Best SIP Trunk Providers

SIP Trunk Guide

SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol. Trunking is a term that refers to the network of lines and switches required to place phone calls over long distances.

Trunking was first developed to support the installation and use of traditional "land" phone lines. For anyone old enough to remember party lines, originally this technology was quite basic. Then land lines became more sophisticated to allow each caller to have their own dedicated line.

Today, there is an even more sophisticated version of this technology that involves the internet. This is the virtual trunk line - also called SIP Trunking. SIP is the technology that creates a virtual version of the traditional trunk line to enable VoIP to work. The SIP virtual trunk line uses the internet to connect to the main PSTN, or Public Switched Telephone Network, so users can place and receive calls virtually both locally and around the world.

With a traditional phone line, users rely on actual physical phone lines equipped with a series of switches and circuits that relay a phone call from one region to the next until it reaches its intended destination.

The virtual equivalent uses SIP trunk lines run through your IP address to allow phone calls using voice, video and the internet to place calls.

VoIP and PBX technology has allowed phone, video and messaging options to expand far beyond what traditional landline phone service could ever provide. SIP signaling has opened up wonderful new options to connect people for personal and workplace communications.

Best of all, SIP, VoIP and PBX technology has drastically reduced the cost to place and receive phone calls. It has also lifted the restrictions on where those calls can be placed and received from. There is no more having to get to a location where there is a land phone to place and receive calls. Calls in multimedia format can be placed and received from anywhere an internet signal exists.

In terms of cost, any SIP call is classified as a local call regardless of whether the actual number being dialed is local, national or international. Each SIP virtual call connection is made possible by technology called the SIP URI, or unique virtual address.

Most business VoIP packages offer SIP services in addition to other business services tailored to the needs of small, medium or large businesses. SIP VoIP allows even startups and solopreneur ships to launch and maintain a professional yet affordable operation in any area where they wish to do business.

SIP Trunking Overview

With SIP trunking, existing telephone and Unified Communications (UC) connections are made using an existing IP address and network. There is no longer a need for physical trunk lines. SIP trunk lines allow VoIP calls to place and receive calls on any PSTN phone using a hosted PBX system.

There are actually only three required elements for establishing an economical, professional, turnkey SIP VoIP system: a SIP provider (service supplier), a SIP-enabled phone system and a switch or firewall to serve as the border connecting your in-house network to an external IP network.

Features of SIP Trunk Providers

• Cost Savings: SIP trunking provides a cost-effective solution that can significantly reduce long distance and international call charges. SIP trunks are typically billed on a usage basis, but many providers offer flat-rate packages for all outbound traffic, which can help to save money on long-distance calls.
• Scalability: SIP trunking is highly scalable and offers businesses the flexibility to easily configure their existing PBX systems for more capacity in line with their changing business needs. Additional trunks can be quickly activated as required and overall costs remain fixed throughout the month.
• Business Continuity & Reliability: By using multiple redundant connections between your business and your service provider, SIP Trunking ensures that uninterrupted telephone communication is always available in the event of any outage or failure of the service provider's network.
• Enhanced Security: The latest encryption technology is used to secure data transmitted via SIP trunks, making it one of the most secure telecommunication methods available today. With end-to-end encryption, businesses are less likely to suffer from malicious attacks or eavesdropping attempts that can cause disruption to their services.
• Flexible Configuration: Most providers offer flexible configuration options that allow businesses to tailor their telephone system according to their individual requirements, such as selecting specific codecs (the way audio is compressed), determining call routing paths and setting up emergency calling capabilities.
• Unified Communications & Collaboration: The integration of voice and data communications provides a range of unified communication features such as video conferencing, presence information sharing and voicemail transcription – helping businesses stay connected anywhere in the world at any time.
• Easy Deployment & Maintenance: Implementation of SIP trunking is relatively simple and straightforward, with minimal or no additional hardware or software required. Additionally, most providers offer ongoing technical support to ensure that any issues can be quickly resolved.

What Types of SIP Trunk Providers Are There?

