A Sip phone is a SIP encoded service. Users may connect to a SIP service using either a SIP enabled fixed phone or a PC based softphone program.

To use SIP phone service you will need the following:

Either a hardware phone adapter or softphone application(often available for free)

A suitable broadband connection to the Internet

The benefits of using a SIP Phone service include-

Plug and play installation.

A cost reduction in per-minute call charges to PSTN numbers.

Free calls anywhere in the world to other users on the same network.

Number portability, allowing the a local number to be used anywhere in the world.

Often voice mail and other services are included.

There are however disadvantages, these are typically-

Reliability – A SIP phone will only operate if a working internet connection is present

Call Quality – Call quality can be affected if you do not have QoS (Quality of Service) in place

Support – If a business has different SIP phones in place getting support may prove difficult.