If you’re comparing options for upgrading your communications system, it’s likely you’ve encountered Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). VoIP benefits begin with the simple fact that calls are transmitted over the Internet, which reduces costs and simplifies communications for your company.
As you explore your options, you are likely also hearing an acronym for Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). A common question that comes up with a communications upgrade is, “What’s the difference between SIP and VoIP, and which is better?”
It’s not the most effective question to ask because these are not competing technologies. All calls that are made over the Internet are VoIP, and some of those calls are supported by SIP. VoIP uses data connectivity to transmit voice packets, rather than using the public switched telephone network (PTSN).
By contrast, SIP is a protocol that is used to initiate and maintain sessions in VoIP applications. It not only supports voice, but also video and messaging applications. While all SIP supports VoIP, SIP is just one of the ways that VoIP is supported.
A more effective way to evaluate your options is to compare only VoIP benefits versus the benefits you gain when that VoIP is supported by SIP:
VoIP-only Benefits:
VoIP-only Drawbacks:
VoIP Supported by SIP Benefits:
VoIP Supported by SIP Drawbacks:
As you can see, it’s impossible to compare SIP and VoIP benefits in terms of the technology competing with one another. Instead, think of VoIP as being supported by SIP and the additional features you can access with this technology.
Switching to a VoIP communications solution for your company can significantly reduce costs as well as open up opportunities for collaborative tools like video conferencing and shared workspaces. To learn more about how VoIP benefits companies like yours, contact us at Xceptional.