The telecommunication industry has been in this world even before the existence of VoIP. Traditionally, the government introduced a telephony system with hardware and wires with a public switch telephony network (PSTN). It was a complicated setup and also expensive. However, it made lives easier by providing a feasible option to make calls to dear ones and professional connections. The major issue with the traditional telecommunication system was that it was very expensive. The invention of VoIP technology brought a huge transformation in the global telecommunication industry. A VoIP Softswitch has proven to be a revolutionary solution that changed how the world’s telecommunication industry operated. In fact, it is claimed to be the real gift to the world’s telephony world. Let’s explore more about it in this blog post.
This blog post covers detailed information about this subject matter to give insight into the importance of this VoIP product. Here is the index of subtopics covered in this blog post:
- What is VoIP Softswitch software?
- What is the class 4 and class 5 Softswitch solution?
- What makes this VoIP solution a real gift to the telecommunication industry?
- How to avail of a Softswitch solution?
- Concluding notes
Without any further delay, let us delve deeper and explore all the information about this interesting topic.
1. What is VoIP Softswitch software?
Softswitch is a short form of the software switch. A software solution built by an expert VoIP software development company using one or more VoIP technologies to manage the role of a hardware telephony switch to run a telecommunication network is a VoIP Softswitch solution.
This VoIP solution resembles a PSTN switch that is connected to another switch to complete a network. At the end points, the Softswitch solutions offer the final output, which can be either call traffic or communication and collaboration features.
In the VoIP industry, five different types of VoIP Softswitch solutions are invented: from class 1 to class 5. Two popular Softswitch solutions in this industry, which are heavily in use are listed below:
- Class 4 Softswitch software
- Class 5 Softswitch software
The VoIP Softswitch solution providers have also invented a hybrid VoIP Softswitch solution, which blends the features of both class 4 and class 5 solutions within a single system to provide ease of management.
VoIP Softswitch Solution Provider
2. What is the class 4 and class 5 Softswitch solution?
As discussed in the previous section, the two most vital and popular Softswitch solutions in the 21st century are class 4 and class 5. To give a better understanding of these two important solutions, we have jotted down the information about these solutions.
Class 4 Softswitch
The major job of this Softswitch is to manage and regulate international VoIP calls. It manages the job of routing calls from local sources to international destinations. This solution sends international VoIP call traffic to the desired points from which the call is transferred to the predefined recipients. This platform manages a large volume of calls, which is why it is known as a wholesale Softswitch solution.
The wholesale service providers use this software to manage international calling businesses. Traditionally, the class 4 Softswitch software is used to manage just a single job of traversing calls from source to destination in wholesale. However, with innovations in technologies, the VoIP Softswitch solution providers come up with an array of features to perform more than just a call routing job with this software.
The following are the major features available in this software:
- Call routing strategies
- Call management
- Topology hiding
- Transcoding
- Support multiple protocols
- SIP proxy support
- Traffic control
- VoIP protocol conversion
- Multiple carrier support
- Integrated billing system
- Active call reports
- Call detail reports
- And more
Class 5 Softswitch
This solution is used to provide carrier grade communication and collaboration features to businesses, SOHOs, and even to individual professionals. This system deals in the retail market, which makes it popular as a retail Softswitch solution. Along with offering communication features to end users, this Softswitch is responsible for completing the telecommunication network by connecting with wholesale Softswitch solutions. For long distance calling and international calling at cheaper rates, this solution is used.
One of the major advantages of using VoIP communication using this solution is the cheap cost per call even for international calls. With the progression in time, providers added more and more communication features to this software to make it more advanced for businesses that use this software.
The following are the major features available in this software:
- Call transfer
- Call forwarding
- Caller ID
- IVR
- Call queues
- Call hold and retrieve
- Music on hold
- 3-way conference calling
- Call recording
- Blacklisting
- Holiday or time based call routing
- Reports
- And more
The provider can also offer integration of a VoIP billing solution into this software to automate the billing process.
VoIP Billing Solution Provider
3. What makes this VoIP solution a real gift to the telecommunication industry?
As you now understand, both types of VoIP Softswitch solutions dominate the VoIP telephony industry. This is the time to explore in detail what makes this solution a real gift for the world telecommunication industry.
Provides a complete and connected telephony network
In an ideal scenario, class 5 and class 4 Softswitch solutions will be connected with each other to provide a complete telecommunication network to the users. The class 5 Softswitch software will be availed at the ends of the telephony network and the wholesale switch will be in the middle parts.
The wholesale switch will receive calls from the retail VoIP Softswitch and traverse them using any of the call routing strategies based on predefined algorithms. The wholesale VoIP Softswitch may traverse calls from one class 5 switch to another retail switch or to another class 4 switch. Class 4 softswitch will traverse the calls until they reach the destined class 5 switch or VoIP data.
