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August 07, 2012

What is an IP Phone?

By Susan J. Campbell, TMCnet Contributing Editor

The constant focus to integrate the corporate environment into an all-IP environment has a number of users buzzing about the IP phone. With so much focus on the iPhone (News - Alert), it can be a little confusing to clarify that the IP phone is not quite the same – but can still deliver much of the same value for the enterprise.

The IP phone is designed to work within the VoIP (Voice over IP) environment. In essence, the IP phone allows you to make telephone calls over the IP network, converging voice and data over the same connection as an alternative to the standard PSTN. Calls made on an IP phone traverse the Internet, or the private IP network of a particular company.

To operate effectively, IP phones rely on protocols such as SIP (session initiation protocol), SCCP (Skinny Client Control Protocol) or any other of various proprietary protocols. The IP phone can be as simple as a software-based softphone, or as complex as a purpose-built hardware device that will appear to look like an ordinary telephone or a cordless phone. When an analog telephone adapter is in place, the ordinary PSTN phone can be used as an IP phone.

Those using an IP phone rarely notice that they are not using the PSTN as their functions remain much the same. When added features are optimized, however, users will quickly notice the advantage of the IP phone. For one thing, this platform will offer features such as e-mail like IDs for contacts that can be easier to remember over phone numbers or names.

There are specific elements that make up the IP phone, including the physical hardware, the STUN client, the DHCP client, the DNS client, the signaling stack, the RTP stack and codecs, including audio and video where appropriate. As stated earlier, the IP phone hardware will often resemble that of traditional phone system, or like a mobile phone. To work appropriately, however, the IP phone will offer additional hardware components.

The common features of the IP phone include caller ID; dialing using name or ID – this capability differs from speed dial as no number is actually stored on the client; locally-stored and network-based directories; conference and multi-party call; call park; preserving user name and number; applications; and call transfer and hold.

While the IP phone does require Internet access to make calls outside of the local area network (LAN), a compatible local PBX (News - Alert) can be made available to handle calls to and from outside lines in the event the VoIP platform is not available. IP phones also depend on electricity for operation, but any risk of power outage can be mitigated with the installation of a UPS.

Susan J. Campbell is a contributing editor for TMCnet and has also written for eastbiz.com. To read more of Susan’s articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Stefanie Mosca

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