• Traditional Phone Company IPS Trunk Providers: These are companies that provide voice services over their own networks, such as Voice over IP (VoIP). They often offer a variety of features and pricing options.
• Cloud-Based SIP Trunk Providers: These providers provide their services over the internet and can often be used with your existing internet connection. They typically have flexible pricing structures and may offer add-on services such as toll-free numbers.
• Business VoIP Service Providers: Business VoIP service providers typically include SIP trunking as part of their overall package, but are focused on providing voice services to business customers. They often include additional features such as conferencing solutions, number portability, and more.
• Small Business SIP Trunk Providers: These providers specialize in offering cost-effective solutions for small businesses who don't need all the bells and whistles offered by other providers. They may also have smaller bandwidth requirements, making them ideal for businesses with limited resources.
• Professional Services Companies: Professional services companies offer managed SIP trunking solutions to larger organizations that require enterprise-level features or customization options. They usually work in conjunction with telecom carriers to ensure an optimal solution is provided to customers.
• International SIP Trunk Providers: These providers provide services across multiple countries and often specialize in providing solutions to multinational organizations. They may offer additional features such as multi-channel conferencing, call routing, and more.

SIP Trunk Providers Trends

1. Increased Flexibility and Efficiency: SIP trunking providers are offering increased flexibility and efficiency to businesses of all sizes. This includes features such as virtual numbers, toll-free numbers, and multiple trunking options.
2. Expansion to Cloud Services: Many SIP trunk providers are now offering cloud-based services that enable businesses to better manage their communications. This includes features such as auto-provisioning, call routing, and web conferencing.
3. Improved Security: With the rise of cyber-attacks, SIP trunk providers are now offering improved security features to protect their customers’ data and communications. These include encryption, authentication protocols, and secure networks.
4. Scalability: As businesses expand or contract, SIP trunk providers are able to adjust their services accordingly. This ensures that customers always have access to the services they need without sacrificing quality or reliability.
5. Cost Savings: By eliminating the need for expensive on-site hardware and infrastructure, SIP trunk providers enable businesses to save on operational costs while still maintaining reliable communication services.
6. Unified Communications: SIP trunk providers are now offering unified communications services that enable businesses to manage their voice, video, and data communications from one platform. This includes features such as presence, instant messaging, and collaboration tools.
7. Mobility: SIP trunking providers are now offering mobile-friendly services that enable businesses to access their communication services from any device, anywhere. This includes features such as call forwarding and voicemail transcription.
8. Increased Reliability: SIP trunk providers are now offering increased reliability by using redundant networks and backup systems to ensure that services remain available even in the event of an outage.
9. Advanced Analytics: SIP trunk providers are now offering advanced analytics to help customers better understand and manage their communication services. This includes features such as call history tracking and usage analytics.

SIP Trunking Advantages

Imagine a solopreneur working away in their spare bedroom or basement, launching their startup one day at a time. With SIP trunking, no one other than the solopreneur themselves has to ever know they are a one-person operation.

Now imagine an international corporation with offices spread out across the globe. This Fortune 100 company is able to receive, place and route callers all around the world for a price not unlike what the solopreneur is paying.

Best of all, both companies and all the ones in between can have a selection of phone numbers attached to their operations with different area codes and country codes - yet still pay local prices for all of these calls.

This is only possible with SIP VoIP technology.

SIP is flexible

Want to add a line? No problem. No longer need a particular number? Just log in to the dedicated web portal and delete it. In this way, SIP is fast and flexible to keep budgeting lean and competitive everywhere a company does business.

SIP is robust

In an era where unprecedented natural disasters, storms and erratic weather is plaguing traditional landline communications, SIP trunking is able to quickly and seamlessly adapt to changeable weather conditions by simple rerouting calls using available virtual networks.

SIP is affordable

SIP hardware and software is sleek and simple. One small suite of tools can run the solopreneurship or international corporation with equal ease.

SIP is resilient

SIP can use any available internet connection to place or re-route calls depending on the business's needs and operational changes. And existing SIP numbers can travel wherever that business needs to go.

SIP is always available

SIP trunking offers flexible pricing plans to make free international calls.

Business Communications Improve With SIP Trunking

Thanks to new virtual SIP trunking technology, communication options are now limitless. There is never a need to purchase a new land-locked trunk line with more phone lines than the company needs or will ever use.

SIP trunking is also eminently scalable by as little as a single phone number if need be.

SIP trunking can combine everything a business needs to establish and maintain internal and external communications in one single service: video, data, messaging, voice, local, long-distance and international calls, broadband internet and more is routed through a single network.

Dynamic bandwidth also manages web and phone needs in real time to ensure consistent speed and up-time for all required services.

