Why WOULDN’T I choose SIP Trunks?
SIP Trunks (also commonly referred to as SIP phone lines) aren’t a brand-new piece of technology, they have been around for some time. Historically, they weren’t the strongest option but times have changed considerably. SIP Trunks ans business trunking phone systems are fast becoming the best alternative to ISDN.
Why are people hesitant to move to SIP Phone Lines even with the ISDN Switch-off?
People have long memories. Do you remember Skype? That was one of the first uses of IP technology and the quality of calls was terrible. Essentially it didn’t have the required bandwidth available (or it was expensive) and that meant it wasn’t a stable solution.
SIP has come a long way since those days.
SIP Trunking now runs via private IP networks rather than the internet itself and they are ideal for an on-premise or hosted solution for a telephone system. They use virtual phone lines rather than physical wires.
Pros of SIP Trunks
- Save Money on call costs and line rental – IP connectivity costs less than ISDN so you’ll benefit from lower call costs; free internal calls between sites and free calls to UK local/national and mobiles. Typically, you are looking for saving of up to 50% on line rental and 25% or more on call costs.
- Flexibility with phone numbers – SIP trunking enables you to reduce the number of PBX’s you need to maintain whilst maintaining your existing phone number(s) regardless if you move office.
- Scalability – SIP Trunks are perfect if you are growing (or even downsizing) and you want to retain your phone numbers. You are always in control because you can easily, add or remove phone lines and split calls at any time.
- Business Continuity – If your office needs to be relocated, SIP trunking allows you to take your phone lines with you quickly and cost-effectively.
Cons of SIP Trunks
There are only 3 and they are more like considerations rather than cons.
- Bandwidth – To maintain a good quality voice call and be able to receive concurrent phone calls, you need to have a good amount of bandwidth. If you choose a supplier like us, we actually assure your circuits which means you are guaranteed your call quality and the number of lines you need.
- Compatibility – Your phone system needs to be compatible, if it isn’t then, of course, you can still utilise SIP phone lines but you’ll need to upgrade to a business trunking phone system.
- Security – This really shouldn’t be an issue as long as it is configured correctly and has the right firewalls.
So, should I choose to move to SIP Trunks?
We were one of the early-adopters of SIP phone lines (2006!) and we know how far the technology has come. As long as you look at the considerations, above and take them into consideration, then, yes, it is a good alternative to the likes of ISDN. If you don’t have ISDN in place, a hosted solution might be the best choice but that depends on the business and existing infrastructure.