SIP Vs. VOIP, What’s The Difference?: An Introduction On The Two Technologies And Their Main Differences To Choose What’s Best For You

Published on: 10 July 2023 Last Updated on: 12 August 2024
SIP Vs. VOIP

Reaching out to people online has evolved to go beyond text and voice modes. And although they remain relevant today especially for businesses (thus the growing relevance of virtual number providers like Telnum), we’ve also become accustomed to the more advanced video communication.

And as easy as it may be for us to use these technologies today, choosing which ones to help you make these happen – at least on an organizational level – is still hard. If you’re not directly working in an industry related to internet technology, you may not have an idea of what would be in your best business interest.

That’s why we’ll dedicate this post to educating you on the difference between the two most thrown around acronyms today: SIP and VOIP. Many people think they’re one and the same, but as you’ll find out, it’s not the case at all.

An Introduction To SIP

Also known as Session Initiated Protocol, SIP is a timeless technology that makes communication through the internet possible. The main thing it does is create signals to start different points of online messaging.

Other protocols are used on top of it, but you can think of it as the foundations of a house – although you also need other materials to complete the whole thing, it’s the one thing that any house cannot be without.

It doesn’t do anything with the information created during the process but just uses it as a signal to send media, time, and session description.

An Introduction To VoIP

Introduction To VoIP

Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP is nothing but a broad term to refer to the action of calling using the internet instead of through wired phones or cellphones.

Because it’s made through the internet, you need an internet connection to make this happen. That’s it, really. The intricacy that users are more concerned about is its two types:

Fixed

You can only get this type if there’s a physical location associated with it. For example, if your office is in Australia, your VoIP number should also have a Australian area code. But make no mistake, this would still require the internet.

Advantages

  • It’s more credible. Because you need to submit additional requirements to prove your ties to a physical location, scammers can’t use it without giving themselves up.
  • Stealing your number is practically impossible. You need your own cables to get it. So unless the scammer sneaks into your office to falsely represent your company, it’s not going to happen.

Disadvantages

  • The processing time is longer. Your chosen service provider would need to verify any information you submit, which will take some time.
  • International calls will be relatively more expensive. Because you can’t get a number outside your area, calling other places may incur additional charges.

Non-fixed

This is what people normally mean when they think of VoIP. You don’t need to provide proof of location, unlike with the first type.

Advantages

  • Get a number from any country. As long as the number’s available, you can get it. Just pay for it, and you’re good.
  • It’s easier to get. If you’re in a hurry, you’ll be glad to know that you can get it right away with no hassle.

Disadvantages

  • A scammer may use your number. Once you drop a number, someone else is free to get it after some time. If you’re unlucky, that someone else would use it and pretend to be you.
  • It’s used for fraud more often. And this means it’s not as trusted as the first type.

What Are Their Biggest Differences?

If you’re still confused about how they’re different, this would help further clarify matters. They’re different on these things:

Scope

VoIP is a much broader term that applies to anything that refers to communicating online. If it’s a tree, SIP would be one of its branches.

Types Of Media Supported

From the name itself, VoIP only supports voice communication. If you want to access other modes such as text, fax, and voice, you’ll need SIP.

Devices Used

VoIP phones need a computer in order to be functional. Meanwhile, SIP only needs a modem. So you can think of VoIP as something closer to the normal phone you already know.

How It Handles Traffic

The process itself is fairly complicated, but what you have to remember is SIP follows individual processing. Meanwhile, VoIP processes in bulk.

The latter comes with a risk of suboptimal performance because everything practically goes through one central channel. So when it becomes overwhelmed, the processing time gets longer, thus affecting the quality of calls made. But it comes with the advantage of being more secure.

VoIP doesn’t need to have SIP because other protocols may be used instead. But what you decide should be determined by your organization’s priorities and security considerations to have the best results possible.

