Not every person is aware of the existence of SIP telephony. Those who are familiar with it are completely satisfied with its work, since this type of communication is charged at a fairly favorable rate. If desired, it is possible to make free calls using SIP telephony within the territory of the Russian Federation - through calls within the network and using promotional offers from providers.
What is SIP telephony and what are its functional features for users, we will look at in this article. Aspects will be discussed below:
- SIP telephony work;
- Connections to the service;
- Connection requirements;
- Tariffs for communication services.
After reading, you will appreciate the advantages of SIP communications and telephony.
What is SIP communication technology
For many years, telephone conversations took place in the format of the usual telephony standard. In some places, communication is carried out via copper cable, while remote areas are equipped with fiber optic cables and data transmission via satellite. These methods are included in the concept of standard telephone communication, which is highly charged even for calls within the country.
Later, the Internet was invented, which today has spread throughout the world. The main advantage of the Internet is that it does not occur to network subscribers to think about the distribution of traffic and the route of node connections of their PC when wandering around the web. They pay for unlimited, even if its route lies across half the globe. This advantage was used when creating SIP telephony - if the network signal is transmitted unlimitedly and without reference to geography, then it is possible to establish voice transmission?
The initial formats of digital telephone communication lagged behind modern ones and were an additional component of the usual telephone communication. Later, the SIP protocol was developed, which implemented most of the author's plans. Using SIP telephony, you can broadcast information in voice form, arrange conference calls, send contact information and carry out service mailings.
Advantages of SIP telephony:
- There is no connection to geography - subscribers have the ability to connect to the SIP communication network from anywhere on the planet without changing the tariffs for communication services. For example, leaving with your PC to Japan, the USA or the Southern Hemisphere will not hurt you from logging into the network from there, activating the number on your PC and communicating as if you never left.
- Free calls within the network - similar to the same Skype, within which users talk absolutely free, regardless of the geographic location of the interlocutor.
- Low cost of calls to cell and landline phones of any country - IP communications in SIP format are switched via the Internet, which has no interstate barriers, unlike conventional telephone communications using internal lines.
- Option to assign a number that specifically receives incoming calls from traditional communication networks. At the same time, the presence of a number does not imply attachment to location coordinates - you can easily link a city number to your account and go to anywhere in the world without changing its codes and numbers.
- There is software for any operating system - the client can activate the software for SIP format on a PC with pre-installed operating systems of any type, smartphones, tablet devices and familiar cellular handsets that support Java scripts.
- A wide range of communication services - forwarding and forwarding, holding and standby, as well as other additional services.
Digium
Company Description:
Are you looking for a service that can help you reduce costs, make it easier to scale, and provide a reliable solution for your voice and telephony operations? Digium's SIP trunk may be the ideal choice. Their solution is aimed at helping businesses that are experiencing high monthly phone bills, paying for incoming phone lines, or find that they are paying a huge amount for long distance service.
Digium's SIP solution is scalable and reliable and works with most modern phones. You can transfer and use your old phone numbers or provide new toll-free and local numbers to all your team members at an affordable price through Digium.
Pricing:
Digium SIP trunking services can be paid either per minute or per channel. Their SIP trunking plan costs $0.015 per minute and channel services cost $22.95 per month.
How SIP telephony works
How is a call made using SIP telephony? A physical (hardware) or virtual (PC program) SIP phone, already equipped with connection parameters to the service provider, connects to the server, which determines the call path. This server sends a request to the redirecting server to provide information about which server to connect to for the connection. At the same time, the location of subscribers is requested.
Once the connection is established, the called user receives a call on his physical or virtual phone.
This is a schematic representation of a communication system; in life it happens in more complex and detailed ways. At the same time, the connection time takes several seconds, generally the call arrives almost instantly after sending the call request - SIP systems operate at high speed.
As it became clear to the reader, for SIP telephony to function, you need an Internet connection and the presence of a physical or virtual phone . Having registered with a suitable service provider, the user is assigned an ID in the form of a digital combination, with the help of which on-net calls are made (usually free). It is possible to make calls to subscribers of other networks - this requires a URI. This is a combination of user ID and provider address. In addition, users are provided with familiar phone numbers in the following formats:
- Direct - they look like a familiar number linked to a city and sometimes international code. Calls from cellular operators and landline phones are made no different from regular telephony calls.
