It’s a question we’re often asked, “What’s the difference between VoIP and SIP?

Both are technologies that have revolutionized the way we communicate every day, even if we don’t know it. But when it comes to your office phone solution, which one is the better choice?
Here, we’ll explain what they are, how they work, and help you decide whether SIP or VoIP is right for you.

What’s VoIP?

VoIP stands for ‘Voice over Internet Protocol’ and describes calls made using the internet. VoIP converts your voice calls into data packets that can be transmitted over the internet. The important thing to note here is that VoIP is a voice service, which is key to the difference between it and SIP.

Protocol refers to a set of digital rules that developers use to manage communication between digital devices. For communication to be successful, both ends must follow the same digital rules.

It’s like sending something using snail mail. To send mail properly, you need a stamp on the envelope. In order for it to be received on the other end, you need the correct address. Otherwise, the communication will fail.

What’s SIP?

SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol and is different to VoIP. It manages not only your voice calls, but also multimedia communication, including video calls, instant messaging, media distribution and a whole lot more.

SIP is a specific type of protocol that facilitates VoIP and we often refer to it as the ‘VoIP Superhighway’. That’s because several devices or endpoints can communicate simultaneously, it’s scalable, calls are clearer, QoS is higher and line rental and phone calls are a lot more affordable. It’s no surprise that SIP is becoming the number one communication solution for businesses across Australia.

It’s probably also no surprise that we’re going to tell you that, in the battle between VoIP and SIP, SIP is the winner. If you’re running a PBX or other unified communication system in your office, there really isn’t any competition here.

The Benefits Of SIP

We’ve already mentioned that SIP is capable of carrying all of your multimedia communications, which is a major draw card for businesses using an office phone system. But there are a lot more benefits of going with a SIP provider:

1. Affordability

The cost of line rental is significantly lower than traditional PSTN lines and local, mobile, national and international calls are also a lot more affordable than they used to be.

2. Scalability

Your SIP provider can scale the size of your office phone network up or down without having to come into the office to install new equipment and without major cost.

3. Reliability

When you go with a provider that’s out to give you the best service available, they’ll talk to you about your data service and help you decide how to run your SIP service with the highest Quality of Service possible.

4. Redundancy and Disaster Recovery

SIP offers more re-routing options for redundancy than PSTN or ISDN service.

5. Independent Network Access

Unlike PTSN and ISDN services, SIP can be carried over any data network type, including fiber, copper and wireless networks. This means that switching to the NBN won’t affect your SIP service.

VoIP vs SIP, Making The Right Choice For Your Business

Technically, there isn’t a competition between VoIP and SIP, because SIP is really just a protocol used to achieve VoIP… which still has it’s place.

If you want to improve your communication and reduce your monthly phone bill, talk to your chosen provider. Tell them how your staff use the phones and what you hope to achieve with a VoIP or SIP service. There are a lot of providers out there, some who are less likely to bring you savings than others. We generally refer our clients to SpringCom, because we know that they are genuine, helpful, and deliver savings.

Knowing about VoIP and SIP can be the difference between an efficient phone experience and an unreliable one.

If you’re interested in switching to SIP, chat to our carrier partner SpringCom. They’re experts in providing useful information, and helping businesses find the most affordable solution for their communication needs. Give them a call on 1300 857 194 today.