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15Sep

5 Things You Didn’t Know Your VoIP Softphone Could Do

September 15, 2021 Maulik Shah Softphone, VoIP 5

voip softphone features

 

“When wireless is perfectly applied the whole world will be converted into a huge brain, which in fact it is, all things being particles of a real and rhythmic whole. We shall be able to communicate with one another instantly, irrespective of distance.” 
-Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla predicted the invention of smartphones and internet-based telecommunications back in his days. VoIP (Voice-over-Internet Protocol) softphones are like an embodiment of what Tesla’ said about telephony and communications. However, did you know your VoIP phones can do much more than just making calls? VoIP softphones come loaded with features like team messaging, file sharing, and calendar integration making them highly versatile. No wonder VoIP could step up to bridge the communications gap during the COVID-19 crisis.

By now we are very well familiarized with what a VoIP softphone is. It is a software application that duplicates the functionality of a telephone, on a PC, or any computing or mobile device. Softphone apps have become a preferred telecommunication option for most small and midsize businesses, more so in the post covid times.

 A VoIP softphone is designed to emulate a desktop handset, with a dial pad and basic phone features, like mute, transfer, and hold. Most VoIP apps are fairly easy to learn. However, being software, a softphone is loaded with features beyond making and receiving calls which are highly useful especially now when so many of us are working from home. Let’s get cracking at what all can your softphone do for you other than making calls.

A softphone is not a standalone solution. Instead, it is directly connected to your VoIP business phone system, allowing you to access your business phone on your laptop, desktop computer, tablet, or mobile phone. This removes the requirement of investing in expensive hard phone equipment. Softphones enable users to make VoIP calls over diverse web browsers, including Google Chrome, Safari, and Firefox.

 

Unique Softphone Features

Softphones come packed with unique features. From an easy-to-use interface to built-in caller settings, users can customize a softphone’s features to fit their business needs. Most VoIP mobile dialers also include standard telephony features like mute, hold, transfer, and flash, along with other unique collaborative communication features. 

Most VoIP systems are based on Cloud or are on-premise. These can do a lot more than what most of us might expect and bring huge cost-efficiency to a business. Their mobility, functionality, and exceptional open-source nature have set a new path for the way people will communicate in the future.

 

#1. Global presence and mobility

  • Global presence with a local number: Organizations are pushing the boundaries and expanding at a fast pace to make a global footprint. The VoIP technology enables a business to make international calls in a cost-effective manner. The DID (Direct Inward Dialing) feature of a VoIP system enables a business to own a virtual local number that can be reached by callers in other countries. For example, if you are a company based in Texas, United States but a lot of your business comes from say India, you can buy a local India number that serves as your caller ID and support your Indian customers with a virtual local presence when you are in the United States. VoIP gives you the freedom to have a local presence anywhere in the world irrespective of your location.
  • Mobility: VoIP only requires an internet connection to function. This implies that one can practically carry their business extension anywhere. In the hybrid and remote work culture of today, it is a blessing for customer care executives who need to keep their business identity while keeping personal numbers private. A VoIP system/app can turn any device (laptop, desktop, or smartphone) into offsite extensions of a business phone system enabling employees to take advantage of office extension features, such as making and receiving business calls via company phone line regardless of your location. 

#2. Sending and Receiving Files

A cloud-based VoIP service is designed to handle both voice and video data streams. This enables its developers/users to enhance their softphone apps to handle other data as well. VoIP users have access to features like faxing or the ability to access, share and receive files. Platforms like Microsoft Teams and Slack do offer comprehensive and instantaneous solutions for sharing files between users. But VoIP providers have stepped up their game by offering such integration as well as basic file sharing functions to help businesses conduct more work negating the need to switch between different services. 

 

#3. Video calls, Team messaging and collaborations, Manage Calendars

  • Ability to make video calls: VoIP solutions enable users to connect over video calls. This one feature makes it an attractive proposition for small and mid-size businesses, especially now when most employees are working remotely due to the coronavirus. The ability and freedom that VoIP gives to tap your business number anytime is a blessing for quickly building a virtual business presence. Add to that the ability to enhance the call experience with video and it becomes a good substitute for social interaction, not only for customers or partners but also for internal employee-to-employee conversation.
  • Team messaging and collaborations: The new-age sophisticated VoIP softphones also offer team messaging and collaboration functions along with voice, video, and data sharing. Many VoIP service providers are now integrating new functionality into their products based on what their users want and the trend is here to stay.  The new-age updated VoIP software enables users to make and receive calls, check voicemail, conduct online meetings that include support for chat, shared screen, and video conferencing.
  • Manage calendars: The modern VoIP software can integrate with the users’ contact lists, both a business contact as well as personal contact lists stored on PCs and mobile devices. This enables them to easily track contacts and initiate calls. A user can also access calendars for scheduling meetings and calls with VoIP.

 

#4. White-labelling and Customer Insights

  • White labeling: Enterprises strive towards providing exceptional quality at every customer touchpoint and leaving a lasting brand recall value in the mind of its customers.  One of the most common customer touchpoints is an enterprise’s telephony service such as IVR, music on hold, or voice prompts. VoIP softphones come with white-labeling options, which means one can customize the system with its own branding, logo, pre-recorded voice message with a brand name, music and the whole paraphilia. These customized greetings and voice direction helps a business in attracting and retaining guests while building brand loyalty. Today’s modern VoIP system enables a business to upload and deploy their own brand voice to add depth, warmth, and personality to automated voice prompts. A clear message combined with a specific tone or background music resonates with the customers and enhances the customer satisfaction experience.
  • Customer Insights: Gone are the days when a telephone system was used to merely make and receive calls. Modern telephone systems including VoIP can be integrated with key business applications to increase productivity and enhance the overall customer experience. Modern VoIP systems come equipped with VoIP CRM integration capabilities. This enables business owners with a powerful cross-channel platform to unite data, context, and conversation. With proper CRM integration, an executive can have a  holistic view of the customer during the call. Key information like basic caller information, call logs, keynotes, etc can be easily accessed by an executive interacting with the customer. This is a great tool to improve the quality of customer interactions by automatically delivering pertinent information along with each call.

#5. Enables ease of contact through your website

Most company websites have a “call us” or “talk to us” button on their contact us page. This kind of functionality enables businesses to build a customer-oriented experience. Thanks to the API (application program interface) of the VoIP allows companies to access core PBX features. It is now possible to connect a company’s web page with its telephone system via specific APIs, and put a VoIP “call us” or “talk to us” button on the website and let the customer’s input automatically initiate a call from your PBX system. 

Besides these features, VoIP mobile dialers also offer additional unique features to their users. Let’s look at what they are: 

  •   Leverages WebRTC to make seamless audio and video calls

Supported by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), WebRTC allows open standard browsers to communicate with each other and exchange audio, video, and data files that use a simple Javascript based API. It allows users to make audio and video calls without requiring a plugin or any additional software installation. WebRTC can be considered an extension of VoIP that brings the potential of making phone and video calls, chats, and Peer 2 Peer file transfers directly to the web browser or mobile app. WebRTC allows for more widespread adoption of VoIP, acting as an extension for VoIP into new platforms. The fact that WebRTC is open source, and has low latency and interoperability makes it an attractive technology option. 

