There are typically two kinds of VoIP switches: Class 4 softswitches and Class 5 softswitches. While Class 4 softswitches are typically used to transit VoIP traffic between carriers, Class 5 softswitches are intended to work with end-users and are ideal for both local and long distance telephony services.

In a significant VoIP switch industry development Completel, a French optic fiber operator, has signed a partnership with VoIP switch and services provider Siemens (News - Alert) Enteprise Communications to deliver a bundled offer that combines Completel's 100G Trunk SIP service with Siemens' IPBX and softswitch products as well as its OpenScape Office unified communications system.

The strategic alliance follows the completion of validation tests by both companies. According to company officials, the SIP service includes a combination of voice services delivered by Completel, which carries over one billion minutes a month over its own infrastructure.

The advantage of SIP-based communications is that they are powered across IP networks so they don’t require a traditional infrastructure. In addition, the service can be installed wherever there is an Internet connection. Businesses also benefit from gaining access to a wide array of features like virtual extension, inward dialing, automatic call response, conferencing, and more.

Completel recently also started selling its C-Cloud offer as a white label service for resellers. Delivered over Completel's 100 Gbps fiber backbone, cloud platform and data centers the C-Cloud service package includes virtual servers and turnkey solutions for data back-up and disaster recovery.  The French provider has also won a contract from the city of Paris to provide all of the city’s VPN requirements to over 1,000 sites including schools, leisure centers, rest homes and other establishments.