Many businesses are moving forward and choosing telephony technology such as VoIP or SIP phone systems. These systems are enabling companies to cut down on their communication costs. Nexgen Australia is able to advise which system would suit your business. Here are some of the differences between VoIP and SIP phone systems.
What Does VoIP and SIP Mean?
SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol whilst VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. SIP and VoIP are simply ways of communicating via the internet. They can both be used to make or take phone calls. SIP has the added feature of being able to send and receive different kinds of media. These include voice data and video mediums which can be shared to multiple devices.
Set up Differentiates These Phone Systems
SIP is more of a business grade voice solution and is a little trickier to set up and maintain, but as your company grows you will appreciate the benefits. For this reason it’s better suited to a company with 5+ employees. Whereas small businesses can benefit from VoIP as they usually have very few locations.
SIP can handle a high volume of data flow because processing is not centralised. This makes SIP perfect for businesses with several locations or employees that work remotely and require multimedia communication. VoIP, however, becomes overloaded with large volumes of data which results in delayed communication. Essentially VoIP is suitable for small businesses that primarily use voice calls from limited locations.
There Are Physical Differences
There are physical differences in the way that you use each of the systems. VoIP handsets also known as VoIP phones, must be linked to a computer to make or take calls. The computer also needs to be turned on to use this connection. This differs from the SIP handsets or phones as a computer isn’t required. A modem is all that’s needed to be able to use.
Their Interaction With Other Protocols Set Them Apart
A significant variance between SIP and VoIP is how they interact with other protocols. SIP has the upper hand due to its ability to adapt its signalling protocol to match that of the client system. This makes communication more flexible and robust for the SIP user.
SIP and VoIP Aren’t Mutually Exclusive
It isn’t simply a choice between SIP and VoIP. VoIP relates to a bunch of protocol technologies that allow calls to be made via the internet. SIP is just one of the protocols that support VoIP. SIP is the technology that facilitates communication through phone calls which can be made on a VoIP phone.
VoIP and SIP are defined by the Type of Media They Transmit
VoIP only has the capacity to carry voice messages which is appropriate in some workplaces. SIP can carry all sorts of media including voice messages. Through data networks SIP can transmit voice, data and video content. With SIP the ability to communicate using various mediums means users can make voice and video calls online. There are applications who offer this service for free which gives SIP an advantage over VoIP.
The Differences Between VoIP and SIP in the Workplace
A call centre is a great example to see how SIP and VoIP affect a work situation. VoIP causes the call centre’s server to be very busy and any increase in workload which can overpower the system. SIP takes the stress off the busy server moving most of the workload onto the agents systems. By distributing the workload in this way, a call centre that uses SIP is only restricted by their total bandwidth.
Ultimately VoIP is a means of making voice calls via the internet and SIP is a technology than can make this happen. SIP can handle higher data volumes so you can communicate through different forms of media from multiple locations. Whereas VoIP becomes overloaded and is best suited to voice calls from fewer locations.
SIP handsets require a modem, whilst VoIP handsets need to be connected to a computer. SIP is able to adapt to other protocols, whereas VoIP doesn’t have this flexibility. It isn’t really a choice between VoIP and SIP as SIP is a protocol that allows you to use VoIP. If you have any questions about these phone systems the team at Nexgen Australia are ready to assist you.