  •   Auto-provisioning

Auto provisioning allows an enterprise to deploy its telecom services instantly through a software application, rather than doing it manually for every device. This tool is especially useful when deploying large numbers of IP phones that require advanced configuration. Users can activate their softphone service via a web interface without requiring any configuration settings. This makes the deployment and management of installation fast and easy. Also, using auto provisioning, organizations can remotely set up their phone systems across multiple locations. They can do so in bulk and manage the system through an intuitive cloud phone service platform. 

  •   Multi-lingual support

Softphone services like Tragofone offer multi-lingual support so that users can converse in a language of their choice.

  •   Integration with other databases and directories

Some softphones implement compatibility with third-party applications like Microsoft Outlook. They also enable integration with shared LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) directories, Microsoft Active Directory and ODBC compatible interfaces. This feature is especially useful for call centers. 

  •   Multiple SIP Accounts

Having multiple, independent SIP accounts on a softphone allows users to consolidate their accounts and make or receive calls from a single softphone. Having multiple registrations enables organizations to shift between accounts on a per-outbound call basis, depending on which VoIP provider or ISP offers the best rates for the destinations they are connecting to.

  •   Security and privacy

Modern organizations are very particular about the privacy and security of their communications. These security issues are very relevant for softphones, where incoming and outgoing calls are vulnerable to attacks such as wiretapping and eavesdropping.  Quality softphones support encryption using Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure RTP (SRTP) protocols, as it reduces these threats.

 

Future of VoIP softphones 

Modern-day VoIP softphones are a cost-effective, all-in-one business phone solution. They have a lot more to offer over the traditional PBX system used earlier. With the hybrid and remote work culture taking center stage they are here to stay.

Today’s sophisticated VoIP softphones (both “on-premises” and “cloud”) are easy to use, reliable and come loaded with features to cater to the ever-evolving modern-day business and work culture. It enables mobility and is truly blurring geographical barriers. With all-inclusive features, it enables small and medium-size enterprises to take advantage of Unified Communications(UC) and enjoy easy communications irrespective of the place and time. 

Rich API, easy interoperability, CRM integration and integration with several critical business applications, and customization as per specific needs of a business VoIP brings all of this to the table along with delivering smart communications. VoIP is here to stay and evolve, we as users need to dig deeper to understand and leverage the many benefits it has to offer. 

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06Sep

What is a Cloud-based VoIP Phone System?

September 6, 2021 Chetan Patel Softphone, VoIP 21

cloud based softphone system

“The Internet is the heart of the new civilization, and telecommunications are the nervous system or the circulatory system.” ~ Carlos Slim

This is an apt description to highlight how significant the internet and telecommunications have been in bringing the modern world together. And one of the most innovative inventions utilizing both these tools has been “cloud-based VoIP phone system.”

Statistics do not lie. They are a good indicator of where a technology stands in the present scheme of things. As per a survey report by Global Survey Research, the global VoIP phone system is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.1% between 2019 and 2024.

Cloud-based VoIP phone systems have enabled companies to re-imagine how they can connect with other people without compromising their budgets. It has also emerged as a key technology for improving productivity in the workplace and providing flexibility and mobility to employees. No wonder then, that many companies that are trying to control costs are in awe of cloud-based VoIP systems.

 

Busting some Myths about Cloud-based VoIP phone systems

Most people get confused between a Business VoIP (Virtual PBX) and Cloud Phone Systems (Hosted PBX in the cloud) and tend to believe that both are the same. Though essentially the same thing, there is a significant difference in their functionality.

Both phone systems play an important role in lowering business costs when compared to an on-premises phone system. Deciding on the right cloud phone system is an important decisive factor in making a  business a success or failure. Multiple factors play an important role in determining the best cloud phone solutions. With so many service providers in the cloud phone system domain, one needs to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each provider to see what suits their requirements the best. As a business owner, you must internally evaluate the output that you expect from a hosted business VoIP phone system or cloud phone provider’s solution. Is that too much information to process? Let’s break it down step by step.

 

Cloud-based VoIP phone system: The basics

A cloud-based phone system is essentially a business communications solution. It is hosted and maintained by your VoIP service provider in its data centers. The services are delivered to you through your internet connection. The key features of a cloud-based VoIP phone system are:

  • Hosted PBX capability, having the same routing and call management features as that of a traditional PBX using voice over IP (VoIP) to facilitate calls over the internet. 
  • A cloud-based VoIP phone system has other capabilities as well, like a traditional office phone system. But these come at a much more cost-effective price point. One example being long-distance calling. 
  • The cloud solution is designed to be offered as a service on a subscription basis. This makes it budget-friendly for small businesses, as they do not have to invest in an expensive on-premise system.
  • Cloud-based phones can also be white-labeled, thereby helping small businesses in brand building.
  • VoIP technology converts analog audio signals into digital messages. This message can travel over the internet. VoIP and softphones enable companies to be mobile without losing the personal touch of voice communications.

Key takeaways:

  • Cloud-based VoIP phone systems are hosted at the VoIP provider’s data center, rather than the office premises. 
  • They are better known as cloud phone systems or off-site VoIP, which means business owners do not have to manage any phone system hardware or “PBX”.
  • From a technical and functionality standpoint it means that cloud VoIP is a package of a traditional phone system (or PBX) and a local/long distance phone service provider, connecting them to hardware that is highly secure, redundantly powered, that is present in geographically diverse data centers, instead of being located at your office. 
  • Cloud VoIP = Hosted VoIP. Cloud-based phone systems are also known as Hosted VoIP or a cloud-hosted PBX. 
  • Hosted refers to a phone system hardware or PBX that is physically located at an off-site place and managed by a team of dedicated VoIP experts. 
  • VoIP is increasingly becoming a popular option as businesses do not have to invest money and resources to maintain and upgrade their business phone system hardware or PBX.
  • It is possible for an office to have a VoIP telephone service that powers their phones in the office. However, they could exercise the option of their PBX to be hosted at their VoIP provider’s data center, hence the term: “hosted VoIP”.

 

Benefits of “cloud-based” VoIP phone system

#1. Text messaging friendly

The millennials and most of the middle-aged population find texting and messaging as an easy way to communicate with peers, co-workers and companies. According to an article in The Washington Post, a whopping 70% of consumers prefer to message businesses rather than call them. Interestingly, the customer satisfaction ratings are also 25% higher for text-based interactions. One can attribute this to a number of reasons, such as:

  • Texting is a convenient option over waiting endlessly on a call. 
  • People may not have the time nor interest to stay on a call with a company executive when they are at work or taking care of their family in their personal time. However, it is easy to stay connected by texting when multitasking. 
  • Texting will not require them to move to a private place.
  • Today’s customers are aware and demanding. They appreciate it when companies provide multiple options and convenience. A cloud-based VoIP phone system gives companies the option to provide the flexibility to switch between phone, text, or chat. 

