SIP vs VoIP

Back in 2008, it was forecast that PBX would become obsolete as VoIP takes centre stage.

22:06 22 August 2017

More than a decade after, the number of PBX extensions still outnumbers VoIP by around 8 to 1, proving reports of PBX’s death have been grossly exaggerated.

 

One of the VoIP’s advantage over SIP is that it offers free intra site calls and allowed users to retain their numbers when moving which helped in improving business continuity and lowering the overall cost of calls. SIP now enables PBX suppliers to offer the same features. Even the OPEX advantage of VoIP was countered with reduced prices and the offer of free or low interest financing from SIP suppliers.

 

Still, VoIP remains to be the more scalable and flexible option that is easy to deploy. Portal management of VoIP systems is usually easier as is self-management for those organisations that want to do it. One of its advantages though is that many providers write contracts that penalise customers if they cancel some licenses within a three-year contract. In PBX, these licences are generally bought upfront. 

 

PBX systems, on the other hand, offer greater resilience by supporting both IP and analogue connections. Cost variances have narrowed and with several of the PBX vendors that launch pay as you go, the battle between SIP and VoIP is likely to intensify even more.