Additional:

Abdul Aziz Mondol is a professional blogger who is having a colossal interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, he loves to share content related to business, finance, technology, and the gaming niche.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Contract Management Software

Top Ways Contract Management Software Helps to Mitigate Contract Risk

Companies often have to deal with more contracts as they grow. This is a sign of a growth plan, but it can also be a problem if it doesn't manage its contracts. Additional contracts can be a sign of weaknesses in the company's contract management system. While some issues may be minor incontinences, others can lead to major problems. It can take a crisis to make executives realize the dangers of not having a contract management system. Failure to comply, missing deadlines, ineffective reports, poor access control, and inefficient approval workflows could have devastating consequences. Substandard CLM can also cause a gradual but steady decline in profitability. By implementing good contract management practices and online contract management software, a company can be more secure through better risk management. With Alerts and Notifications, You Can Eliminate Missed Milestones and Obligations Financial consequences can be severe if you miss automatic renewals or activate conditions by meeting certain milestones. The CLM software makes it easy to avoid them. To stay on top, you can set up automated alerts, tasks, and reminders linked to your contract data record. This is a great example of how contract management software can help mitigate risk. You no longer need to track dates manually. Besides, you have the benefit that you can keep an archived history for audit purposes. Automated CLM Workflows You increase the likelihood of discrepancies and inaccuracies by not knowing where a contract is at any point in its lifecycle. Small mistakes can have a significant impact on your business and reputation. You can provide superior products and services to your clients if you are aware of all contract processes. Automated contract lifecycle workflows allow for transparency, visibility, control, and accountability. Automated workflow automation makes it easy to keep all parties informed with contract risk management tools. This provides for handoffs, action steps, and collaboration. Use Encryption to Protect Your Contract Data Encrypting all documents is another way to protect your contracts against unauthorized access, especially from outsiders. The best contract management software uses the most recent encryption standards to encrypt information in transit and at rest. Any data stored in your contract management software is considered data at rest. Data in transit is any data sent from or from your contract management software to another application or user. Filtered and Customizable Search Features It is crucial to have a searchable and organized contract repository to reduce risk. Functional search tools can be used to locate the information you need so that you can make sure your company is compliant with all contracts. This helps reduce and mitigate contract risk. You can use your contract repository to refer to past contracts to help you draft and select terms for new contracts. You can use an easy-to-use search feature to perform filtered searches and find similar contracts and documents. This will help you in drafting new relevant contracts. You can lower risk by having more resources for contract building. Increase Compliance with Clause and Template Libraries Non-compliance is one of the greatest contract risk factors. One of the main reasons for non-compliance is the use of incorrect language in contracts. Contract management software allows you to create clause and template libraries, ensuring that everyone who is creating contracts uses the most current preapproved language from the legal team. This reduces the risk of contract infringement if language isn't properly vetted. It is also possible to use your business rules to determine which clauses or templates you should use in specific situations, such as when to include a cyber security clause. It Is Possible to Increase Collaboration While Managing Risk You can automate workflows to improve communication during both the approval and negotiation steps. The integration of various features such as redlining, "@," mentions, Email Integration, and many others in one place can make it easy for multiple parties or people to collaborate. This makes it much easier and faster to navigate through the various stages of the contract lifecycle. Automated workflows make it easier for cross-department collaboration and communication. Risk mitigation is made more accessible by the technology's ability to offer real-time versions of documents with the latest iterations. Secure Approvals with E-Signatures Electronic signatures allow documents to be signed quicker and more securely than paper signatures. The 2002 ESIGN Act has made them legally binding for more than 16 years. E-signatures provide a digital record of who, when, and where a document is signed. This helps to verify authentication and aid in audit trails. E-signatures reduce contract risk by prohibiting tampering in contract approvals. They also prevent the possibility that a contract's hard copy might be lost. E-signatures also make contract approval easier by allowing for mobility. Contracts can be signed from anywhere, on any device. Final Words The three critical steps to contract risk management are: assess, identify, and mitigate. Contract management software can help but also play a significant role in this effort. There are always risks associated with any contract. This is why it is crucial to have good contract management practices as a cornerstone in any risk management program. Read Also: Using Project Management to Maximize the Holiday Season at Work A Guide to Choosing an Enterprise Document Management Solution A Digital Asset Management Solution Overview This Is Why Every Organization Should Invest in Job Management Software

READ MOREDetails
SaaS Products

Offering SaaS Product: Subscription or One-Time Purchase?

