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What the heck IS a SIP trunk anyway?
They only work with an IP enabled PBX in a business environment, so aren't used in residential applications (unless you gotta LOT of kids on the phone)
So SIP is Session Initiated Protocol, this is basically Geek for a "computer language that carries your voice over an internet or MPLS connection to make a phone call". It's not that complicated once you understand what you need to use SIP VoIP:
1. You need an IP PBX, you cannot use SIP with other VoIP devices.
2. You need to have a quality Internet connection, or perhaps an MPLS WAN set up for branch to branch calling if this is your need.
3. You must have a quality SIP provider, because we get what we pay for, and we don't want to sound like Yoda or Yogi Bear.
When do we use SIP Trunking?
The main business drivers for SIP VoIP is the same as any larger scale VoIP deployment - to save money.
First off, let's not forget the fundamental way VoIP saves us money is CONVERGING our voice and internet data on one pipe, generally a dedicated T1 or larger, mission critical type circuit. Then we get to fire the phone company and they can take those old expensive lines (or PRIs) with them.
By using SIP trunks, we can many times reduce the number of "talk paths" we need coming into our facility compared to "old phone technology", thus cutting costs even further.
A by product of almost any VoIP deployment is "dynamic bandwidth allocation" this means we're delivering the VoIP over our internet pipe, and when we're not talking on the phone, the entire internet pipe is available for our use.
Additional economies of scale occur when we realize the MORE Branches we have, the MORE we can consolidate the required lines, many times bringing all the lines (SIP trunks) into a centralized location, and then firing the phone company and all their expensive lines at each location.
A good example of this is a regional bank. Ever noticed how you always call just one number, but you can get to any of the eight branches? That's because they're using SIP trunks, all the branches are connected together using either an internet VPN or an MPLS WAN and everyone is an extension off this one PBX back at the main branch.
How do we buy SIP trunks?
There are many flavors and permutations. Basically the wisest thing to do is have "one throat to choke" when it comes to this stuff.
This means, try and find a provider that will deliver a reasonably priced dedicate internet connection, and the SIP trunks all in one package. This way if anything ever doesn't work, you make one call.
Of course, you could also have an issue with your "phone guy" and the IP PBX itself, but it's much more likely to be the VoIP or internet service itself.
Other options are using a Telecom Broker. These folks really know the ins and outs (or they should) of VoIP and SIP in general, and also specific providers in your area.
Telecom Brokers shop the market, so you don't have too, and in conjunction with your PBX distributor should be able to fashion a great solution that both saves money and is every bit as reliable as your existing "old" phone service, just less expensive and more efficient!
How does SIP pricing work?
Well, again, lots of options here, and generally you get what you pay for. Most good providers will be unlimited INBOUND minutes, and then metered OUTBOUND calling. We do away with long distance charges, because every call is counted against our minutes.
Most providers will bundle say 500 outbound minutes on each SIP trunk, and then aggregate the minutes across the entire platform. So 10 SIP trunks will have 5,000 outbound minutes - call across the street or across the country.
This equates to like 83 hours OUTBOUND a month, so even if you had 20 people at the business, they would each have to be making a solid 30 minutes of outbound calls a day to use all this SIP, probably not gonna happen, unless you're a call center - and they have different pricing and needs.
Even so, if you make a lot of long distance calls, then SIP will be cheaper per "line" and also per minute anyway, shop it around, and don't forget the INBOUND is always free anyway.
Long and the short of it, don't be too worried that it's not "unlimited" outbound calling, it's virtually unlimited.
Some SIP providers call it unlimited anyway, and then tag you if you are a call center; it's in their agreement, in the fine print. Again, use a broker to determine what you need and who's the best provider for you.
Well, that's about it for SIP trunks, SIP VoIP and all that cool SIP stuff.
Go out, get yourself an IP PBX and just SIP it!
Got more SIP VoIP questions?
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