My first steps to getting a SIP telephony experience

I started dealing with VOIP six years ago and started with cards. I used to make long-distance calls to Russia and Germany, the connection was worthless, the voice sounded unrealistic and I could hear constant screeching noises. That was worse than I expected.

A lot has changed since that time. Channels have been widened. I tried using Skype and enjoyed it but a number of reasons made me think of an alternative.

Skype has a number of disadvantages: 1. The protocol is closed, no alternative clients; 2. A p2p-based protocol, which means there might be outside traffic: if you pay your provider for every megabyte of the traffic, that outside traffic might turn out to be a considerable challenge for your wallet; 3. Skype charges more than these of SIP operators for stationary and mobile phone calls; 4. All the Skype’s options in relation to its integration in the existing PBX have been lacking the necessary functions and haven’t been very user-friendly, while it’s not very practical to have a separate mobile phone or computer for Skype’s sake alone.

In addition to Skype, SIP is a good choice, too. SIP means Session Initiation Protocol. It is not a VOIP service but an option to direct the data transmission sessions. Type of transmitted data is determined by a separate SDP (Session Description Protocol). It works together with SIP. More information can be found out at Wikipedia.

I haven’t considered all the hardware options, but there is a good deal of them. Software options that allow one to use SIP are just as various as the hardware ones.

All the modern IP-PBX systems are SIP-compatible. Using SIP such huge corporations as Cisco produce their own equipment for big corporations and medium-sized companies.

I chose my provider rather quickly. So I went for UcallWeconn, as it provides its users with just the service level one might expect to be provided with. UcallWeconn gives a common client an opportunity to prepay the services with VISA, while business clients are bound to make a contract, sign the SLA and pay the services through a bank.

Another argument in favor of this specific provider is that its services for home Internet users (i.e. for those who access the Internet via a NAT-like domestic router) are unexpectedly well organized.

Do you need purchase minutes to call international? Check the website of UcallWeconn for latest rates. You can also buy phone number online.