detailed explanation, we recommend this article but for most purposes it is only necessary to know that SIP is how everyday Instant Messaging, Video Calls and Phonecalls work via the Internet
- VOIP or SIP Calling Accounts need SIP for all the new 21st Century Internet dependant features available to the user.
- VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol and as the name implies,is a broad term which can be used to refer to any phone call made over the internet.
- VoIP relies on data connectivity to transmit voice packets, instead of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) so that Voice calls can be successfully made and received over the Internet – just like a normal two way telephone call.
- VoIP lets you access and connect with phone numbers and services over the internet. Calls are no longer dependent on old traditional phone lines.
- VoIP is an umbrella term for all of the technologies involved in transporting voice information using Internet Protocol.
- Calling Accounts use VOIP and SIP together to provide a modern telecoms product.
- By combining the two protocols, VOIP and SIP, the result is Unified Communications or UCaaS
- This is how multimedia products such as Voice calls, Unified Messaging, Video Calls, Conference Calls, Call Recording, Voice Mail and a number of other 21st Century Comms features can all come together in one product.
- Calling Accounts, Skype, Google Hangouts, WhatsApp all use this technology or a variant to provide their services but Calling Accounts offer more options.
- SIP phones – or ip Phones – are generally hardware – meaning the item is a handset, which can be purchased, and it looks like an ordinary phone. Examples of SIP phones are covered in this article
- A softphone is not hardware – it is a software based application, and can be downloaded to a device such as a smartphone or desktop computer. Sometimes known as diallers these softphones are often free applications available from on-line stores like Google Playstore and Apple iTunes
- Once downloaded and installed, the SIP Phone or softphone will need to be “configured” or registered to a provider of telecom services: this may be the Internet Service Provider – providing the broadband internet available in the home or office – or another telecoms service provider.
- A SIP or VOIP Calling Account provides the necessary access information (configuration or “log-in” details) necessary to start using the service to make calls or to use the features provided. This normally requires a payment in advance (prepayment) which is used as an advance against the cost of voice calls or SMS made through the Calling Account
- Calling Accounts are similar to “SIP only” Accounts except that they offer much more to the user in the way of features.
- A VOIP Phone provides voice calls over the internet and can be Hardware – a physical handset – or Software based
- We recommend this article as a simple guide to endusers thinking about switching to VOIP from home or office.
- VOIP phone systems have been popular for many years – particularly in the business or office sector – because calls made within a large office from one employee to another – as long as calls remain on the local network – are FREE, which is perfect for office use as a PBX (exchange).
- An ATA (Analogue Telephone Adaptor) connects any standard telephone handset to the internet, and is directly connected to the internet through the local router. Here is a link to a useful article about ATAs
- A VOIP Account is similar to a SIP account, and provides the necessary access information (configuration or “log-in” details) necessary to start using the service to make Voice calls. This normally requires a payment in advance (prepayment) which is used as an advance against the cost of voice calls made through the Calling Account.
- Calling Accounts combine the virtues of both SIP and VOIP Accounts but with many more features. They can be accessed by any form of ip Phone or ATA, but most customers now use smartphones and download the free Calling Account apps available through Google Playstore and Apple iTunes.