#2. Call recording features

Exceptional business communication is based on a few tenets such as listening, understanding and following up on important discussion points. This can be difficult in the case of voice conversations as they do not leave a paper trail like emails and texting. However, modern phone systems come with a call recording feature enabling executives to save their conversations. A few benefits of the call recording feature include:

  • Executives can listen to the call recordings and make notes of the important points discussed, verify important details, share call recordings as proof to supervisors to settle customer disputes and fraudulent claims in some cases.  
  • Call recording is an important tool for employee training, performance monitoring and feedback. 
  • Call recordings depict a clear picture of the conversation between the customer and the representative. It helps companies gain insight into what worked, and what didn’t.

#3. Smart Voice Intelligence (VI) backed transcriptions

Gone are the days when one had to plow through bulky transcriptions to find a single detail. Modern-day cloud-based phones come with machine learning and Voice Intelligence (Vi) features that have made transcription smarter. The modern-day transcripts listen to what is being discussed and quickly summarize what is required to base the discussion. These smart transcriptions help:

  • Flag action items and critical call snippets while an executive is still on a call. 
  • This enables the executives to action highlighted items or searches through the full transcription for a particular keyword.
  • This feature eliminates the need for making in-detail notes during a call. The notes taking activity with traditional phone systems can take away the focus from what the other person is saying. Automation of transcriptions powered by Voice Intelligence saves you from the effort of talking and taking notes simultaneously.
  • Smart transcriptions thus play an instrumental role in eliminating the need for mid-call multitasking. This automatically translates to team members being good listeners and communicators.

#4. Promotes a hybrid work culture

The business has to go on as usual despite countries going into lockdowns, pandemics or for any other reason. With what humanity has been enduring in the last 2 years, the flexibility to stay connected from anywhere is a necessity. This makes cloud-based VoIP phones a great choice. Employees just need a device (phone/laptop/i-pad) connected to the internet and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The softphone software makes it possible to start a call from a computer or a device that is connected to the internet. Softphones often go hand in hand with VoIP as they are commonly powered by VoIP.keygame-changer. They have been designed to integrate with the productivity apps that a business already uses. Being software, that can be installed on any device, and employees can click to call directly from Salesforce or within the business communication hubs like Slack. This also enables team leads and managers to log all call activities of the team members.

Consistency and brand identity is important in today’s business scenario. Customers these days use nearly six touchpoints to communicate with a company, and they expect the communication experience to be consistent across channels. That’s a challenging expectation to meet for enterprises using traditional phone systems. However, the white-labeling capabilities of cloud–based VoIP phone systems have made this possible.

 

Shifting to Cloud-based VoIP phones is the future

VoIP technology has come a long way from its initial days but is still far from reaching its full potential. However, to meet the need of more and more employees seeking flexibility coupled with technological advancements the shift to VoIP phones is significant. As per a report “Artificial Intelligence” (AI) will back 95% of customer interactions by 2025. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our lives in unimaginable ways, the most significant being an overnight shift to remote work and hybrid work models. Data shows that cloud-based VoIP phones have played an indispensable role in this transition. See the figures below:

  • Post pandemic 42% of the U.S. workforce works from home. (Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, 2020)
  • India witnessed a rise in the usage of VoIP chat applications—from 3.45 hours per week to 5.22 hours per week—in the first phase of the country’s nationwide lockdown. (Nielsen, 2020)
  • Webex supported 25 billion meeting minutes and half a billion meeting participants in April 2020. These figures are triple the software’s average volume. (PR Newswire, 2020)
  • In March 2020, Microsoft Teams witnessed a 500% surge in calls, meetings, and conferences. (No Jitter, 2020)

 

Closing Thoughts 

The message is loud and clear. If you as a business have still not made a shift from a traditional phone system to cloud-based VoIP, now is the time to do it. VoIP helps businesses bridge the gap between managers and remote employees. It enables businesses to connect with customers in any part of the world, and enables businesses to make the communications aspect of operations more cost-effective. VoIP systems can easily accommodate voice calls and video calls and some providers can also enable access to instant messaging and built-in SMS. 

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11Aug

Why Choose Tragofone as Your VoIP SIP Softphone App

August 11, 2021 Maulik Shah Softphone, VoIP 55

VoIP SIP Softphone App

 

With the world turning rapidly digital, flexible communication solutions are gaining increasing traction. And as telecom technology turns sophisticated, enterprises are increasingly using Softphone apps instead of traditional desk phones to ensure their business phone systems are more accessible and cost-effective. 

Softphone applications are typically provided by Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers, and function as a familiar, user-friendly interface that comes packed with unique features. From an easy-to-use interface to built-in caller settings, users can customize a softphone’s features to fit their business needs. Most VoIP mobile dialers also include standard telephony features like mute, hold, transfer, and flash, along with other unique collaborative communication features. 

The Softphone or VoIP mobile dialer is the next new technology in the communication world. A softphone is a software application that duplicates the functionality of a telephone, but on a smartphone, computer, or any other device. Such apps are fast turning into standard equipment for small and mid-sized businesses. 

Softphones offer many benefits, especially as modern business owners require flexible, reliable solutions that allow their workers to be available on call at all times, no matter where they are. 

Picking the right softphone for your organization determines how efficiently your business interacts with its customers. 

Tragofone softphones have been engineered keeping the requirements of enterprises and end-user at the center. They’re easy to use and require no steep learning curve. The calling experience is seamless – with comprehensive features ranging from auto pop-ups on incoming calls, a customized `Get Started’ screen, and a comprehensive home screen that displays the call history, contacts, and settings. 

Most importantly, enterprises can breathe easy with Tragofone’s VoIP mobile dialers, as its security features are the ultimate deterrent for hackers and cyber miscreants. Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol (SRTP) is just one of the weapons in its arsenal. Organizations can enjoy end-to-end protection with Tragofone’s superior encryption and secure communication. 

In this blog, we will explore the top features of Tragofone, its unique selling points, and why it’s a best-fit VoIP softphone for modern enterprises. 

 

Tragofone Decoded 

Softphones like Tragofone are fast turning into standard equipment for small and mid-sized businesses. This is because its functions include a lot more than just making calls. Because it’s a software, the Tragofone mobile dialer app comes packed with a variety of features – including making video and conference calls, sending and receiving files, voicemail management, and chat and SMS capabilities. You can start the app and use your softphone wherever you plug in your device. 

Although Tragofone isn’t a physical phone, its user interface mimics traditional phones. The software program can be installed on any mobile device, where it works as a virtual phone. Also, because Tragofone is software-based, it can interact and integrate with many third-party applications and services such as CRM integration. 

 

A Checklist for Businesses: Key Factors to Consider while choosing a Softphone 

Businesses are becoming more competitive and are under pressure to streamline their business operations into lean, efficient, and cost-effective entities. softphone solutions are becoming the preferred business phone solution for companies as they are realizing the benefits of having a unified communication portal that comes with the ability to integrate third-party applications. 

Softphone applications can benefit a wide range of businesses, from small to mid-sized companies, to global enterprises. Any organization that has to cater to a large number of customer calls can benefit from the accessibility and flexibility of this system. 

Softphones help organizations improve productivity, business efficiency, and unified communication. 

