SIP Compatibility Conundrum
Posted on 08/05/2008 @ 4:36 PM
When describing SIP, I tend to throw in the word simple. This is because it is a lot simpler than previous protocols, especially considering the wide range of uses SIP actually has. If you have a look at the standards behind SIP there are nearly 30 documents and 700 pages of technical specification. That’s just for SIP, and then you have RTP, audio/video codecs and lots of other related material. So simple isn’t the word I should be using, efficient or flexible might be better phrases. The point really is with such a large amount of specification the engineer implementing a SIP system is going to have to make a lot of choices. These subtle choices mean each implementation will differ slightly and behave in an unexpected way.
Some resellers have made the mistake of setting up a SIP system and thinking that SIP is standards based, all SIP devices and PBXs will work with all SIP Trunk suppliers. Learning the hard way just damages the expectations of resellers especially if their customers are used as the guinea pigs, as they struggle to get equipment working with unapproved carrier systems that are difficult if not impossible to change.
That’s the horror story.
Always use a supplier who is tested and approved by the PBX manufacturer. The testing process between the SIP carrier and manufacture is intense, on average 300 different tests are carried out. The SIP carrier needs to be compliant on each one. This is why so many SIP providers are not approved on the vast majority of PBXs.
With the extensive testing the SIP carrier and manufacturer have a good understanding of each other’s applications and an established dialog and process. If there is a problem you can turn to both for support.
Make sure you use a recommended quality router; you wouldn’t use a 3 ton lorry to carry 6 tons, spend as much as you can afford and set it up correctly. The PBX and SIP carrier can have all the approval certificates in world, but you will still run into problems if the router in the middle is causing issues.
About Voiceflex
Voiceflex, a division of Frontier Systems, was established to provide advanced IP telephony (VoIP) services for UK businesses. Bringing the reliability of the Internet to the telephone, VoiceFlex is an advocate of SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) - the latest technology allowing voice calls to be made over the Internet. Voiceflex uses its own SIP technology offering developed completely in-house, to provide low cost, ISDN replacement lines that provide the best possible call quality, inexpensively with the flexibility that comes from using the Internet. VoiceFlex can also port any telephone number regardless of geographic location. Products include SIP Trunks and SIP Centrex.
Voiceflex offices are based in Piccadilly(London) and Coventry.
If you require more information, please contact Paul Taylor on 020 3004 1990 or email ptaylor@voiceflex.com
www.voiceflex.com
Some resellers have made the mistake of setting up a SIP system and thinking that SIP is standards based, all SIP devices and PBXs will work with all SIP Trunk suppliers. Learning the hard way just damages the expectations of resellers especially if their customers are used as the guinea pigs, as they struggle to get equipment working with unapproved carrier systems that are difficult if not impossible to change.
That’s the horror story.
Always use a supplier who is tested and approved by the PBX manufacturer. The testing process between the SIP carrier and manufacture is intense, on average 300 different tests are carried out. The SIP carrier needs to be compliant on each one. This is why so many SIP providers are not approved on the vast majority of PBXs.
With the extensive testing the SIP carrier and manufacturer have a good understanding of each other’s applications and an established dialog and process. If there is a problem you can turn to both for support.
Make sure you use a recommended quality router; you wouldn’t use a 3 ton lorry to carry 6 tons, spend as much as you can afford and set it up correctly. The PBX and SIP carrier can have all the approval certificates in world, but you will still run into problems if the router in the middle is causing issues.
About Voiceflex
Voiceflex, a division of Frontier Systems, was established to provide advanced IP telephony (VoIP) services for UK businesses. Bringing the reliability of the Internet to the telephone, VoiceFlex is an advocate of SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) - the latest technology allowing voice calls to be made over the Internet. Voiceflex uses its own SIP technology offering developed completely in-house, to provide low cost, ISDN replacement lines that provide the best possible call quality, inexpensively with the flexibility that comes from using the Internet. VoiceFlex can also port any telephone number regardless of geographic location. Products include SIP Trunks and SIP Centrex.
Voiceflex offices are based in Piccadilly(London) and Coventry.
If you require more information, please contact Paul Taylor on 020 3004 1990 or email ptaylor@voiceflex.com
www.voiceflex.com
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