subject: Sip Trunk Protocol [print this page] An SIP trunk is a way for companies to leverage their existing PBX systems to enable IP communication with the outside world. Unlike small businesses who can opt for a hosted VoIP solution from the start, large companies already have a telephone system that works and is integrated with the organization. Most firms will balk at the thought of giving it up for a new fangled technology which requires them to sacrifice their PSTN infrastructure and purchase new IP phones.
However, the benefits of VoIP can be tempting and fortunately, there is a way for these companies to get a taste of what VoIP can offer while retaining their existing systems. Though they won't get all the benefits of VoIP such as HD voice, they can realize cost savings immediately. In this article, we learn about what SIP trunking is and how it works.
The idea is simple. The most important component of the new system is a border element which sits at the point at which all telephone wires exit the system. This component converts all outgoing data into the IP equivalent. It's the key element which merges your PSTN PBX system with the digital world. Another component is of course, the ITSP or Internet Telephone Service Provider. This entity allows your calls to move through the Internet to the correct destination and interfaces the IP traffic back to the PSTN system if the number you're calling belongs to a traditional telephone network.
Another use of SIP trunking is when organizations already have an IP PBX system for internal use. These systems are already set up to handle calls between colleagues in the same organization, manage conferencing and even dial other offices in a different geographic location. SIP trunking allows such organizations to use their IP systems to make calls to the outside world easily. Many different vendors provide IP PBX systems and SIP trunking allows a much greater return on investment to be gathered from them.
Basically an IP trunk is a pipe that provides the means by which IP voice data can flow to telephone numbers outside the system. It includes gateway services for which the ITSP is paid on a regular basis. With proper management, an SIP trunk can completely replace all other communication systems leading to extreme cost savings and many improvements in workflow. Contact a VoIP service provider now to find out how SIP trunking can work for you.