Softphones are a good fit for businesses that have:

–        Telecommuting employees.

–        Call centers to handle customer calls.

–        Remote employees.

–        Need to make frequent long-distance calls.

–        Need to record calls for training purposes.

–        Customer support staff. 

The industries that can benefit from softphone systems include telecommunications, IT, manufacturing, real estate, banking, education, retail, and healthcare.

 

If your organization has decided to upgrade to a softphone, then here is a checklist of features that you must tick off the list: 

  • End-to-end integrations: The WebRTC based softphone application should be able to seamlessly integrate with varied hardware including Class 5 Softswitch, IP-PBX server, custom APIs, and the auto provisioning system management via REST APIs.
  • Auto provisioning system: The soft client or softphone should come with an auto provisioning system through which enterprises can provide zero-touch provisioning to their workforce and customers. Using this feature, the soft client users don’t have to memorize the SIP Credentials.
  • WebRTC Gateway and Push Call Server: The softphone application’s WebRTC gateway should embed highly secure interactive communication like audio, video, and chat. This will enable organizations to incorporate real-time communication for their workforce and customers, even if they use a legacy SIP server.
  • Operating System Compatibility: All softphone applications are not compatible with every operating system. Check to ensure the software will work on your device. Whether you’re on macOS, Windows, iOS, or Android, make sure the softphone is compatible.
  • Number Porting: Your phone number is a valuable asset, and you don’t want to lose it. As you seek out softphone applications, avoid providers that don’t port your existing phone number.
  • Support: Having a reliable support system is critical. Find out what customer support your softphone provider offers. Is it available 24/7? Does it cost extra? Does the support team help you troubleshoot effectively? Are there training manuals or support videos available? 
  • Customization: Are you able to change your voicemail message, or update a setting without any glitches? The softphone application that you choose should be easy to use as well as rich in features. 
  • Security: Security is critical for every cloud-based service that you add to your organization’s tech portfolio. Determine how protected your data is. The application should offer data encryption, and ideally, it should include more than one type. While Transport Layer Security (TLS) protects your phone data, Secure RTP encrypts media. Another form of security to look out for is access control. For instance, administrator-level permissions that only certain employees can access and strict password protocols allow you to maintain the first line of defense against hackers. It’s also important to make sure that the softphone application supports the same protocol as the VoIP provider. 
  • Collaboration tools: Full-featured softphone services offer a variety of collaboration tools your employees can use to meet, interact, and work jointly online. Users can access these features – including SMS texting, video conferencing, and online collaboration – through a range of applications. 
  • Third-party integration: This is one of the softphone’s key draws. Because it’s a software, these systems often have a list of pre-built integrations with whatever apps the vendor believes their customers like. Clients can use these extensions to create customized workflows, and boost efficiency.

 

Top Features of Tragofone 

Tragofone raises the bar in customer communication for enterprises with its customer-friendly features. Let us look at some of these unique features: 

  • Leverages WebRTC to make seamless audio and video calls: WebRTC has started a communications revolution, by making it richer and accessible to everyone. Supported by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), WebRTC allows open standard browsers to communicate with each other and exchange audio, video, and even files that use a simple Javascript-based API. It allows users to make audio and video calls without requiring a plugin or any additional software installation and integrates seamlessly with IP PBX, Class 5 SoftSwitch, Call Center, and Custom APIs. Tragofone is the only VoIP mobile dialer in the market that comes with WebRTC support.
  • Auto-provisioning: Auto-provisioning enables users to activate their Tragofone service via a web interface without requiring any configuration settings. This makes the deployment and management of installation fast and easy.
  • Multi-lingual support: Softphone services like Tragofone offers multi-lingual support so that users can converse in a language of their choice, along with embracing the other carrier-grade features of the softphone.
  • Can be integrated as a white-label mobile dialer app: White-label dialer softphone applications like Tragofone can be integrated under a company’s brand, giving it the brand’s look and feel. Your Tragofone becomes your company’s brand ambassador. Put your logo and brand name on the welcome screen. Customize colors, fonts, and even the user interface if you want. Enterprises can reinforce the power of their brand to users.
  • Integration with other databases and directories: Some VoIP-based mobile dialer apps like Tragofone implement compatibility with third-party applications like CRM. This feature is especially useful for call centers.
  • Security and privacy: Organizations are careful about the privacy and security of their communications. These security issues are applicable to softphones, where incoming and outgoing calls are vulnerable to `man in the middle’ attacks, such as wiretapping and eavesdropping.  Quality softphones like Tragofone support encryption using Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure RTP (SRTP) protocols, as it reduces these threats.
  • Video Capabilities and online messaging: Tragofone offers a video call component, providing HD video and the ability to have multiple speakers at once. Online messaging allows users to text people directly from their office line.

 

How Tragofone Benefits Businesses 

Software-centric communication solutions like Tragofone are in demand because of the flexibility, scalability, and security they offer. They also enable organizations to improve their communication processes and boost business efficiency. 

What benefits does Tragofone bring to enterprises? 

  • Using WebRTC Tragofone makes communication a seamless process

Tragofone is quick and easy to install, is low maintenance, and provides flexibility to users. Besides, it offers one phone system across multiple locations and scalability as per your business needs. 

  • Provide the benefits of auto-provisioning

With an ability to deploy IT configurations through a web interface, rather than manually, Tragofone saves time on assigning IP addresses, reduces errors while configuring devices, improves the accuracy of creating the right access, enhances user onboarding experiences, increases the productivity of admins and reduces costs on device operations. 

  • Ease of use

To use Tragofone, all you need to do is download it on your mobile device and you’re ready to go. It supports almost all types of mobile devices and thus, provides the same seamless experience on any device. 

  • Rich communication experience

VoIP dialer mobile applications like Tragofone come with varied communication features, including audio calls, video calls, conferences, and chat. Moreover, users can share files and images, transforming regular interactions into advanced business meetings. 

  • Cost-effective

Using VoIP signaling for conducting calls and conferences, Tragofone reduces communication costs significantly, when compared to other mediums like PSTN. Businesses realize significant cost savings in the form of lower long-distance fees and minimal equipment costs. 

  • Personalized branding

Tragofone provides white-label dialer softphone applications that can become the face of a brand, as they can integrate a company’s name, logo, and other branding factors. Enterprises can either keep the app private or make it public. The more people using the white-label application, the more traction a brand gets. 

  • Location agnostic

Tragofone can be used anywhere, providing the flexibility for users to work on the go. This makes them ideal for telecommuting employees. 

  • Diverse tech advantages

WebRTC based softphones like Tragofone provide brilliant audio and video quality, consume 50% lower bandwidth, offer encrypted communication and 99% device support, as well as support legacy SIP servers, 3G, 4G networks, and Wifi. 

 

Conclusion 

Softphones are the future of enterprise communication, as they provide more collaboration channels and flexibility to busy and on-the-go professionals. This VoIP-powered communication software has transformed the way people make voice calls, video calls, share their screens, notify their presence, or chat using IM, and redefined communication and collaboration. To top it, they’re low on cost and maintenance and high on convenience and efficiency, making them a must-have in every organization’s communication and collaboration toolbox.

