| The Cisco Unified Communications Manager supports | | | | both physical connections. Physical connections are |
| the popular Session Initiation Protocol, or SIP. What is | | | | guided by something, such as cables and wires. A |
| SIP, and how does it work? SIP trunks are used by | | | | logical connection is wireless. |
| businesses who desire to use their IP-PBX as an | | | | The usual way to connect to the Internet Telephony |
| external as well as an internal communications device. | | | | Service Provider is via the Internet, but some people |
| Whenever you want to call someone who is not | | | | do use a private MPLS circuit. However, using the |
| located within your enterprise, you must have a | | | | Internet can have its limitations. The lack of QOS, or |
| Session Initiation Protocol trunk that will enable you | | | | Quality of Service, can mean that your connection |
| to connect to the traditional Public Switch Telephone | | | | may be less than stellar. Noise on the line and |
| Network, or PSTN. Instead of relying upon telephone | | | | dropped connections can happen, but most people |
| wires for a call centre solution, this PSTN connectivity | | | | are surprised and pleased at how well the Internet |
| comes to you from SIP trunking. | | | | can work for them. The ITSP can also connect with |
| SIP works by setting up video and voice calls over | | | | the PSTN, or Public Switched Telephone Network, |
| the Internet. As a signalling protocol, SIP also tears | | | | and in this way can communicate with both fixed |
| down these multimedia communication sessions. This | | | | landline phones as well as cell phones. |
| method works extremely well, and is virtually | | | | Since the Cisco Unified Communications Manager has |
| undetectable to those on the other end of the | | | | used SIP trunks for quite some time now, it was |
| telephone. No one will realize that you are not using a | | | | decided that some changes were imminent to keep |
| local provider such as AT&T or Verizon when they | | | | the system flowing smoothly. It is known that there |
| speak with you via an Internet voice call. | | | | are some limits to the direct configuration of the SIP |
| You will be connected to one of many SIP trunk | | | | trunks into the UCM, so Cisco recently took the step |
| providers when you make a call. These providers are | | | | of adding expanded support for Session Initiation |
| also known as Internet Telephony Service Providers, | | | | Protocol on all of their routers. |
| or ITSP. An ITSP has the ability to provide a | | | | This support is a feature that you may be interested |
| telephone number or numbers in most area codes | | | | in adding to your voice gateway. It is called CUBE, |
| worldwide. When using an Internet Telephony | | | | which is short for Cisco Unified Border Element. You |
| Service Provider, you also have access to features | | | | do have to pay an additional amount in order to |
| such as Direct Inward Dial (DID) and Caller ID. An | | | | make use of this software for your virtual call |
| ITSP is reminiscent of the Vonage service, but | | | | centre, but devotees of CUBE have found that it can |
| instead of one subscriber per home, you have an | | | | save your business money. |
| entire corporation as users. | | | | Veridian assists your contact centre with fulfilling your |
| Many people become confused whenever someone | | | | business needs and meeting your expectations for |
| tries to explain an SIP trunk to them. The part that | | | | return on investment (ROI) and profitability. For more |
| seems to confuse them the most is the fact that | | | | information and a free consultation, visit Hosted |
| the SIP trunk is not a physical connection, but a | | | | Contact Centre. |
| logical one. A T1 connection and a PRI connection are | | | | |