- Virtual with an additional digital combination - users are directed to the number of the service provider, after connecting they receive an additional digital balance, similar to calls to industrial PBXs.
- Free 8-800 – popular among service operators and contact centers.
- Private (not corporate) clients use the first 2 items from the list.
- Virtual numbers can be found in sufficient quantities in large populated areas of the Russian Federation.
Entering number combinations in SIP telephony is carried out similarly to cellular telephony - with a country code.
Vonage
Company Description:
Vonage is a powerhouse in the cell phone industry. The company offers a range of plans for VoIP businesses that allow businesses to secure their own toll-free number and take advantage of the advanced mobile features the company offers. Their features include a robust mobile app, desktop app, conferencing, online meetings, video conferencing, file sharing, multi-level auto attendant, CRM integration, call recording, group calls, and visual voicemail.
Pricing:
Vonage offers three different business phone plans that cost $19.99, $29.99, and $39.99 per month, respectively. Each step offers additional features. However, if you are simply looking for SIP trunking, you will need to request a quote.
Cost of SIP telephony
It has already been mentioned that calls within the service provider’s network are made completely free of charge. Incoming calls are also often not paid for by the receiving party. Additional options, long-distance and international outgoing calls are subject to payment. Tariffing for these calls is calculated depending on the place of reception - calls to a number of countries are sometimes lower in price than within Russia.
With the help of SIP telephony, calls within the country can be free - just monitor the promotional offers of providers. In addition, free calls can be made using special forms on the resources of telephony providers, but these calls have a time limit. For example, the SIPNET provider limits the conversation to 1.5 minutes, after which it offers paid services. Although this time is enough to evaluate the quality of the service. You can find out the call tariffs on the website of the desired service provider. Assignment of direct numbers is charged separately.
To reduce the cost of calls within the country, it is recommended to check with the supplier for the availability of a package of minutes for sale - the majority of SIP communication providers offer such a product.
Bandwidth
Company Description:
Do you want to combine your long-distance and international communication services into a single channel? This is exactly what SIP Bandwidth trunking service provides. Using dynamic bandwidth allocation, their SIP trunking service is delivered over the Layer 1 network. Their plans include a wide range of features including inbound and outbound calling, toll-free support, domestic and international long distance calling, 24/7 network operations centers, and e9-1-1 support.
Bandwidth allows companies to save money while improving their operations and expanding their reach. If you want a solution that is affordable but has all the attributes of powerful SIP trunking, then Bandwidth is a great choice.
Prices:
SIP trunking bandwidth plans depend on a number of factors. They charge per number, per incoming and outgoing minute, and per incoming and outgoing message. Their solution grows with your business.
How to connect to a SIP connection
How to independently join SIP telephony and enjoy cheap calls around the globe? You will need:
- Registration and account in the network of any SIP communication provider (for example, Zadarma - provides excellent services at a competitive price).
- Phone for SIP – virtual or physical (device). The first one is provided free of charge, the second one will have to be purchased. An alternative is a device included in an IP gateway.
- Internet with a connection of at least 64 kbit.
After registering with the supplier, you need to log into Help on the website and open help in telephone setup. The configuration manipulations involve entering the names of the provider's servers and specifying registration data. Once you finish setting up, you will be able to make calls. To make calls within the Russian Federation, be sure to deposit funds into your account balance.
To increase communication comfort, we recommend purchasing VOIP . With this phone you can make and receive calls without a PC and a microphone with headphones. The most comfortable cordless handsets in this category. An alternative step is to use VOIP on your smartphone.
Clients for Android and iOS
Most of the programs discussed above also support work on mobile devices. Let's look at several applications for Android and IOS.
Name | Free use | Video support | Conference call | Other options |
Zoiper | + | + | + | Statistics |
CSIP Simple | + | + | Encryption | |
Discord | + | + | Overlay | |
3CXPhone | + | + | Speed dial |
The considered programs are available for IOS and Android on the pages in the AppStore and Google Play Market.
CenturyLink
Company Description:
CenturyLink provides all the benefits of a national SIP trunking service. Using one easy-to-manage network, they enable companies to optimize voice and data. CenturyLink packages are flexible and priced per location.