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07Jul

8 Telecom Trends 2021: Industry, Innovation, Predictions 2021

July 7, 2021 Sagar Malam Telecom Technology, VoIP 65

telecommunications industry trends in 2021

 

Besides going down in history as the year of the Covid-19 pandemic, 2020 will also be remembered for the transformative digital changes that took place across global organizations.

In terms of tech transformations, the telecommunications industry went to the next level. With countries in lockdown and remote working becoming a norm, mobile, fixed-line, and internet-powered communication became a lifeline for organizations. Telecom companies emerged as one of the most essential industries during the pandemic, and will likely stay that way in the future. Telecom companies built a strong foundation for future growth by enabling seamless professional communication between remotely-connected workforces, investing in UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service), and allowing businesses to continue delivering products and services by migrating to the cloud.

Big changes are coming to the telecom industry, and it is clear that the future will involve seamless experiences that support a shift to remote work. The success of telecom operators will depend on how they respond to these new work trends.

In the coming decade, communication solutions are expected to improve customer experiences at all levels, be it through unified communication systems, transformative technologies like AI (artificial intelligence) and machine learning, or key infrastructure improvements like 5G and UCaaS implementation. As a result, what is expected is the rise of a new communication standard.

The main trends that emerged during the 2010s were VoIP, mass availability of high-quality fiber broadband, and the cloud. In this decade VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) began to build traction by offering high-tech communication solutions for the global telecom industry. As businesses shifted their processes to cloud services, it became easier to enable flexible and remote working.

What does the coming decade hold for the telecom industry? Let us look at the extraordinary innovations and trends that are set to transform the industry in the coming year, and decade.

 

The Main Telecom Trends: What will telecommunications and telephony look like in the 2020s

The telecom industry’s technology transformation – which began in 2020 – is continuing into 2021. In fact, it is expanding at a rapid rate, due to the unique capabilities of these technologies, such as a faster, better, and more comprehensive tackling of market challenges. For instance, In the fight against fraud, the value of AI and ML methods will be of great benefit, as it helps detect anomalies faster. VOIP technology is slated to replace the older PSTN systems. For companies that want to cut down on expenses, VOIP will be the way to go. The spotlight will be on 5G deployments, due to the huge boost in connectivity and speed that it will bring.

Let’s look at each of these telecom trends and understand how they will re-shape the industry.

 

#1. 5G will go mainstream

Today’s fast-growing businesses need the right communication tools to stay ahead, making the adoption of 5G networks the talking point among VoIP market trends. 5G or fifth-generation wide-area wireless networks are set to become the new global standard. What makes it so special? 5G promises lightning-fast speeds, low latency, and seamless connectivity for internet devices. It has the potential to accelerate the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) technology, improve call quality across devices, and provide businesses with an internet network they can bank on. With 5G, businesses will experience better Internet connectivity, voice and video calling, faster file sharing, and more. It will also reaffirm how important mobility in telephony solutions (like VoIP softphones) has become.

Research by Verizon has found that the perceived benefits of a 5G network include better data transfer speeds, improved connectivity of wearable tech, and reduced instances of dropped calls. These benefits will encourage more enterprises to adopt VoIP. As companies gradually roll out 5G capable devices and infrastructures, it’s clear that communication solutions will take a huge leap towards the future.

 

#2. The rise of AI and ML

AI is everywhere. It’s on Netflix, on your social media feed, and on the websites that you visit. VoIP won’t be any different in the coming years. For example, the call center industry will use the power of AI to improve service delivery by providing self-help options that will lead customers to quick solutions. AI through bots will be used to predict customer behavior and provide business insights to organizations.

Telecom companies are already leaning in a big way towards machine learning and AI, as these technologies can help optimize back-end processes. They also power chatbots and speech recognition software that assist in customer service interactions and improve customer experiences.

For the telecom industry, AI can use data to predict peak traffic, provide better end-to-end service and enhance connectivity. They can also leverage these technologies for network capability improvements, provide seamless customer experiences, and boost infrastructure automation.

 

#3. Boost to UCaaS

As the future of communication infrastructures becomes cloud-based, cloud phone systems are emerging as the most cost-effective telephony option for businesses. The UCaaS market is predicted to reach $24.8 billion by 2024. Using UCaaS, organizations will have quick access to their data, audio, and video communication. Also, as everything is stored on the cloud, disaster recovery and business continuity will become much easier.

The pandemic was one of the market drivers for the growth of cloud-based telephony solutions, as it has forced businesses to move their in-house PBX systems to the cloud. The sudden shift to remote work pushed most companies to adopt and implement UCaaS.

In 2021, the UCaaS market is expected to grow to over $28 billion. What makes UCaaS so important? Modern UCaaS solutions make it easy for organizations to talk, text, share files, project updates, and give the leadership visibility into their teams’ performance. The rise of cloud-based phone systems like softphones is also leading the way.

 

#4. VoIP support for IoT

IoT connects internet-enabled devices to simplify data exchange. As this technology develops, VoIP will play a crucial role in the data capture and transmission levels of IoT. VoIP devices are evolving beyond sending voice and video packets. It can now even ensure that all its endpoints such as cameras and speakers work to connect with other devices. This is where IoT and VoIP meet.

When VoIP and IoT come together, they can revolutionize the way businesses operate. For instance, companies can set up smart offices, where a network will collect data from all the office equipment so that employees can have the information they require wherever they are. Or, imagine a voice-activated workspace, where an employee can ask VoIP to record a meeting.

 

#5. Merger of VoIP and WebRTC

The WebRTC framework was created to run real-time communications in a browser using simple APIs, and many organizations are opting for it. WebRTC has made it seamless to use internet-based communication on the go without any setup.

As WebRTC is an open-source standard, it works well with VoIP systems as well. For instance, WebRTC improves VoIP experiences with instant calls and live video support, and enhances peer-to-peer file swapping and direct calls from the web browser.

The telecom industry is expecting to see the merger of these two communication systems. By aligning the functionalities of WebRTC and VoIP, organizations will not need extra plugins and widgets for their communication functions.

 

#6. Increased focus on security

The one big disadvantage of seamless internet accessibility is the risk of cyberattacks. According to Statista, some of the most common types of cyberattacks include phishing, network intrusion, and inadvertent disclosure. As the pandemic forced more people to work from home, hackers began spreading malware through portable executable formats.

As VoIP communication systems run on the internet, they are prone to such attacks. Organizations will have to prepare themselves to handle this by providing another layer of privacy and security.

 

#7. Advanced VoIP assistants

With advances in AI and language processing, we will see voice assistants (like Siri, Alexa, and Ok Google) turning smarter as they will be able to respond to highly complicated questions and help automate mundane processes like routing calls to agents or sending calls to voicemail. Powered by AI, they will also be able to collect customer information by recording previous interactions automatically. This will make it easier for agents to pick up calls where other agents left off and provide personalized customer service.

Advanced VoIP assistants will also be able to do new and diverse tasks like recording meetings and transcribing them as the meeting proceeds.

