Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a signaling protocol that is used by technology products for creating session-oriented connections between two or more endpoints on an IP network. These endpoints could be IP telephones, instant messaging clients, or collaborative multimedia conference applications.

Many businesses are sipping it up…(No pun intended) What I mean is, they are taking their time adopting to the technology and for good reason. Although SIP technology is cheaper (In some cases free), the cost of upgrading infrastrucure to support Quality of Service (QOS) can sometimes outweigh the savings.

While the protocol is now “final” enough to build sophisticated telecom systems using SIP, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) working groups continue to forge new ways on how to apply SIP. One way that has been making it’s way to the top is SIP Connect.

What is SIPconnect?

SIPconnect is a standards-based method of interconnection between IP PBXs and VoIP service provider networks. It specifies the architecture, required protocols and features, and implementation rules necessary for seamless peering between IP PBXs and VoIP service providers.

Let’s take a look at the various applications: 

For end users in the small business or large enterprise, SIPconnect eliminates, or greatly reduces, the need for a costly gateway at the end user’s site.  In addition, new features from the service provider or the IP PBX vendor will be delivered more quickly.

For VARs and Interconnects, the SIPconnect compliant service provider will handle the complexites associated with connecting the SIP Trunk to the legacy TDM world.  This eliminates the need for a lot of integration and troubleshooting work and allows the partners to focus on other, revenue generating activities.

For Equipment and Software Vendors (Application Servers, IP PBX Vendors, SIP Proxies), SIPconnect greatly reduces the time and resources required to verify interoperability in the network.  This single item, interoperability, currently drains many man hours from the services and equipment providers that could be better used creating new and more exciting features.  This in turns reduces the amount of revenue that could be realized from those new features.

The SIP Trunking Service Provider that uses SIPconnect SIP trunks realizes higher revenue streams much more quickly.  Network services are rolled out more rapidly, greatly reducing the time to revenue for new services and features.  In addition, the service provider can greatly reduce the time and staff required to complete interoperability testing.

In the meanwhile…While service providers like Cbeyond continue the slow and steady rollout of SIP connect sit back, relax, and take a SIP!