CenturyLink's service allows businesses to pay for only what they need, when they need it, with added flexibility to scale during peak seasons or as their business grows. You can dynamically allocate bandwidth to meet business needs. CenturyLink's services are priced using quotes through contact with their sales team.
Prices:
CenturyLink requires that you contact their sales department to obtain a quote. You can do this by filling out the contact form or calling them directly.
Verizon
Company Description:
Verizon allows companies to run their VoIP services over a SIP-based backbone to help companies control their costs and improve their efficiency internally. Verizon boasts that they make it easy for companies to upgrade while still providing all the features of your current IP PBX system, meaning employees don't have to be retrained for a new system.
The scalability that Verizon's network offers certainly makes them a great choice for large or growing companies. You can be more flexible and efficient with the fast, reliable network provided by Verizon.
Prices:
Verizon rates per minute. To find out more, you need to contact their sales team by filling out the contact form to receive a quote.
CloudPhone
Company Description:
CloudPhone takes all the features of an advanced hardware system and makes it available to cloud companies. Each plan includes a free business number and works with any cell phone or landline you already have. Their plans include a virtual receptionist that can automatically answer, route and play messages so you don't have to stop business every time a call comes in.
If your company is concerned about efficiency, CloudPhone is a service that prides itself on features that improve efficiency and allow businesses to improve their telephony experience without having to slow down their business in other areas.
Prices:
CloudPhone's basic plan is $24.99 per month and includes 1 number, two extensions, and one virtual receptionist. Their largest plan is $64.99 per month and offers 10 numbers, unlimited extensions, unlimited virtual receptionists, conference calling, office hours, greetings, and call recording.
AT&T
Company Description:
If you want to use a SIP trunking solution from a reputable nationwide provider, AT&T SIP trunking plans can be a great choice. They offer a variety of plans to suit specific business needs. Calling Plan A is a long-distance calling plan that offers unlimited on-net calling between VoIP-enabled sites at a per-minute rate.
AT&T also offers both a local and long-distance plan that supports E911 calling, as well as a local and long-distance package that offers 300 minutes of outgoing US network calling for each simultaneous call. Their centralized call delivery system allows businesses to save money while scaling their phone services.
Pricing: AT&T SIP trunking services are priced on a per-minute basis. They require you to fill out a contact form to speak with one of their experts.
Twilio
Company Description:
Do you need a business phone solution that can scale with your rapidly growing company? Twilio's elastic SIP trunking service provides global connectivity for VoIP infrastructure and can be deployed in minutes. Their flexible SIP trunking service is designed specifically for scalability and is used by over 50,000 companies today.
Twilio's SIP service provides instant global scaling with flexible pricing and unlimited bandwidth. Features included in their plans include redundant routing, voice analytics with Twilio Voice Insights, and enterprise features such as quality monitoring and alert triggers. If you need a scalable SIP trunking solution, Twilio is a great choice for a growing business.
Pricing:
Twilio prices are paid. For local phone numbers, their prices start at $0.0045 per minute and $0.0180 per minute for toll-free numbers. Twilio offers several pricing plans that may appeal to businesses with varying levels of usage.
Momentum
Company Description:
Momentum provides SIP trunking services that are easy to integrate and give businesses the flexibility they need to operate during peak seasons or grow their business over time. Designed to complement your existing business telephony system, Momentum systems can be deployed quickly.
Momentum's SIP system allows companies to add additional features as needed, increase the mobility of their business voice operations, and gain advanced management tools that help them better monitor and understand their usage.
Prices:
Momentum requires you to contact their sales team to receive your quote. This can be done by calling them directly.
Nextiva
Company Description:
Want to save money while growing your company? Nextiva allows you to reduce your business's communications costs by adding SIP trunks to your current PBX equipment with instant deployment in the cloud. You can instantly convert your traditional phone system to VoIP solutions.
Nextiva also offers all-inclusive plans that eliminate per-minute or cross-channel charges. If you want to preserve your PBX hardware and reduce your voice costs, Nextiva provides a simple, reliable service that connects your PBX system directly to the cloud.
Prices:
Nextiva offers two SIP plans.
Their plan is $14.95 per month with an additional $0.008 per minute. The Unlimited plan is $24.95 per month for unlimited calling. Both plans offer all of Nextiva's available SIP trunking features. Publication date: 03/25/2020