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Things to Consider While Selecting an SIP Trunk Service Provider
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is the method through which you can have a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) call. SIP is an application layer protocol that you can use to run your phone over the internet to set up real-time audio and video sessions between two speakers on two devices.
Businesses are increasingly turning towards using SIP trunking and VoIP phone systems to make and receive calls over the internet. These services allow companies to improve communication, increase productivity, and lower overall costs.
To adjust to these needs, VoIP and SIP providers started offering more services and features that businesses can benefit from. So to be able to choose the right SIP provider for you, there are a few things you need to consider beforehand:
Voice quality
The first and most important aspect of SIP trunking is the quality of the calls provided; you need to find one that allows you to have high-quality communication by being able to make and receive clear phone calls. Some SIP trunk providers compromise voice quality by using least-cost routing (LCR) for the sake of offering plans with lower costs. You should avoid choosing such providers and should instead opt for those who use Tier 1 voice carriers to establish calls.
In addition to that, even if your company is local, you never know how big it will grow; so look for an SIP trunk provider that has at least one point of presence (PoP) in any region that you want to reach or believe that you might want to reach in the future.
Reliability
SIP trunking will be of no use if it consistently fails to let you make or receive calls. So when looking for the best SIP trunk provider, look for one that has a reliable infrastructure and enough carrier connections across different regions to ensure better service. For example, Nextiva promises a 99% uptime and the latest technology to provide you with the level of reliability your business deserves.
Coverage
Companies can use SIP trunking to expand and improve their VoIP infrastructure easily and without having to deal with local carriers. You should look for an SIP trunk provider that allows you to make outbound calls and choose a local number for each region or country for all inbound calls. For example, if your business is based in New York but also offers its services in the U.K., you can still choose a local number for people living in London to call you through it.
Some SIP trunk providers will allow you to choose from a number of local numbers, toll-free numbers, and mobile numbers, which can help your business establish its local and international presence and visibility.
Cost
It is no secret that businesses turn to SIP trunking and voice over IP to lower costs. Making international and long distance calls over SIP trunks is a lot cheaper than doing so with your cell phone or landline. In addition to that, traditional phone providers charge you for all services regardless of whether you’re going to use them or not; meanwhile, SIP trunk providers offer a pay-as-you-go pricing model, where you only pay for the services that you need.
And as your company grows and has more needs, SIP trunks come in handy as they allow a room for scalability; you can easily adjust the SIP trunks to your needs by adding capacity to your VoIP phone system without the need to pay for additional infrastructure. Each SIP trunk provider offers their own features, scalability, and costs, so you can decide which is the right one for you according to your needs and budget.
Interoperability
If you already have a phone network and don’t want to let go of it completely, you should look for an SIP trunk provider that is compatible with your existing hardware and infrastructure. Usually, you can know if the SIP trunk provider is good for you if it provides interoperability with the standard IP PBX and soft switches.
Flexibility
Scalability can fall under the idea of flexibility, but it is not the only aspect of it. SIP trunk providers offer a number of features and services to provide your business with the highest levels of flexibility. For example, some providers may give you a free trial before committing to their services; some may offer flexible contracts that can be canceled or modified at any time.
Another aspect of flexibility is the ability to get more phone numbers or change your existing numbers when needed. You can also find flexibility in adjusting the services and customizing them to your needs, configuring softphone compatibility, and more.
Privacy and security
Since VoIP phone systems will allow you to create a virtual office for your business, SIP trunk providers make sure to provide your business with the highest levels of privacy and security of data. When trying to find the right SIP trunk provider, look for the one that can protect your calls from being intercepted and your data from being breached.
For example, Ooma uses the same encryption protocols that governments use to protect their data. In addition to that, Ooma uses SRTP to encrypt and secure voice data.
Reputation and expertise
Lastly, after checking all the previous criteria, and before signing up with an SIP trunk provider, you should read what other users have said about it. Of course, everyone has their own experience, so you should take everything with a grain of salt, but at the same time, you should learn from what others have to say about the provider.
You should also make sure that the provider has enough knowledge of SIP trunking and the complex processes of the system. This is because you will be needing help and guidance with installation, troubleshooting, maintenance, upgrading, scaling, and more.
The Best VoIP and SIP Trunk Providers
With the increasing need for SIP trunking and voice over IP, providers started competing in providing the best services at the lowest prices. So you will come across many SIP trunk providers that will most definitely live up to your expectations; eventually, you can choose the right one according to your needs and budget. To help with that, we have decided upon our top two SIP trunk providers:
Ooma
Ooma is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider that also offers unified communication solutions, like video calling, text messaging, and more. Ooma’s Enterprise plan provides SIP and IP-enabled PBX solutions. Some of the SIP trunking benefits that you get with Ooma Enterprise include:
- Reduced costs
- Flexible communications
- Scalable phone systems
- National coverage
- Device controls
- E911 support
- Quick trunk additions
- Unlimited usage plans
In addition to SIP trunking, Ooma Enterprise offers many other features, including:
- Call waiting and forwarding
- Virtual receptionist
- SMS messaging
- Call recording
- White glove installation and training
- PRI replacement
- Hybrid deployments
- Easy SaaS integration
- Dedicated customer success team
- Customizable solution options
- Call parking
- Analytics dashboard
- Call conferencing
Ooma Enterprise starts at $27.99 per user per month, and it needs a contract, so you need to reach out to their team for a consultation through their website.
Try Ooma today!
Nextiva
Nextiva is well-known for its reliability and ease of use. IT offers users scalability in adding SIP trunks, channels, and DIDs as their businesses grow. Nextiva also owns eight data centers across the United States, giving you superior call reliability. All of Nextiva’s plans and services are offered with flexible pricing.
Nextiva’s SIP trunking services offer the following features:
- Online management: The web-based admin portal allows you to manage your credentials, direct dial-in numbers, and more.
- Fraud mitigation: The system can easily detect any unusual activity to help you prevent fraud and abuse.
- Enhanced 911 (E911): Nextiva provides turnkey E911 functionality to help ensure the safety of its users.
- Automatic failover: Power outages will not affect your productivity; if your PBX goes offline for some reason, the cloud connectivity feature will let you direct calls to different devices.
- Detailed call records: You can have all your calls recorded and provided with detailed analyses.
- Rapid setup: SIP trunks are easy to set up, which means you can start using them on the same day without the need for any coding.
Nextiva offers two SIP trunking plans as follows:
Metered
This plan costs $14.95 per month plus $0.008 per minute. It includes 100 minutes, fast and free account setup, eight U.S. points of presence, and 27/4 support.
Unmetered
This plan costs $24.95 per month with no added charges per minute. It offers unlimited calls nationwide, as well as a toll-free number, scalability, and volume discounts.