SIP technology could be viewed as the phone equivalent of SaaS (software as a service) since the company has zero requirements or responsibilities for purchasing, installing, updating, repairing and maintaining any type of in-house hardware.

Rather, the SIP provider handles all of those needs and simply activates a SIP proxy server to handle calling needs.

Service outages cease to be concerned with the switch to SIP technology. Even unanticipated power loss requires only an instant reroute to a different satellite office and calling can continue uninterrupted.

This is a particularly advantageous benefit for companies that operate internationally or remotely. There is no longer a need to maintain local offices here, there and everywhere with the connectivity afforded by SIP trunking.

SIP Trunking vs. the Alternative

It doesn't take much for the data costs to start adding up with multiple connection lines. But with SIP, all data can be sent through a single connection point.

There is no hardware or software to purchase, install, repair or maintain, removing the need to employ on-site repair technicians or designate office space for the same.

This is why SIP trunking trims costs by approximately 25 percent automatically - and that is without factoring in the lower calling rates and free international calling plans. VoIP to VoIP calling is also free.

PRI (Primary Rate Interface) trunking is the most common alternative to SIP since the technology is older. Many companies are just now beginning to upgrade from PRI to SIP. With the upgrade, companies no longer have to pay for T1 lines to multiple locations. Unlike SIP, PRI trunking can also be impacted by inclement weather.

The SIP vs PRI guide explains more about the differences.

Finding The Best SIP Trunk Solution for Your Needs

SIP providers are not all created equally. Take into consideration the following:

• SIP Network - The best SIP providers host and run their own networks.
• SIP Security - SIP Security ensures all data and voice transmissions take place behind a robust firewall, anti-fraud encryption and a bulletproof virtual network.
• SIP Number Porting - The top SIP service providers offer the option to port (keep) existing phone numbers even when business logistics change.
• SIP Customer Care - The best SIP providers offer 24/7 access to their customer care and technical support hotlines.
• SIP Pricing - Each SIP provider has the freedom to develop their own customized service packages and offerings. Cheapest isn't always best and most expensive doesn't always mean better.

Getting Started with SIP

SIP success starts with choosing the right resources.

These are the basic requirements to get started with SIP.

1. Router.
2. Firewall.
3. Setup supports translation for port addresses and static mappings for ports.
4. FQDN (fully qualified domain name) that resolves to a static external IP.
5. Bandwidth from 30-120 kb/sec.

VoIP Account Setup

1. Choose the SIP-compatible VoIP provider that meets your business needs and create your account.
2. Firewall Test - SIP routing hinges on proper firewall setup and configuration. In particular, the firewall must be compatible with the SIP port and the audio port range.
3. Activate and Configure Your VoIP Account - VoIP account configuration ensures your SIP trunking service has the right settings for your geographic location(s) and the phone numbers you wish to use.
4. Create VoIP Account Name - The name you choose for the VoIP account should match with the server hostname and outbound proxy details given by your VoIP provider. The number of simultaneous calls permitted should match the limitations of your plan.
5. Your IP or VoIP registration details will establish authentication, after which you can route the main number and add each DID number that will be linked to your account. Select and set the main phone number that will be associated with your caller ID.

Set Outbound Rules for Call Routing

SIP service gives you the flexibility to choose what types of calls can be routed through your SIP trunk. These are called "outbound rules" and they must be created at the time you set up your service.

You can route calls through gateways or SIP trunks. Different individuals or groups, numbers or calling codes may be best served by one or the other. Assign permissions to each individual or group, number or calling code.

Set self-explanatory names for each of the outbound calling rules so that each department is clear about what belongs to whom. Clearly state the elements that trigger call routing by department.

Here is an example: For groups of numbers that share a prefix, calls that come in from certain groups of extensions or calls that go out to certain groups of extensions or numbers can be grouped into different elements triggering different rules.

The route dialogue should state three key components: how each outbound call is to be routed, which gateway applies and how each is connected to the SIP trunk.

In some cases, you can also establish a backup or alternate set of outbound rules that will trigger when the primary route set becomes unavailable for some reason. The prepend option is the right tool to use to set up an alternate set of rules for each route that needs a backup.

Along with immediately noticeable overhead reduction and company-wide cost savings, making the choice to switch to SIP trunking will simplify and streamline intra-company communications as well as external customer care and support.

