Generally, IP trunking is a broader term that encompasses various protocols for transmitting voice and data over IP networks, whereas SIP trunking is a specific form of IP trunking that utilizes SIP protocol for real-time communication.

IP trunking refers to the use of IP for transmitting voice and data between a business’s phone system and the service provider.  

SIP trunking is a specific type of IP trunking that uses the SIP protocol for initiating, maintaining, modifying, and terminating real-time sessions that involve video, voice, messaging, and other types of communication.

SIP trunking involves connecting an organization’s PBX system to the Internet through SIP allowing for the transmission of voice and other communication services over the internet. With SIP trunking the organization manages its own PBX equipment, and the SIP trunk connects the PBX to the internet allowing users to make and receive calls over the internet.  SIP trunking offers the organization more control over its infrastructure, it offers scalability to the organization allowing for a high degree of customization and flexibility in managing traffic.

Hosted VoIP involves outsourcing the entire telephony infrastructure to a third party service provider.  The VoIP service is hosted in the cloud, and users access the services through an internet connection.  Organizations have less direct control over the telephony infrastructure however they gain scalability and potentially lower upfront costs.

SIP trunking offers pre-configured scalability and typically involves fixed costs for allocated channels.

Elastic trunking provides real-time, automatic scalability, adjusting to call volumes dynamically, and only charging for the channels used.  Additionally, elastic trunking is more flexible and requires minimal configuration, making it suitable for businesses with fluctuating call volumes and dynamic communication needs.

Elastic trunking or burstable trunking allows an organization to automatically access the trunking capacity they need whenever their business requires it. This enables a greater level of flexibility for your business and typically follows a pay-as-you-use model.

A SIP Trunk is the conduit to deliver secure telephony services; a PBX is a physical phone system appliance.  

SIP trunks are the virtual connections that link the organization’s PBX to the service provider’s network.  They carry SIP messages, which contain the signaling information needed to establish and control communication sessions externally.  

A PBX is a private telephone network within an organization that manages internal communication.

VoIP is a broad term that refers to the technology of transmitting voice calls over the internet.  SIP is a specific protocol used for initiating, maintaining, modifying, and terminating real-time sessions that involve video, voice, messaging, and other communication applications.  VoIP is the overarching technology, while SIP is a specific protocol that falls under the VoIP umbrella.

SIP is a protocol that operates within the broader context of VoIP. They are not competing technologies but rather work together to enable voice and multimedia communication over the Internet.

SIP trunks are required primarily to facilitate the connection between an organization’s on-premises PBX and the external telecommunication network.  SIP trunks enable the integration of VoIP systems with the traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), provide scalability, offer cost savings, and support the transition to unified communication environments. SIP trunks serve as a key component in connecting IP-based communication infrastructure with external networks and legacy telephony systems.

SIP is not exclusively limited to VoIP as it is a versatile protocol designed to initiate, modify, and terminate multimedia communication sessions.  It is widely used in VoIP systems but can be used for other applications and non-VoIP environments through the use of conversion Gateways.

Hosted PCI compliance refers to a service provided by third-party vendors who manage the technical and security aspects of ensuring that credit card data is handled in accordance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). This standard is a set of security requirements designed to protect card information during and after a financial transaction. Here’s a more detailed explanation:

This hosted solution not only ensures compliance with industry regulations but also offers scalability, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility for businesses.

SIP trunking with hosted PCI compliance offers numerous benefits for businesses. One major advantage is cost efficiency; companies can avoid the significant expenses associated with on-premises PCI compliance solutions, achieving substantial cost savings, potentially up to tenfold compared to traditional setups. Additionally, the easy deployment of hosted PCI compliance services ensures seamless integration with compatible PBX systems, reducing implementation complexities and enhancing overall operational efficiency. Furthermore, this solution supports flexible customer service operations by enabling secure, compliant deployment of teams whether they work on-site, remotely, or are outsourced. This flexibility ensures that customer support is both efficient and secure, maintaining high standards of compliance while adapting to various working environments.

Ifonica’s SIP Trunking facilitates a seamless transition from traditional telephony to Unified Communications, powered by Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). It leverages the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to connect businesses to IP networks, replacing legacy systems reliant on costly and inflexible PRIs.