Sip Phone Service

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Call Cowboy Features
  • Apple | Android Apps
  • Desktop App
  • Voicemail Transcription
  • Multi Call Handling
  • Customized Greetings
  • Call Forwarding
  • Call Tracking | Reporting | Analytics
  • Business Texts
  • Voip | Wifi Calling
  • Inbound Call Control
  • VOIP Phone Numbers
  • Extensions
  • Call Transferring
  • Voicemail

SIP, short for Session Initiation Protocol, is a popular topic among business and IT departments hoping to expand their company's phone service beyond one location.

Businesses are switching to cloud-based phone systems more rapidly as they equip staff with communication tools. One of the most cost-effective options is using SIP-powered phone systems.

For many organizations, telecommunications expenses are low. Of the total expense allocated for communications, only 6% is used to maintain phone services. That amount also includes other tools such as Slack or Jira, which limits the amount that can be spent on phones themselves.

Looking to upgrade your telephony management for the best service? Let's dive into when and why you should switch to a Voice over IP, or VoIP, phone system.

What is SIP?

Session Initiation Protocol is a communication protocol that manages voice and video chats. SIP phones connect to the internet for this service rather than to an ordinary phone line, making it more reliable and secure.

The SIP protocol enables organizations to have unified communications across multiple methods, with basic phone capabilities being included. Organizations will utilize a SIP phone if they are looking for scalability and reliability. Additionally, companies using this method won't be limited only to voice calls as video and instant messaging can also be integrated into the system.

SIP was created in the 1990s and later standardized by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Its design had ambitious goals to reshape communication. It aimed to provide a signaling protocol that would be able to initiate any type of communications sessions, from phone calls all the way up through video conferences.

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What are the benefits of SIP phones?

Your office telephone is state-of-the-art technology, but a SIP phone gives callers increased functionality while maintaining the sleek, stylish appearance of an office phone. Along with making calls (just like your conventional phone), SIP phones can take and transfer them to different extensions.

The biggest reason IT leaders are drawn to this technology is because of the technical backend.

SIP Phone Connect to VoIP Service Without Hardware or Servers. As SIP phones don’t need the traditional hardware and installation process, they are cheaper to maintain.

Organizations are turning to phone services with VoIP features because they will not only save money but also time and hassle.

Top features of a SIP phone:

  • Basic and advanced call forwarding
  • Hold with optional music
  • Conference calling
  • HD phone calls
  • Auto-attendant
  • Call recording
  • Shared call appearance
  • Custom caller ID
  • Mobile and desktop app integration

What are the key differences between VoIP and SIP?

Voice Over Internet Protocol is a technology that allows you to make voice calls using your broadband Internet connection instead of traditional phone lines. VoIP became popular because it follows the widely accepted standards for internet communication which use digital signals transmitted across telephone systems to transmit audio data rather than analog audio signals.

VoIP can exist without SIP, but SIP offers the most compatibility over proprietary online calling software.

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What are the types of SIP phone?

There are two types of SIP phones: hard and soft. Both offer superior functionality over an analog phone, but they allow a person to do different things depending on their preferences. Whereas traditional, analog phones can only work with a fixed line phone system, cloud-based SIP phones can be used with either type of phone system

Hard Phones (Deskphones and Speakerphones)

A hard phone looks and behaves like a regular telephone.

SIP hard phones connect via Ethernet cables or in a cordless form, and they are popular among providers such as Poly, Cisco, Call Cowboy and Panasonic. Most of these desk phones offer similar features with slight differences.

All hard phones are not the same. They are classified into tiers: basic, intermediate, and advanced.

Basic VoIP phones are those in which you might find an agent or staff member at a contact center. With a dial pad and the ability to complete both external and internal phone calls, these devices combine affordability with simplicity.

Intermediary: A step up from basic, intermediate SIP hard phones provide more robust functionality such as a browsable directory with multiple extensions. On the physical level, these phones may have more buttons for extra VoIP features. These are often deployed across the workforce, with even employees who work from home being sent such a phone.

Advanced SIP hard phones can offer full-color displays, multiple extensions, and Wi-Fi or Bluetooth compatibility. The way these phones are designed make them more aesthetically pleasing to company executives. Also, because applications can be accessed through their displays, instead of physical buttons, there’s less need for a lot of physical buttons.

One limitation of landline phones is that they are stationary. Over half the United States workforce predicted to work remotely over the coming years, and businesses are looking into low-cost alternatives for desk phones.

Softphones have emerged as a practical solution for phone callers dealing with unique office conditions.

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Softphones (VoIP apps & Calling Software)

Softphones are programs that give users phone service through a software program installed on their desktop or laptop. Once the app is downloaded, connect your headset to your microphone for the best calling experience.

A softphone may be installed by administrators or by users in a self-service format. IT leaders considering using this type of technology must think about how it will affect their network usage.

Phone calls placed using a softphone can't be identified readily from other network applications, which can make them difficult to tune out--especially for those whose company mandates that all staff who work on site have a VPN connection. But VoIP speed tests are an effective way of evaluating connection health and will reveal issues related to bandwidth or latency in conversations if they

When employees are using their softphones, they might experience a decrease in battery life on their cell phone. In addition to this, when network bandwidth changes calls will still maintain high quality by adapting to the changing conditions. These factors mean that IT leaders need to plan ahead before deploying these softphone apps for their employee use.

How SIP-based telephony works

SIP devices can seem daunting at first, as they use a very similar set of commands to how HTTP web pages work. Remember that average users never have to mess with these types of instructions—they happen automatically.

When you make a call from your SIP phone, the device will notify the SIP server it's connected to. In this case, a SIP server is your business VoIP service Call Cowboy.

The SIP server will initiate contact with another extension or the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and then patch the phone call together.

During the call, an SIP server and a phone will negotiate in real-time on quality of service (QoS) levels

Benefits of SIP phones

If you are a business owner and looking for ways to save money, upgrading your phone system to one that uses SIP may be an excellent option.

  • Depending on your local telephone company can be frustrating.
  • This phone requires minimal maintenance and gives you plenty of configuration options if desired.
  • Create connections between employees across the company, including remote staff.
  • Encrypting phone calls will make it harder for eavesdroppers to listen in on your conversations.
  • Cloud-based management of your phone system means you can have features and updates delivered instantly.

The primary purpose for your company’s SIP phone based solutions should play a more significant role than the title of which type of device is selected. Consider how your employees use their phones to communicate, as some need to project their image with more powerful devices even if they are not required by their position.

There's an affordable SIP phone that will help your entire business communicate more effectively. Forget about frantically looking for a charging cable for your iPhone with 10% of battery remaining. Just pull the call to your desk phone and breathe easier.

Top Business SIP Phones from Call Cowboy

To help you through your next telephony technology investment, we have put together a quick comparison guide of the top SIP phones available on the market today. Just a few notes to keep in mind:

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