A SIP phone is a device or software that uses the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to initiate and manage phone calls. The audio data is transmitted over an Internet Protocol (IP) network using another standard called Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP). SIP phones are also commonly referred to as VoIP phones or VoIP clients.
SIP phones are generally classified into two main categories: hardphones and softphones. Hardphones, also known as desk phones or hardware SIP phones, resemble regular telephones but are equipped with IP-aware components that enable them to connect to an IP network using Ethernet cables or Wi-Fi. Cordless hardphones are also available and use the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) protocol to communicate with a base station, which then communicates with an IP-PBX using SIP and RTP.
Softphones, on the other hand, are software programs that provide telephone functionality. These can be installed on any computing device such as desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones, and use the SIP and RTP protocols to establish calls over an IP-based connection. Our Cloud PBX can be used with most popular hardware SIP phones and also comes with a free software-based SIP phone that offers extended functionality that is not possible with a hardphone.