When starting a new SaaS business, one of the first decisions you have to make is how to price your product. Should you offer it as a one-time purchase, or should you make it a subscription? Both options have pros and cons, and deciding which is right for your business can be challenging. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of each pricing model and help you decide which is best for you. Benefits Of SaaS Subscriptions SaaS, or software as a service, is a subscription software such as AWS Marketplace SaaS integration that allows users to access and use the software from a remote location. SaaS has many benefits, including the ability to scale quickly, pay-as-you-go pricing, and increased flexibility. For businesses, the scalability of SaaS can be a significant advantage. Since businesses only need to pay for the number of users, they can easily add or remove users as required, which can help companies to save money and avoid hiring new staff to manage the software. Pay-as-you-go pricing also appeals to businesses because it allows them to control costs. With SaaS, businesses only need to pay for what they use, which can help them save money on IT expenses. Employees can work from home or on the go without missing a beat. SaaS is an attractive option for businesses of all sizes due to its many benefits. The Benefits Of One-Time Purchases There are several benefits to purchasing a SaaS product outright instead of signing up for a subscription. For one thing, it can save you money in the long run. Subscription fees can add up over time, and you may be able to get a discount by buying the product outright. Additionally, one-time purchases give you more control over when and how you use the product. With a subscription, you may be locked into using the product for a certain period, even if you're not getting as much value out of it as you'd like. Finally, one-time purchases can simplify your financial life by eliminating the need to keep track of another monthly bill. When it comes to SaaS products, there are several advantages to making a one-time purchase instead of signing up for a subscription. Which Option Is Best For Your Business Consider a few things to consider when selling your SaaS product as a subscription, such as AWS Marketplace SaaS integration or one-time purchase. First, think about your target market and what kind of commitment they are willing to make. For example, if you are selling an enterprise-level software solution, the subscription might be the better option as businesses are generally more comfortable with recurring payments. On the other hand, if you are selling a more straightforward solution to consumers, they might prefer a one-time purchase. Another thing to consider is the type of product you are selling. A subscription model might work well for products that require frequent updates or must be constantly accessed to be used effectively. For example, online or cloud-based software would likely be better suited for a subscription model. On the other hand, products that can be downloaded and used offline are often more appropriate for a one-time purchase. Factors To Consider Once you've decided whether to offer your SaaS product as a subscription or a one-time purchase, there are a few factors to consider when choosing the suitable pricing model. First, consider your product's value and how much it would cost to replace it if lost or stolen. For products with a high replacement value, such as enterprise software, a subscription model might be best so that businesses can spread the cost of the product over time. On the other hand, for products with a lower replacement value, such as consumer software, a one-time purchase might be more appropriate. Another factor to consider is the length of time it takes to use your product effectively. If your product requires a lot of training or onboarding to be used effectively, a subscription model might be best so that customers can access the product for as long as they need. On the other hand, if your product is easy to use and doesn't require much setup, a one-time purchase might be more appropriate. Tips For Increasing Subscription Renewals Once you've decided on a pricing model, you can do a few things to increase subscription renewals and reduce churn rates. First, offer discounts for customers who commit to longer-term subscriptions. This will give them an incentive to stay with your product long-term. Additionally, make it easy for customers to cancel their subscriptions if they're not happy with the product. By making it easy to cancel, you'll show that you're confident in your product and not trying to trap people into a contract they don't want. Finally, keep your prices reasonable, so people feel like they're getting a good value for their money. Final Thoughts As you can see, there are a few things to consider when deciding whether to offer your SaaS product as a subscription or a one-time purchase. First, think about your target market and what kind of commitment they are willing to make. Second, consider the type of product you are selling and how it would be used. Finally, factor in the price of your product and how much people are willing to pay for it. Considering these factors, you can make the best decision for your business. Read Also: Steps For Salesforce Application DevelopmentIs Computer Software Prepackaged Software A Good Career Path?7 Ways A Software Development Company Can Help Mitigate Technology Risks In Business