 

#8. Growth in cloud platforms

The move to the cloud is happening at a rapid pace, as organizations adopt a cloud-first approach. This is particularly important as organizations change the way they consume voice services. Enterprises are increasingly looking at removing the need for physical phone equipment and benefit from the advantages that hosted voice platforms, like softphones, provide. These advantages include cost saving, flexibility, and disaster recovery capabilities.

 

Why VoIP solutions like Softphones will emerge as a Game Changer for the Telecom Industry in the Coming Decade 

The global VoIP market witnessed exponential growth over the last decade, and the rise of remote working is set to boost it further. This is especially because VoIP platforms are increasingly integrating with 5G adoption, UCaaS growth, and the use of AI and ML.

Global enterprises have a growing requirement for a cost-effective communication solution that can support workforce mobility. This is where VoIP systems play an important role. This technology allows users to implement flexible communication systems that cater to voice, SMS, email, video conferencing, and other types of communication methods that modern businesses require. VoIP technology can help reduce company phone bills and teleconferencing costs by up to 30% and save 90% on international calls.

The VoIP market is projected to grow up to $55 billion by 2025. As organizations go global, they need phone systems that improve communication and collaboration between employees spread across the world. This increases the demand for VoIP products such as IP phones and softphones. Also, telecom companies and governments are investing in wireless telecommunication technologies such as 4G and the upcoming 5G network, leading to higher transfer speeds for high-quality voice and data services. This will increase the impact that VoIP has on global businesses.

In fact, VoIP is one of the big reasons why the global telecom industry is undergoing such a drastic transformation. VoIP services offer features that traditional telephony does not. It’s cost-effective and does not require costly physical infrastructure. It’s also gaining traction as the gig economy grows and the changing nature of business requires enterprises to communicate anywhere in the world, at any time.

 

Conclusion

The telecommunications industry is changing, and VOIP technology is set to replace traditional telephony. It’s no longer a question of if, but when. So in the next decade, we can expect IP telephony systems like softphones to become the communication solution of choice, as businesses jump ship from ISDN systems.

In 2021, telecom companies will maintain global competitiveness and boost productivity by leveraging emerging technologies that have the potential to transform customer experiences, network expansion, and infrastructure management. Also, consistent connectivity and enhanced customer service will be the key drivers behind the growth of global telecommunication.

The future of global communications will be more interconnected than ever, and also extremely mobile and flexible. Businesses have to ensure they stay in tune with this trend, by shifting to flexible and unified communication solutions.

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18Jun

9 Limitations of Using VoIP DeskPhones

June 18, 2021 Chetan Patel VoIP 59

voip desk phones

The development of VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, has transformed deskphones, or hard phones. The old traditional desk phones are fast turning obsolete, as most modern deskphones now operate over VoIP.

VoIP phones fall into one of two categories – deskphones and softphones. Deskphones are tangible devices that sit on your office desk. Although their look and feel are similar to analog PSTN phones, they connect to IP networks instead of telephone lines. On the other hand, softphones are applications that can be installed on PCs, laptops, tablets, or even mobile devices. Softphones don’t need a physical phone and you can use a window on your computer to dial numbers and receive calls.

As global work forces turn mobile and remote working becomes a norm in a post-pandemic world, organizations are increasingly leaning towards softphones, for the flexibility and mobility they provide to employees. Deskphones, on the other hand, keep employees desk-bound.

In this blog, we will understand what VoIP deskphones are, how they work, why this telephony solution is no longer a go-to option for enterprises, and the reasons it’s not considered a holistic communication solution by businesses any longer.

  •   What is a VoIP Deskphone?
  •   Top reasons why businesses choose VoIP Deskphones
  •   The Different Types of VoIP Phone Systems that Organizations Use
  •   Why VoIP Deskphones Are Not a Best Fit for Modern Organizations

What is a VoIP Deskphone?

VoIP deskphones are the phones that plug into your company’s IP network via an Ethernet cable to connect calls through the internet using a VoIP service. With this phone system, businesses can choose a managed service, where a service provider provides support and configures your system through a platform located in the cloud.

desk phone alternative solutions

Top Reasons Why Businesses Choose IP DeskPhones

Organizations usually migrate from traditional copper-wire telephone systems to VoIP systems for two primary reasons:

–    To save costs.

–    To bring about bandwidth efficiencies.

Since VoIP desk phones offer both voice and data to run on the same network, use a company’s existing hardware, and are more cost-effective when compared to PBX (private branch exchange) lines, businesses opt for this phone system. Some of the other reasons that organizations go for IP Deskphones include:

–   VoIP phone systems for businesses offer a communication package deal that includes phone calls, fax, voicemail, email, and web conferences.

–   IP Deskphones save organizations on monthly phone bills.

–   They can avail an array of features including customization, and personalize your phone, create shortcuts, and increase your efficiency.

The Different Types of IP Phone Systems that Organizations Use

VoIP Desk Phone systems digitally transmit communication as data packets via the internet. There are many ways in which this process occurs. Each process has its unique level of complexity that has an impact on the ease of deployment and maintenance. Let’s look at the different types of VoIP technology that power the Desk Phone systems:

  • Integrated Access

This makes VoIP phones function like traditional phone lines – where businesses can use their existing legacy phone systems. This happens by integrating the VoIP software with your phone system. Organizations stand to benefit as it reduces the cost of implementation, as they do not have to purchase any new hardware. They can keep their old equipment and phone number to access VoIP’s telecommunication features.

  • Session Initial Protocol (SIP)

SIP trunks create digital pathways for voice communication. They leverage existing traditional phone hardware and add the benefits of VoIP to it. The flexibility of SIP trunk enables VoIP desk phones to easily integrate with private branch exchange (PBX) telephone systems and cloud technology.

Businesses can avail the advantages of shared lines by transmitting voice and video information across data networks. Since all communications data goes through a network, SIP trunk acts as a replacement for analog phone networks. They also allow for an integration of legacy phone systems with SIP trunking using a VoIP gateway.

  • Hosted IP Private Branch Exchange (PBX)

Hosted IP PBX is one of the more popular forms of using VoIP Desk Phone technology. Telecom vendors host and operate a private branch exchange through which they offer unified communications solutions to businesses. Organizations can access a vendor’s VoIP service by connecting to the cloud-based PBX network through their IP network.

The vendor maintains all the hardware that is needed for communication in an off-site location and takes charge of hardware and software maintenance, upgrades, and security as well.

  • Managed IP PBX

This technology is very similar to Hosted IP PBX. The service is managed and maintained by a third-party provider. But the organization manages the phone hardware on-site. The PBX provider charges a fee as per the number of phone lines they install, configure, and update, as well as the equipment upgrades needed to facilitate VoIP communication.

9 Limitations of IP Deskphones for Modern Organizations

There are several downsides associated with VoIP Desk Phones that enterprises are often not aware of. Let us look at them:

1. VoIP Desk Phones need a reliable and fast internet connection

VoIP carries voice calls, texts, faxes, video chats, and all other types of data, across the internet. Your VoIP Desk Phone works only as well as your internet connection. This means that a VoIP Desk Phone service needs a reliable and high bandwidth internet connection to function seamlessly. If your network bandwidth is poor, it will affect the quality of your communication. It is critical for VoIP devices to receive a low latency on your network. Each device should have at least 100 kbps of upload speed.

