VoIP Softphones for Business Applications

VoIP usage with corporate networks is a vital requirement. As businesses attempt to serve their customers more efficiently while providing more localized service, there is a huge and growing demand for more sophisticated technologies utilizing sleeker, less cumbersome equipment.

The VoIP presence in most companies continues to consist of fixed handsets. This phone communicates via the corporate enterprise network. The phones then send and receive call data using the Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) or another VoIP call protocol.

Softphones, or software phones are a popular alternative to a physical phone, and are used to compliment and/or replace traditional desktop phones. A softphone is a graphical user interface (GUI), software application that resides on the user’s workstation, and uses a microphone headset as the Human-Machine Interface (HMI), in concert with the computer sound card. For bandwidth-constrained users, continued use of the SCCP protocol would be implemented.

The benefit of installing an easy-to-use and maintain VoIP softphone solution would give every field office the capability to communicate in a collaborative, real-time environment, without the need for physical hardware.

Benefits:

• Lower form factor of fielding actual equipment at field offices, where space may already be constrained.
• Ease of use and installation, as specialized training would not be as necessary. These tools are developed with simplicity and intuitiveness in mind.
• Ability to field at multiple field offices, regardless of mission type, as long as an enterprise network connection is present.
• For the cost of a license, softphones are scalable to needs; if another is required, the software is already available. This becomes important when a field office may not be able to receive hardware shipments, and saves worldwide shipping costs.
• Training and documentation will enhance end-user needs.
• Routing and switching architecture of the corporate network is already tailored to Voice over IP applications.

Most softphone vendors offer competitive licensing costs, and at approximately $300 per field office, company key decision-makers can be in touch no matter where they are. This capability can also be coupled with the company's mobile program, and automatically move calls to a manager's mobile device. Corporate IT will also benefit; installing on future systems before it is shipped to a field office would save time and money of doing the work onsite. Another IT staff benefit could be to include a “self-install” option, via use of a company-wide training initiative. Comparing the cost of a traditional IP phone versus a softphone, pricing is comparative, and training curve is lower.