You may have heard the word “SIP” thrown around recently…either by your IT Manager, consultant, or just on the internet. But what is it, and how can it positively affect your business?
Put simply, SIP is true VoIP technology. Put less simply, SIP stands for session initiation protocol, and allows voice to travel over an internet connection to an off-site facility which directs the call to the proper location.
Why is that better than a traditional phone system? Because SIP lines can save small businesses big bucks.
Let’s take a look at the situation of a recent customer of ours, before and after they switched to SIP lines. This company is based in Houston and has about 15 employees.
A Real Life Example: Before & After Switching to SIP
Before making the switch, this company was paying $498/month to AT&T for phone and internet service. They had 6 phone lines and a T1 internet connection that gave them about 1.5 Mb/s down. One of those lines had to be dedicated to a cordless phone, meaning it was always tied up, whether in use or not.
Additionally, they had a phone system that was outdated – offering none of the productivity-boosting features of modern business phone systems.
To craft a solution that worked for them, Genesis BCS came in and took stock of their current situation, and made a plan that fit that company like a glove.
First, we recommended they ditch their overpriced internet from AT&T and brought in another internet service provider who was able to offer them 30 Mb/s download speed for only $80/month.
Next, we brought in SIP provider ESI to cover their phone lines. ESI was able to offer them 4 phone lines that bursted to 6 for about $110/month. (In case you’re wondering, bursting SIP lines are a little like over-draft protection in a bank account, minus the exorbitant fees. That means that during peak call times, you can go over your line allotment without your customers getting a busy signal).
In case you’re counting, Genesis helped this Houston company’s telecom and data costs drop by almost three hundred dollars. But what about that old phone system?
Genesis proposed installing a new ESI phone system to complement their ESI SIP lines. By putting the phone system on a lease-to-buy plan, we were able to keep the monthly costs low – only $215/month.
Last but not least, it is important to note that a SIP solution does have a couple of caveats. For optimal call quality, it’s important to have a modern and speedy internet connection. Each active call requires 128 Kb/s of data, which can be taxing on a data connection. Second, a business-level firewall is vital to a SIP solution. Without purchasing a sophisticated firewall, your phone system is left open to attacks.
SIP: The Verdict
To recap: Genesis was able to help our customer secure a much faster internet connection for a fraction of what they were paying, reduce their costs for phone lines by utilizing SIP lines, and get them a brand new phone system packed full of features that boost the productivity of their employees – all while saving them about $80 each month.
SIP Can Save Your Company Money Too
Genesis is dedicated to doing what’s best for our customers. Let us come out to your location, do a free walk-through and examine your current telecommunications situation, and find a solution that’s best for you.
Give us a call today at 713-865-7699, or contact us via the website!