2. VoIP desk phone systems can be expensive in some cases

Although one of the biggest USPs of VoIP phone systems is that they’re cost-effective, they need certain basic conditions to be met to offer monetary benefits. Factors such as expensive internet connections, hardware, mobility issues, service plans, and government-imposed restrictions can make VoIP systems dig deep holes in company pockets. For instance, you may register with the wrong type of VoIP service plan and end up using much less of the service than you are paying for. Alternatively, your call volume may go beyond the package you have taken, thus increasing your per-minute usage expenditure.

3. VoIP desk phones lack some key features and can be complicated to use

Many users find VoIP desk phones complicated to use and complain that the phone comes with unnecessary features and a confusing-to-use menu. For instance, these phones don’t offer the one-touch buttons that are found on all digital business phones. These buttons enable users to access another extension with the touch of a button and make phone usage seamless. VoIP phones usually use a complex menu that can be accessed using up, down, left, and right arrow buttons which can prove cumbersome. Also, VoIP-based desk phones need six or more buttons to be pressed to connect to conference calls.

4. VoIP desk phones face battery backup and power source challenges

All VoIP phones need a 48-volt DC power source which is supplied through an expensive POE (Power over Ethernet) switched hub or a power pack. If an organization opts to use power packs, then the phones need to be located next to electrical outlets – creating an extra logistical burden in office spaces. Every VoIP phone doesn’t come with its own battery backup and is generally connected to an AC wall adapter This means if there is a power outage, the phone goes dead.

5. VoIP desk phones don’t have easy access to the Main Box or Voicemail box

VoIP phones have off-site computer servers, leaving the end-user with no control over the main box and open to facing issues like server crash, network lock-up, a failed switched hub, or a router lock up.

6. VoIP desk phones add to the IT departments workload

With VoIP phones, an organization’s IT team will have its hand full, as they require constant maintenance such as virus updates, computer repair, and software and firmware updates. With IT engineers already busy servicing the company’s network and computers, this unnecessarily adds to their workload.

7. VoIP desk phones can have complicated features

VoIP desk phones typically lack the one-touch buttons that are found on digital business phones. With these simple buttons, users can access another extension or any other phone feature with a mere touch. The complex menu of IP desk phones can be a problem for users to navigate.

8. VoIP desk phones have wiring issues

Wiring for IP-based desk phones comprises a 4-pair category 5e or category 6 cable with a modular plug. This means the wire is much larger than a standard thin one pair telephone line cord that is in traditional office phones – which, in turn, means that one may have to bear the expense of installing new wiring across their office in order to accommodate VoIP desk phones.

9. VoIP desk phones face challenges because of an off-site server

If an organization has a VoIP phone network where the main server is off-site, your company’s office phones and other organizations’ phones will all share the same computer server. So when the server crashes, thousands of phones may go down. Additionally, these systems do not allow customized auto-attendant greetings and make do with a general voicemail greeting.

Also, enterprises lose control over the main box with an off-site server. This can cause diverse challenges like a server crash, the internet may go down, the network may lock up, the switched hub may fail, the router may lock up, the VoIP company may shut shop, or even a rogue employee may turn your phones off from an alternate location.

 

Conclusion

It goes without saying that people are used to desk phones, and even if VoIP desk phones are totally different from regular landline phones, people are comfortable with the familiarity of using them.

However, organizations are rapidly realizing that VoIP desk phones are more costly than softphones, require regular hardware maintenance, and the cost of these phone systems increases with every feature that you add to them.

In order to do away with these challenges, a growing number of enterprises are now gravitating towards using the VoIP softphone – to avail the low-cost, low-maintenance, and high-feature benefits they bring.

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08Jun

SIP Vs VoIP: Functionalities, Similarities and Differences

June 8, 2021 Sagar Malam SIP, VoIP 62

sip vs voip

Enterprises around the world are fast moving from traditional phone lines to cloud-based internet telephony. This is because cloud technologies support more cost-effective and hardware-independent communication options.

Internet telephony has also become a go-to choice for many businesses due to its increased reliability and accessibility – and VoIP and SIP are providing the foundations for IP technology.

However, in this new age of telephone technologies, voice represents only part of a modern organization’s communication needs. Starting from the 1990s, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) has gained attention and traction, and become one of the most successful voice communication tools across the world. VoIP has enjoyed soaring popularity as it can seamlessly support a growing global mobile workforce. Tech watchers predict it may overtake traditional public switched telephone networks in the coming years.

But VoIP isn’t the only cloud-based technology that businesses must consider to cater to their unified communication needs. SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is also an important contributor to cloud-based business communication.

Although both VoIP and SIP refer to internet telephony, they are technically very different. While VoIP is an Internet-powered alternative to landline phone calls and is a voice-oriented technology, SIP is a multimedia communications protocol and an industry-standard method used to enable VoIP calls between devices.

In this blog, we will look at how VoIP and SIP function independently of each other and also how they complement each other and provide the best results when they are used together.

  • What is VoIP?
  • What is SIP?
  • SIP Vs VoIP: What are the Differences
  • How SIP and VoIP Work Together
  • What works best: VoIP, SIP, or VoIP with SIP
  • VoIP or SIP: What’s the Right Fit for your Business

 

What is VoIP?

Unlike traditional phone lines or public switched telephone networks (PSTN), VoIP refers to any telephone communication over the Internet. VoIP is also referred to as IP telephony, internet telephony, or voice over broadband. This technology uses the internet as a channel to digitally transmit voice signals to another telephone or endpoint. VoIP is deployed in conjunction with mobile or browser-based applications, through an Internet Telephony Service Provider (ITSP).

For basic voice functions, enterprises need a VoIP-enabled phone and VoIP software, to make and receive calls over the internet. It’s turned into a popular choice for organizations that want to remove the clutter of landline phones in their office. With a VoIP setup, they get to retain an official line for their business.

 

What is SIP?

While VoIP refers to a type of phone call, SIP refers to the protocol used for setting up these calls. SIP is a communication protocol that enables VoIP and transmits VoIP calls, by governing the establishment, termination, and other essential elements of a phone call.

SIP can transmit information between two or more endpoints. With SIP, enterprises are not limited to voice communication only and can expand into video conferencing, instant messaging, media distribution, and other applications. Most IP phones that you will find in organizations are SIP-compatible.

Besides being fast, flexible, and scalable to meet specific business demands, one of the main benefits of SIP over other VoIP protocols is its ability to interact intelligently with other protocols. This enables it to adapt its signaling protocol to match that of the client system.

 

SIP Vs VoIP: What are the Differences

Comparing VoIP to SIP is akin to comparing apples with oranges. While VoIP describes any internet-based telecommunication system, SIP is a specific type of VoIP deployment.

VoIP refers to any call made over the internet and depends on data connectivity to transmit voice information packets, rather than PSTN. On the other hand, SIP is a protocol used to initiate, maintain, and terminate multimedia system communication sessions in VoIP applications. SIP protocols enable the management of voice, video, and electronic messaging applications.