SIP trunking is the voice technology of the future. Opting in now places your company in the forefront to maximize flexibility, resilience and profitability amidst the ongoing uncertainties of the global marketplace.

How to Choose the Right SIP Trunk Provider

Compare SIP trunk providers according to cost, capabilities, integrations, user feedback, and more using the resources available on this page.

1. Research Multiple Providers: Start your search by researching multiple SIP trunk providers to learn about their services, prices, customer support, and technology. Make sure to look for reputable providers with a track record of success.
2. Consider Your Needs: Before you can select the right provider for your needs, you must assess what kind of services you need from your SIP trunks. Decide whether or not you’ll require high-quality audio or video calling, international connectivity, etc., before making any commitments.
3. Check Reviews: Read online reviews from past customers to get a better idea of how the service works in practice and if they have any complaints regarding customer service or technical issues.
4. Compare Prices: Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential providers, compare their prices and calculate which plan is the most cost-effective without sacrificing quality.
5. Ask Questions: Reach out to each vendor with any questions that may not have been answered in their website or review page so that there are no surprises later on down the line when it comes time to service agreements and contracts.  However, make sure both parties are clear on what features are included in each plan as well as contract terms like cancellation fees before signing any paperwork.
6. Make Your Decision: Once you’ve weighed all the pros and cons, select the provider which best fits your needs and budget.

What Types of Users Use SIP Trunk Providers?

• Small Business Owners: These are usually owners of smaller companies that need a more cost-effective way to make phone calls and communicate with their customers.
• Medium-Sized Businesses: These businesses often have multiple locations and need to be able to communicate between different offices, using various voice technologies.
• Large Corporations: Bigger companies may use SIP trunking for the purposes of integrating communication services into their existing business infrastructure, in order to optimize efficiency.
• Remote Workers: Those who work from home or elsewhere can benefit from SIP trunk providers if they require regular access to a VoIP network.
• Educators: With SIP trunking, teachers and educators can easily integrate communication systems into their classrooms, such as conference calling and video conferencing for virtual learning.
• Healthcare Professionals: Many doctors and other medical professionals need access to reliable communication services in order to keep efficient records and stay up-to-date with current regulations regarding patient privacy.
• Government Agencies: Government agencies often need secure VoIP networks for communications between different departments or branches of government.
• Nonprofits Organizations: Charitable organizations often rely on SIP trunks in order to reduce costs while still having access to quality communication services.
• Hotels: Hotels often use SIP trunking services to connect their guests with local businesses and attractions in the area, as well as for completing calls between rooms.

How Much Do SIP Trunk Providers Cost?

SIP trunk providers can vary widely in cost depending on the services provided, type of connection and number of users. Generally speaking, SIP trunk prices range from a few dollars per month for basic services up to hundreds of dollars per month for more comprehensive services.

For those looking for a basic SIP trunking solution, there are many providers that offer plans starting as low as $25-$50 per month. These plans typically provide one or two connections with limited or no features included. For businesses that need more than two connections and/or require additional advanced features such as automatic call routing, mobility applications or video conferencing capacity; higher monthly costs can range from $100-$300+.

For large organizations with high-volume calling needs, enterprise-level pricing can easily surpass $400+ per month depending on their exact needs and usage requirements. Generally these plans include expanded features such as toll free numbers, dynamic call routing and high availability assurance. In addition to the basic service fees enterprise-level customers may also be charged additional fees for configuration, setup and other related services based upon their organization's specific requirements.

Overall, the cost of SIP trunks will depend heavily upon what type of service your organization is looking for as well as how many calls you’ll make each month. Do some research online to find out what different providers have to offer so you can make an informed decision about which plan is right for you.

SIP Trunk Providers Integrations

SIP trunk providers typically integrate with a variety of software types, such as VoIP phones, PBX systems, call center solutions, and unified communications systems. This integration allows users to access features such as voice calling, SMS messaging, video conferencing and even faxing from within their existing software environment. Furthermore, many VoIP software programs are capable of integrating with SIP trunk providers for increased flexibility and scalability in the user's communication services. By connecting with a SIP trunk provider, businesses can make use of dedicated lines for their incoming and outgoing calls rather than relying on shared public network connections that can experience disruptions or poor quality due to traffic congestion. Businesses also benefit from reduced costs when using a SIP trunk provider if they only need certain features or have limited usage requirements.