By Jeff Pelletier - Chief Engineer - SimpleSignal
This article explores the Top-10 “cool concepts” of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Trunking which are:
1 - Integration of new hosted Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) solutions
2 - Integration of VoIP with Internet Protocol (IP) -Private Branch Exchange (PBX)
3 - Migration to VoIP with older Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) PBX systems
4 - New Integrated Access Device (IAD) service provides dynamic bandwidth management
5 - IAD support for analog telephones
6 - IAD support for "hybrid" IP and analog telephones
7 - Virtually unlimited incremental "slope" growth
8 - Integration with Internet Service Provider (ISP) business
9 - Advanced communication service provider services
10 - Integration with traditional and virtual call centers
What is SIP and SIP Trunking in 37 Words
Before jumping into the deep end of the pool, an introduction to SIP and SIP Trunking is important. Here’s the simplest, fastest definition we can come up with: SIP-Session Initiation Protocol is a "signaling" system for connecting, monitoring and disconnecting connections across the internet. If you prefer, Cisco explains SIP as, “defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Request For Comment (RFC) 3261, SIP is a peer-to-peer, multimedia signaling protocol that integrates with other Internet services to deliver rich communications.”
For those technically-inclined, a SIP Trunk is a network interface device that recognizes SIP signals and can process these signals to other SIP devices. In other words, a SIP Trunk is an expandable or “virtual” digital data transmission link with SIP protocol signaling interfaces that recognizes SIP signaling and SIP media using Real-Time Protocol (RTP) for media transmission (voice).
1 - Integration of new hosted VoIP-Voice over Internet Protocol solutions
SIP is cool for companies of all sizes who are adding “Hosted VoIP” service and IP-Internet Protocol phones because it delivers VoIP without "fork lifting out" the existing PBX. Hosted VoIP service is much like having a hosted web site from an ISP. Hosted VoIP offers many more features including a browser interface for feature changes, administration and support.
2 - Integration of VoIP with IP-PBX-Private Branch Exchange
SIP is cool for many customers with existing systems that are concerned about their investment in recently purchased and existing telephone equipment. That is, one of the inherent problems in expanding a PBX is the need to add station line cards, trunk cards and other equipment. This means that additional PBX equipment is added in a capital-intensive stair-step fashion. This often leads to under-utilized hardware or potential delays in waiting for new equipment to upgrade systems. SIP Trunking eliminates the need for onsite installation and can expand inexpensively, rapidly and remotely. Hosted VoIP coupled with SIP solutions offers customers the means to expand existing systems, implement branch, off-site and home offices as well as link directly to suppliers. SIP Trunking simplifies VoIP services if the customer has an IP-PBX, which is a hardware system that converges (integrates) voice and data onto common all-IP-Internet Protocol network connections.
3 - Migration to VoIP with older TDM-Time Division Multiplexed PBX systems
SIP trunking is a cool solution to the painful but pleasant migration from old school TDM to new school VoIP. That is, before SIP trunking, nearly all enterprises had separate voice and data hardware and network connections. Voice PBX T-1 (1.544 MBPS-mega bits per second) trunks are connected to the traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) for local and Long Distance (LD) calls and data T-1 circuits are connected to internet Points Of Presence (POP.)
4 - New IAD-Integrated Access Device service provides dynamic bandwidth management
SIP Trunking is cool because it works with a traditional TDM PBX to simplify voice trunking with high speed data access. Coupled with an additional device called an Integrated Access Device (IAD), SIP Trunking dynamically manages data and voice packets with priority given to voice for high-quality performance. The IAD provides Integrated Access Service (IAS) also known as Converged Access Services (CAS), a communications service that provides voice telephony connections as well as high speed data communications over the same T-1 circuit.
5 - IAD support for old analog telephones
On the other hand, if there is no PBX, the SIP Trunking IAD supports analog phones. Traditional telephone lines may still be needed for fax machines, credit card devices and other applications.
6 - IAD support for "hybrid" IP and analog telephones
SIP Trunking is cool because it supports a "hybrid" mix of IP and analog telephones, which makes for an easy transition from “legacy” systems to next-generation IP services. This does not mean trading one telephone device for another with more features and buttons. It means the user can use a PC-based “softphone” – telephone features in software. While, “survey says,” that those more technically-inclined love softphones, many others in the organization also find the softphone equally useful. Anyone who prefers fewer rather than more devices is likely to find value in a softphone. Any “roady” may find a softphone to be the only solution rather than lug another piece of baggage around. Lastly, for the rest of us with fat fingers, it just saves a lot of time from misdialing because the number is on the screen.
7 - Virtually unlimited incremental "slope" growth
In addition, rather than traditional 24 channel "step growth," SIP Trunking supports virtually unlimited incremental or scalable growth sometimes referred to as N-way (uN-limited) growth – nothing is cooler than that. In other words, think of voice not as fixed channels but as data packets that share the bandwidth with other data applications. In this environment bandwidth is added only as required or when additional performance is required.
