There are plenty of abbreviations in telecoms. What is a VoIP phone? How does it relate to SIP? Here we explain the different types of VoIP phones.
First of all: what is VoIP?
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and refers to technology that enables voice calls over the internet. It is also sometimes referred to as IP telephony, broadband telephony and internet telephony.
What is a VoIP phone?
A VoIP phone is the same as a SIP phone or a softphone. They are just different names for phones that you can use to make VoIP calls.
VoIP phones can be both software-based and hardware-based. A hardware VoIP phone works much like a regular phone, but it can receive and make calls over the internet instead of the traditional telephone network.
Software-based VoIP phones can instead allow computers to act as phones.
A softphone is a piece of software that you install on your computer or tablet so that you can use it like any other phone. It is most commonly used with VoIP to make calls over the internet.
So, what is SIP?
SIP stands for Session Initiated Protocol. SIP is the protocol that enables telephony and VoIP services.
A SIP trunk is a virtual phone line that uses SIP protocols to make voice calls (VoIP). Through SIP, providers can connect to your PBX and all your phone numbers are directly connected to the SIP trunk. A so-called SIP session is simply a call or session via a SIP trunk.
How does VoIP work?
To use VoIP, you need a VoIP phone that makes calls over the internet. When you make a call, VoIP takes an analog voice signal and compresses it into a digital signal. This is then sent over the internet as data.
Two different types of VoIP phones
A VoIP phone can be used in different ways, but whether it’s hardware or software, it involves calls going over the internet. You can use a VoIP phone to make calls to other VoIP phones, landlines or cell phones.
Here are the two types of VoIP phones:
1. VoIP in a landline phone
The simplest form is VoIP phones, which work much like a normal phone, but are connected to your computer via USB or wireless network, for example. This can be a good solution in a conference room or reception area.
2. VoIP in mobile phones or computer (softphone)
VoIP can also work as a software program you use on your computer or as an app on your mobile phone. When you make a call, the software will set up a direct connection (peer-to-peer) to the computer you are calling.
A brief history of VoIP telephony
In the late 1970s, VoIP was developed using several different protocols. The first VoIP call to go beyond the analog copper lines went over the IP network. It used a Network Voice Protocol (NVP) over Arpanet (the precursor to the internet). The first VoIP software that could be installed on home computers came in 1995.
SIP is introduced
SIP was developed in 1996 and made it possible to include video and chat. It has become the most widely used protocol for voice that is compatible with IP-based telephone exchanges and other types of VoIP products.
It became popular early on with many businesses as they could hold their calls over the internet and only needed to use one network for all media – they could bypass physical phone cables.
SIP trunking and VoIP today
In the early 2000s, cable and DSL connections started to be used more widely for internet services. This meant faster internet, which in turn allowed VoIP technology to become more efficient. As more people started to use VoIP, SIP trunking was needed to make calls using multiple technologies.
Without SIP trunking, VoIP would only have meant making voice calls internally and you would still need the copper lines to make outgoing calls from the office.
Is VoIP telephony the best solution for telephony?
Making calls over the internet is the most future-proof solution (at least for now). VoIP telephony is suitable for most businesses and industries, no matter how much you call or where you have offices.
Executive summary
- VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It is also known as IP telephony, broadband telephony and internet telephony.
- A VoIP phone is the same as a SIP phone or a softphone.
- VoIP phones can be both software-based (softphone) and hardware-based.
- A softphone is a software to make calls via computer or tablet.
- The first VoIP software that could be installed on home computers came in 1995.
- VoIP telephony is a future-proof solution suitable for virtually any business.
Want to know more?
At Telavox, we can help you with everything related to SIP, VOIP, mobile telephony and PBX services. The right PBX solution creates the conditions for both happier employees and more satisfied customers.
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