Let us look at some key differences between the two technologies:

  • VoIP best supports voice communications between single parties. On the other hand, SIP supports a broader set of applications, including multimedia conversations between multiple parties, including voice, video, and instant messaging. SIP systems allow users to make voice and video calls online, most often for free.
  • A major difference between VoIP and SIP is their scope. VoIP is not a discrete technology, but a family of technologies that are used within modern telecommunication networks. SIP is a signaling protocol used within the umbrella of VoIP technologies.
  • VoIP handsets and SIP handsets vary in terms of devices – although a SIP handset can also function as a VoIP handset. VoIP handsets, or VoIP phones, must be connected to a computer to make or receive calls. SIP phones work without a computer – requiring only a modem. This makes SIP phones more like traditional phones.
  • VoIP hosts handle traffic differently from SIP systems. SIP systems are processed by individual systems that are located on every user’s system. This peer-to-peer system can handle large amounts of data and traffic as its users have access to more bandwidth and resources. On the other hand, VoIP hosts direct traffic from one central network. This can result in a system overload when there is a large amount of traffic, impacting its overall performance. However, a single network system also has its benefits – as fewer points of communication result in stronger security.

 

How SIP and VoIP Work Together

The relationship between VoIP and SIP is similar to websites and HTML. A website is a collection of pages that can be accessed using a web browser. HTML is a language used to build websites. However, websites can also be created using other languages like Java.

Likewise, VoIP is a method used for sending voice calls over the internet – covering any type of voice communication ranging from Skype and FaceTime to enterprise phone services. SIP is one of the many protocols that can be used to implement VoIP. Most phone systems used by organizations today rely on SIP, as it is considered an industry-standard today.

Despite their fundamental differences, VoIP and SIP overlap in many ways. Softphones, also called SIP telephones as they use SIP technology, and they connect devices to VoIP networks. Softphones integrate using a computer or a cloud-based phone system, making phone numbers independent of any single device. This is their most distinctive feature when compared to traditional landlines. However, VoIP adapters allow phones that were traditionally used with landlines to incorporate the functions of softphones as well.

When SIP and VoIP come together, they offer several advantages to enterprises:

  • VoIP and SIP allow organizations to consolidate technologies via unified communications (UC). Communication methods that support SIP can integrate with other business cloud applications, such as customer relationship management (CRM) systems. This way, users can share data via SIP-supported platforms.
  • As part of an organization’s UC solution, VoIP and SIP help consolidate administrative tasks associated with video, voice, and instant messaging.
  • SIP plays a big role in supporting VoIP and other unified communications across the globe. In 2019, SIP trunking technology held the largest share of the global $15 billion VoIP market. With the VoIP market estimated to double by 2025, SIP will get a big share of the pie.

 

What works best: VoIP, SIP, or VoIP with SIP

VoIP and SIP may work well together, but they’re not mutually inclusive. If you’re using only voice communications then VoIP doesn’t need SIP to function. There are many internet protocols that enable voice communications, though SIP is the most widely used.

Besides voice, SIP also enables text and video communication. Any enterprise on the lookout for an all-around UC provider will go for VoIP with SIP. Using only VoIP can limit their options, while SIP allows them to scale their communication as per their business needs. Also, as SIP can interact with other protocols, it means your VoIP won’t develop a snag while trying to connect with other systems.

More and more organizations are finding that, sooner or later, they have to upgrade to using VoIP with SIP – it’s emerging as the most popular option. Using this tech combo, they can integrate different types of multimedia channels into a single system, to transmit voice, video, and conference calls, and create seamless UC suites.

A big reason for SIP going mainstream is that it supports diverse communication capabilities. It takes VoIP’s capabilities and adds the power of video and data transfer to it. SIP has you covered if you:

–        Need a network that provides seamless long-distance video conferencing.

–        Need a convenient way to send files and documents to a co-worker.

SIP builds on a VoIP system’s strengths, helping it to boost productivity. It’s also easy to implement and manage, as long as your IT department is familiar with the protocol.

The benefit of using VoIP-only services is that it has portable components and easy-to-manage payments. If an enterprise requires only voice communication support, they might find it more cost-effective to use a protocol other than SIP with their VoIP system. However, this can limit their future communication growth.

SIP is a protocol that is compatible with cloud applications and provides more growth opportunities. Industries are increasingly adopting advanced technologies to stay competitive and to scale up quickly. As organizations seek better unified communication strategies, they are turning to SIP services to provide this opportunity.

In a final analysis, the VoIP Vs SIP debate is more about what solution works best for you, rather than which one comes with greater advantages. If an organization is looking at consolidating its communication technology, integrating SIP with VoIP services could be a game-changer.

 

VoIP or SIP: What’s the Right Fit for your Business

For organizations seeking a unified communications approach, the most important question is whether voice-only VoIP phone service best serves their business needs, or if a SIP implementation – with its UC capabilities – is a better fit.

Factors that help organizations decide whether UCaaS (Unified Communication as a Service) is the right match for them include their budget and a desire to adopt multimedia communications tools. If they’re already using collaboration apps or technologies, which are a component of UC, they have a strong case for SIP adoption. For many businesses, moving directly to SIP offers cost efficiency and a boost in productivity.

So should organizations go for hosted VoIP services or SIP trunking? It depends on a number of factors, including:

  • Business needs of an organization

Hosted VoIP services give businesses very little control over features, customization, and security. The opposite happens with SIP – you’re in charge of everything. There are scores of VoIP services available for businesses to opt for these days. So finding a service provider who can meet their business needs is easy. But if a hosted VoIP does not offer the end-to-end communication needs of an organization, then SIP trunking is the obvious choice.

  • Budget

SIP trunking needs a heavy upfront investment – as it requires an IP PBX and other hardware components to be purchased – although it does prove cost-effective in the long run. Therefore, small and medium businesses may do a double-take about the large spend. Hosted VoIP services, on the other hand, are easy on the pocket and fit well with any budget.

  • Availability of in-house expertise

If an organization opts for hosted VoIP services, they don’t need an IT team to manage the system – everything is handled by the vendor. Professional service providers provide seamless troubleshooting and support services. SIP trunks, on the other hand, will require in-house IT expertise to deploy and maintain the phone system.

  • Long-term communication goals

Before zeroing on a communication technology, enterprises must answer some key questions. How do you see your business growing in the near future? What changes in communication methods do you anticipate in the long term? Hosted VoIP services can scale fast. But if you are aiming at dramatic organizational changes, then they might not be able to keep pace. Businesses that are looking at a sharp growth trajectory need better control over their phone systems – which SIP trunking can provide.

 

Conclusion

As modern businesses communicate using a combination of emails, text, video conferencing, and cloud-based IM platforms, they require a lot more from their communication services provider than just voice calls.

Organizations that are looking at boosting their communication strategies by moving to VoIP should consider each of the ways they can deploy it, including SIP trunking, and opt for the one that provides the greatest benefits to them. If your customers appreciate the benefits that SIP and VoIP bring, they are likely to give a go-ahead to modernize their communications platform.

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