READ MOREDetails
Dedicated Server

Why Online Gaming Companies Need Dedicated Server

The term dedicated server gets chucked around a lot nowadays. It can be used to describe both physical hardware and it can also describe a non-tangible software. In this article, we talk about the main differences in these and then focus on the more important points of physical dedicated servers. What Do People Mean When They Say Dedicated Server? If you are talking about hardware in the hosting world then you are referring to a dedicated machine that typically lives in a data-center. Usually, this is a high powered rackmount power-hungry beast with multiple processors, storage devices and enough RAM to shake a stick at. The alternative to this (and so not a “dedicated” server) would be a VPS. A “virtual private server” is a smaller server that runs inside a dedicated server and shares its resources with other VPS on the same machine. The benefit of a VPS is that you can get access to computing resources without having to own/rent a whole physical server. If you are talking about a non-physical dedicated server then you are probably talking about a set of files that are run to create a persistent online gaming environment. The “dedicated” part for this comes from the fact that it is kept running all the time in order for the game logic to carry on without human intervention. The Disadvantages of a Dedicated Server: So all the power of a dedicated machine sounds like a dream come true for gaming companies, but with great power comes great responsibility. If you buy and own your dedicated servers then you will be responsible for “co-locating” them. This is the term used to describe where you keep them, so choosing a suitable data-center and then ensuring that it is a safe and reliable physical environment to keep it in. Now you have a co-located dedicated server (bought or rented) you need to ensure that it is protected from outside dangers. Every IP address in the world is routinely checked for back door entries by hackers. It’s the digital equivalent of going around your neighborhood at night and checking to see if any windows or doors are left open. Hackers love an easy entry and this process is easy to automate. Once you are then finished with the machine, it can be a bit of a hassle getting rid of it, it can require multiple transportations in order to sell it. The reduction in value is also another nail in the coffin for buying a dedicated server rather than renting too. Then comes maintenance, if you need to fix an owned dedicated server that is in a data-center halfway around the world you may have to pay a fee for on-site staff to do the work. Downtime for an owned machine is the responsibility of the owner and can cause a mass of problems which if renting could be sorted by shifting to another rented machine. Why a Gaming Company Would Need a Dedicated Server: As a gaming company, you would need a dedicated server (well you would probably need a lot for most titles released in this day of age) to handle the mass of data required for managing your players. Even if your game is not multiplayer you may still release regular updates that require syncing up with players and distributing the newly released code for your game. If your game releases are multiplayer then your computing demand will probably be huge. If you decided to host all of the game servers in a house like game publisher Electronic Arts do (in order to control who gets hold of the server source code) then you will need to scale with the number of players. Scaling is possible with services such as Amazon Web Services that stretch with your increased demand. You pay on a usage basis, so the more/less you use the more/less you pay. This is massively useful for gaming companies who can release titles that are the most played for a few months and then replaced within a few weeks by something better. Keeping your gaming company’s website on a dedicated server may be a bit overkill unless you expect massive traffic. With many publishers selling their game catalog through platforms like Steam (online game buying platforms that feature games like Ark: Survival Evolved and Unturned) it has really taken the pressure off their in house systems and reduced costs in that respect for e-commerce and community features. Dedicated servers are also important in the development of 3D assets as a large amount of computing power needed can be shared across networks. It was said that the biggest let down for the 3D special effects on the award-winning film Titanic was the lack of computing power to make realistic looking waves. Read Also: 10 Top Games For PC Gamers Top 6 PC Games In History Which You Should Definitely Try Why Server Colocation Hosting In India Is Becoming More Popular Than Dedicated Servers?

READ MOREDetails