21 February 2006

SIP Becoming Widely Accepted VoIP Standard

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is fast becoming the widely accepted standard for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) that allows convergent multimedia/multi-modal communication, according to a report.

According to a report by Frost & Sullivan, “SIP is anticipated to replace the traditional modes of communication, transforming IP communications, creating an alternate communication industry and reducing network elements to mere call-forwarding devices”.

Technology incorporating the SIP standard is expected to witness particularly strong growth in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

However, the report warns that due to the intensifying pressure faced by application developers to improve time to market, there is a growing need to standardise video services, in particular. In this context, it will become essential for the regulatory body to become proactive and issue specifications and guidelines to limit proprietary solutions from entering the market.

"Vendors will need to collaborate and test their solutions extensively", said Shomik Banerjee, Industry Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. "Certification testing will also prove beneficial in assisting mainstream adoption of SIP-based applications and services."

SIP offers several advantages over legacy protocols as it assists equipment vendors and service providers in creating innovative solutions for next-generation networks. According to the report, SIP advantages include mobility, flexible message structure, media independence as well as forking impart flexibility to application developers and reduced deployment time for service providers and system integrators.

"SIP will have to support mixed media and mixed protocol environments to remain successful", concluded Banerjee. "Further, commoditising call control and offering it as a reliable, independent platform will have a profound effect on the uptake of SIP."