SIP, or session initiation protocol, is taking real-time communications such as voice and video to the next level when used with an IP based PBX system. SIP is responsible for the initiation and breakdown of a session on an IP network. Communication is done in one of many ways. Instant messaging, email, cell phones, video conferencing and standard phone use are all ways in which businesses send communications back and forth amongst its employees. SIP allows for the integration of these technologies, which provides a media rich way for employees to communicate and collaborate. You no longer have to be in the office to be in the office. Mobility is a key benefit of an IP based PBX system and the addition of SIP only serves to enhance the user experience through flexibility and faster communication.
SIP provides a direct connection between two SIP enabled devices. Most commonly, this is done between two phones, but can also be done between a phone and a web application, a phone and video conferencing sessions and so on. This provides convergence between many diverse technologies thereby allowing messaging to move across various platforms when needed. As an example, if an IT organization needs to gather the necessary personnel to resolve a system outage, each of them can be notified through a different medium depending on where they're at. It could start with the first person being notified via an email that there is a problem. This person then with the click of a mouse could then send out notification to everyone else on the team. One person might get a text message on their smart phone, while another might get an IM and the last person might get a phone call. The people necessary to resolve the issue have now been assembled within minutes, which means the outage is resolved more quickly.
SIP trunking makes the cost of making a long distance call considerably less than before. In older technology, calls are sent through the Public Switched Telephone Network where costs are based on which carrier charges what and where the call terminates. Using a SIP to SIP connection often costs pennies on the dollar in terms of communications costs when compared to the standard way calls are routed in the older PTSN routing. Even if you're calling a number that is still on the PTSN, the cost savings are significant enough for SIP to be considered as a viable cost savings measure.
With SIP, the phone call is sent over the same line as the data so the need for separate trunks for voice communication as well as data is eliminated and now they can both use the same trunk for transport. This provides considerable cost savings since the same number of trunks is no longer needed. An important consideration is one of capacity and bandwidth requirements are evaluated to determine the amount of trunking needed to adequately support the amount of expected traffic.
The portability of an IP based PBX system is one of its biggest benefits. With the addition of SIP, business can be conducted from virtually anywhere with greater efficiency. Being able to conduct business in multiple locations with minimal start-up costs gives smaller businesses a way to compete with large competitors. Large companies spend millions of dollars opening and maintaining locations throughout the world. With the mobility that an IP based PBX system offers, the smaller business now has this same advantage because individuals can now operate in a home based office in the same way they would if limited to working in an office building. This allows for relatively inexpensive expansion and also gives the business a wider reach when hiring new employees. A small business can have only 20 employees with 15 of them working in remote locations thereby expanding the business's reach.
SIP technology is breaking down the barriers and limitations of conducting business in multiple locations. With the addition of this technology, communications costs are dropping significantly and allowing businesses to consider new options and potential markets. Most new PBX systems include this capability and it's likely that business owners will begin to take advantage of the flexibility and cost savings this technology provides.
This obviously opens up the possibilities for out of the box thinking in relation to the way that a company does business on a daily basis. With a mobile workforce, a SIP enabled PBX system becomes more than a useful way to communicate and is now a powerful conduit to communications across the board
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