This is how the class 5 and class 4 Softswitch solutions will complete the VoIP telephony network. If these Softswitch solutions would not exist, it would have been difficult to imagine having a telephony network with VoIP calling features.
Makes VoIP calling cheaper
The VoIP based Softswitch solutions have multiple features that facilitate the world’s telecom network to reduce cost per call. The wholesale VoIP Softswitch uses different call routing strategies to offer the best communication services for long distance calls at cheaper rates and other criteria. LCR (Least Cost Routing) helps in reducing the long distance call cost by selecting the call routing lines that are the cheapest.
The class 5 switch reduces telephony expenses by offering cheap communication using the SIP calling mechanism. It will also provide intercom support and make extension to extension calling free, which drastically reduces the telephony cost of businesses.
One of the major reasons businesses and end users love using VoIP communication solutions is cheaper rates. If these solutions were not available, it would not have been possible for businesses to save money. The invention of these solutions helped businesses save more money and control their telecommunication expenses and save funds.
Makes the management of VoIP telephony infrastructure easier and cheaper
Along with end users, for VoIP service providers also these Softswitch solutions make a huge difference. Traditionally, VoIP providers used to use hardware based solutions to offer telephony services to end users. Bulky hardware and intricate wiring are used to make the whole network quite complicated and expensive for the providers. However, the invention of these software switch solutions removes the need and intricacies of hardware systems.
The software based wholesale and retail switch is quite easy to manage. In fact, with the invention of cloud computing platforms, it will be even easier for providers to manage infrastructure remotely and securely. The development companies add GUI based web apps to let businesses use this software even when the providers or their teams don’t have technical expertise.
Along with making the software easy to manage, this type of system helps in reducing the cost of expenses. The capital investment of providers would be quite low as they won’t need to get heavy infrastructure. In fact, cloud hosting platforms can reduce the cost of infrastructure even more since the provider doesn’t need to have physical space for setting up the infrastructure
Makes VoIP telephony adaptable
The Softswitch completes the VoIP telephony network, but what is even more vital is making things better and cheaper. These solutions are one of those VoIP solutions that cover the major IP telephony market by catering to end users and service providers.
These solutions add excellent features along with value added functionalities to let businesses and other users enjoy fascinating features. Moreover, even if features are increased, it lowers the cost of communication. This makes the offerings more alluring for businesses and end users. In addition to that, businesses can integrate their enterprise solutions with these Softswitch solutions.
Moreover, the easy availability of solutions and supportive infrastructure such as cheap internet services make VoIP telephony solutions more adaptable.
Increase earning opportunities
These Softswitch solutions are multilingual and can serve multiple countries or people speaking languages other than English. Additionally, this software also supports multiple currencies, customization to add custom features, device independency, portability, scalability, multi tenancy, and other amazing characteristics. All this helps in generating more earning opportunities for businesses and VoIP service providers.
Businesses and even the government are now investing in technologies like 5G, wireless communication, etc. making it more affordable to adopt communication features made available with a class 5 Softswitch solution and class 4 Softswitch solution.
4. How to avail of a Softswitch solution?
These VoIP solutions are very much popular among service providers because the demand of services based on these solutions is quite high in the global market. Several entrepreneurs are interested in using these VoIP solutions. That is the reason. There are three ways to get this software.
Open source
Open source VoIP platforms have Softswitch solutions to offer free access to the software and code. If you have technical expertise in learning the installation process, you can install the software and make the required configuration.
Third party
If you are interested in enterprise solutions, then you have two options: you can either obtain an enterprise Softswitch solution from the open-source provider, or you can simply contact a proprietary solution provider to use this software. You will not need any type of technical expertise in this case as you will get installation and deployment services covered by the provider. If you want a customized solution and don’t have access to technical expertise, we also recommend this. For example, if you are interested in using a hybrid VoIP Softswitch solution, then a third party provider will have this solution.
Custom development
You can hire a company that holds experience in developing a class 5 Softswitch solution and class 4 Softswitch solution. This development company develops the required features for you, providing a tailored solution with standard or unique features. This would be one of the most expensive options, but it is worth it in multiple cases. For example, if you have some unique features in mind, then this would be the best option to invest in.
Concluding notes
In a nutshell, the VoIP telecommunication industry is heavily dependent on this Softswitch solution to keep offering services to end users and keep offering earning opportunities to VoIP providers. It offers many benefits to its users as a lighter and feature-rich VoIP-based Softswitch solution. From cost advantages to completing the world’s most in-demand communication system, a VoIP Softswitch solution has several advantages to offer. All this collectively makes it a perfect VoIP solution and a real gift to the telecom industry.
We, ASTPP, have been offering smart telephony solutions. We add better and value added features to VoIP solutions, including class 4 Softswitch and class 5 Softswitch solutions. Let’s connect over a call to discuss how our VoIP Softswitch can benefit your business or help you launch a whole new range of business. To book a call with our experts, contact us NOW!