To expand on the concept of virtually unlimited growth, SIP Trunking allows a customer to oversubscribe their networking by using advanced compression techniques that increase capacity by 400% or more. There are a dozen different types of compression techniques such as G.711 and G.729 which have been approved by the international standards organization called the ITU-International Telecommunications Union (www.itu.org). Compression has been used in nearly all types of data networks to reduce bandwidth needs. For example, voice has been traditionally digitally sampled at 64,000 BPS-Bits Per Second. However, in any conversation there are pause intervals between words and even intervals within words that contribute little value to the conversation. In addition, most conversations are two-way which means only one person is talking at a time. Compression removes (compresses) unused bandwidth making it available for other uses. Compression devices called COmpression-DECompression (CODECs) are highly advanced computer processing systems that can reduce voice to as low as 8,000 BPS or 1/8 the bandwidth normally needed. Check with your provider for specific features and options. Without going into greater depth on this subject, SIP Trunking with compression can bring considerable TCO savings.
8 - Integration with ISP-Internet Service Provider business
Another business application is that SIP Trunking supports voice call processing from an ISP for hosted VoIP features and local-long distance call connections to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). This means via SIP Trunking, an ISP can provide high performance telephone service to its customers.
9 - Advanced communication services
New CSP’s-Communications Services Providers will bring to market new advanced multi-media and advanced SIP services. Here are some cool user applications enhanced by SIP Trunking:
- "Event" notification can be enhanced with SIP Trunking for fire safety or business applications such as sporting, concert event or airline seat availability.
On demand “event” business meetings, training, broadcast announcements, call-to-meeting notifications, even reverse 911 (citizen notification services) are enhanced with SIP trunking.
- Integration of additional "third-party" developed SIP-enhanced services provides additional business and enterprise justification for SIP trunking. This means that organizations will be linked both vertically and horizontally via SIP trunking. Features and applications are just emerging, so stay tuned for exciting new features.
10 - Integration with traditional and virtual call centers
In addition, SIP Trunking supports applications such as automated (auto-dialing) outbound telemarketing or inbound order fulfillment. For the large enterprise with in-house or out-sourced call centers, SIP Trunking can connect them all together with free on-net toll-free calling and conference calling. Inbound or outbound call centers can be connected for normal or overflow call processing. SIP Trunking supports on-net, off-net, toll-free and conference calling. Inbound or outbound call centers can be connected via VTL-Virtual Tie-Lines for normal or overflow call processing. In other words, whether you are a large or small business, with or without call centers, providing simple high performance communications is increasingly critical to success – very cool.
10.1 SIP Trunking and TCO
SIP trunking is more than a suite of cool concepts. It offers a profound set of business benefits and lowers overall TCO. Speaking of TCO-Total Cost of Ownership, SIP Trunking can offer significant lower TCO and operational cost-savings for enterprises by eliminating:
- The need for local PSTN gateways from costly separate voice ISDN Basic Rate Interfaces (BRIs) or Primary Rate Interfaces (PRIs)and data circuits
- Multiple voice and data hardware systems
- Separate network management tools
- Conferencing and webseminar bridge services
- Domestic and international long distance charges
- Duplicate trunks for disaster backup (or rather add additional redundancy via multiple SIP gateways)
- The need to terminate via PSTN
SIP Trunking also opens up a vast array of new call processing concepts under development.
Cool Conclusion
The key benefits of SIP Trunking to the small or large enterprise are both cool and profound. For the large enterprise, reducing capital expenditures on multiple network gateways located throughout the world is also significant. That is, using provider/carrier gateways reduces corporate capital investment and operational costs. For the small enterprise, interconnection of individual offices with other providers, channel partners or home office workers reduces local trunk charges. There are other savings on carrier "per-minute" connections to local or long distance networks (which may depend on Public Utility Commission [PUC] approval).
While SIP Trunking is an emerging concept for many users, it now offers a broad range of really “cool” features and considerable business benefits available today.
About SimpleSignal
SimpleSignal is a facilities-based complete network provider of business VoIP and SIP Trunking. The company’s enterprise-grade service is designed specifically for small to medium sized businesses with four to 100 phones, combining voice and data, hosted PBX, long distance and conferencing into one powerful, cost effective communications solution.
SimpleSignal delivers more capabilities than on-premise PBX systems, with greater flexibility, simplicity, and personalized service. Now businesses of any size can leverage the power of advanced IP communications technology, improving business productivity, while significantly reducing overall telecom costs. SimpleSignal is privately held and headquartered in Dana Point, CA. SimpleSignal services are deployed in 31 states and 6 foreign countries. Interested channel partners can contact SimpleSignal directly by emailing sales@simplesignal.com or calling toll-free at 800.873.7670. SimpleSignal and SimpleSIP are service marks of SimpleSignal, Inc. More information can also be found on the SimpleSignal website at http://www.simplesignal.com.