SIP phone line

As a business owner or manager you may be confused about which types of telephone lines you need for your business. This page provides a simple explanation of the types of telephone lines you may use in your offices.

Analog phone lines

Analog phone lines - referred to as Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) lines - transfer voice or data signals over a conventional analog signal. During the transfer process sound waves are translated into an electronic signal. This electronic signal is deciphered by measuring changes in the signal's attributes like amplitude and frequency.

These signals can hold only one function at a time (it can be a phone call or data transfer from one modem to another). Analog lines have limitations in size therefore they are slower than other lines (e.g. digital). Speeds are limited to about 35 Kbps. However, today there are improvements such as the introduction of 56Kbps modems that allow transmission of digital signals over analog phone lines and take advantage of a digital phone line to improve speed.

For a more detailed explanation please visit the following web page: Analog phone lines

Digital phone lines (ISDN)

Digital technology allows to transfer voice signals in a different way: voice signals are broken into binary code (a series of 1s and 0s). On the other end there is another device (phone, modem, etc) that takes the codes and reassembles them into the original signal. With this technology more data can be sent and received simultaneously. If any error occurs during the data transfer, it can be corrected due to this technology. In this way it provides a distortion-free conversation possibility in most of the cases. Digital technology also ensures more functionality than the analog one.

A detailed overview is provided on ISDN lines page.

GSM phone lines

Global System for Mobile Communications or GSM is the most often used network for mobile phone communication all over the world. GSM ensures digital signaling and speech channels therefore it is regarded as a 2G mobile system. GSM also supports short message services (SMS).

For more information please go to GSM phone lines page.

VoIP, IP and SIP

Today it is possible to employ broadband Internet connection for voice call instead of traditional phone lines. Using the Internet, calls travel as packets of data on shared lines. However, it is still a developing area of technology, Voice over IP is a spreading method among businesses. You can read more about VoIP technology on Voice over IP page.

SIP based VoIP:

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is used for making phone calls over the Internet (VoIP). If users call to other SIP users, it is free of charge, but it is also possible to call landlines or mobile phones for a minimum fee. This technology allows you to not use any physical phone line or a voice modem. With a SIP softphone you can easily make calls from your computer. A SIP softphone is a part of a SIP client software that has a telephone-like user interface.

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