SIP Trunks

SIP trunking seems to have taken hold in larger markets. What’s a SIP trunk? Think of it as a telephone line that rides over your internet connection instead of coming into your building on the usual copper wires. There are some key advantages to adding SIP trunks to your system if it is capable. For those of you that would like to have DID (direct inward dialing), but cannot justify a PRI T1, SIP may be the ticket. SIP trunks allow for DID and Caller ID. They also allow you to port any of your current telephone numbers to the SIP trunk.

If you want a California telephone number for your business, no problem. If you have customers in other states and want them to call you as though you were local, not an issue. If you are working on a disaster recovery plan, SIP trunks should be considered. If you have to move your workers due to a fire, flood or other natural disaster, you can quickly and easily move the SIP trunks to your new location and internet connection. And, the bonus is – SIP trunks are less expensive than your copper lines.

So, what’s the downside? Well, if your internet connection takes a dive, you’ve lost your dial tone. Keeping a copper trunk or two would be a good idea. The other possible drawback could be that the sound quality of the SIP call may not be as good as your current dial tone. But, then again, it might be fine. These days we all seem to have adjusted and accepted cell phone quality.