Softphones, VoIP adapters, IP phones - as a rule, connecting IP telephony is carried out using specialized equipment. You can avoid unnecessary costs for purchasing it using software installed on a regular smartphone - dialers for Android connect to the servers of a VoIP provider via the Internet and allow you to stay in touch anywhere in Russia and the world.
In addition to third-party applications, to connect IP telephony, you can also use the built-in SIP client, available on most devices with the Android operating system higher than the fourth version. To set it up, you will need the option to add accounts for Internet calls, which can be found in the smartphone menu, as well as additional information:
— SIP server address;
— SIP ID (login);
- Password.
This data must be obtained in the provider’s personal account and entered in the appropriate fields, after which you must set up a request to make calls via SIP. Among the advantages of the built-in client, it is worth highlighting the minimal consumption of system resources and simple setup; among the disadvantages are modest functionality and high energy consumption.
Softphone Telfin
Installing the application can significantly reduce communication costs - completely replacing standard equipment, it allows you to create a network with free corporate calls from anywhere in the world. To communicate with clients, the “Per-minute” tariff is applied. Despite the extensive functionality, using a softphone does not require making mandatory payments or subscription fees - you only need to pay for calls made.
Comparison table of SIP clients
| Multi-account | Flexibility of settings | Availability of a version for smartphones | Protocols | Video calling | Skin support | Recording conversations | Text chat | Peculiarities | |
| 3CX VOIP Phone | Yes | No | Yes | SIP | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | User-friendly interface |
| IP Phone | No | No | Yes | SIP | No | No | Yes | No | Balance display |
| X-Lite | No | No | No | SIP | No | No | No | Yes | |
| Zoiper | Yes | Yes | Yes | SIP, IAX, XMPP | No | Yes | No | No | Fax |
| QIP Infium | Yes | No | Yes | SIP, XIMSS (CGP) | Yes | Yes | No | No | Simple interface |
Setup process
The first launch of the program will require authorization using the login and password from your personal account of the Telfin.Office ATS or by reading a QR code.
After logging in, the application will need configuration, which can be done automatically - you just need to select the “QR code for launching iOS and Android applications” item in your personal account of the Telfin.Office PBX, and click the “Generate QR code” button.
Recognize the code that appears with the application by clicking the QR scan button on the start screen. After this, the system will synchronize the necessary settings and prepare the application for working with calls.
Detailed setup instructions
The best SIP clients for Windows
The most common operating system is Windows. Therefore, there are quite a lot of SIP clients for this operating system. We will add the following programs to the list of our most popular clients:
- 3CX VOIP Phone;
- For free;
- X-Lite;
- Zoiper;
- QIP Infium.
Let's look at them in more detail.
3CX VOIP Phone
The 3CX VOIP Phone softphone for Windows is one of the most popular SIP clients. The advantage of the program is its light weight, which ensures fast downloading on any channel. After launch, a pleasant interface will appear on the screen, reminiscent of the most common mobile phone . When you first start the program, you will be prompted to add an account.
3CX VOIP Phone supports multiple accounts at once, which is useful for those who use the services of several providers at once.
If you downloaded 3CX VOIP Phone from the official website, you should add the Russian language - this is done in the settings, which are called up using the middle button (as on Android smartphones). What is the functionality of this program?
- Ability to make video calls;
- Status setting – available, out of office, auto answer, forward to voice mail;
- Ability to make calls on several lines at once;
- View call history;
- Recording conversations to a file;
- Speed dial support.
The program is quite simple, but its Russification suffers - some items still remain in English. When we go into the settings, we will find that there are very few of them. Users can select sound devices and a camera, determine the behavior of the program when the computer is in various modes, and set noise suppression. Here you can set the appearance of the program - there is support for various skins.
Zadarma
Zadarma is the simplest and most intuitive IP softphone. We can say that this is the simplest SIP client for Windows. The program itself is Russian, although some items are in English. An undoubted advantage is that this phone can request and display the balance on the account being used. Display of access numbers is also supported. It should be said that the program is focused on the SIP provider Zadarma and works only with it. Only one account is supported.
When setting up this program, you specify the login and password for your account on the Zadarma website. Authorization by SIP ID is not supported.
X-Lite
The X-Lite softphone has an English-language interface and a rather pleasant appearance.
There are large digital buttons right on the main screen - you won’t be able to miss them. Below, contacts and favorite numbers are selected, and call history is displayed. The status is set a little higher, and a window for exchanging text messages is also called up there. The volume control and contact search bar are also located here. There is practically nothing in the program settings - here you can edit sound alerts, select sound devices, and set codecs to work with certain providers. Here you select the language that needs to be downloaded and installed separately. Account settings (and one) are located in a separate tab, here you can perform fine-tuning.
Zoiper
Zoiper SIP client is available in three types:
- Free version;
- Business version;
- Individual version.
The free version of the client is available to all users, but it is somewhat limited in its capabilities. The business version contains support for additional audio compression algorithms, work with contacts has been improved and expanded, there is integration into the browser, a file transfer function and conference calling. The cost of the program is 33 euros. The individual version is paid, here branding is carried out for the customer, it is possible to order additional options and individual designs, and the balance is displayed. The cost of this version is calculated individually .
The free version of Zoiper supports SIP, IAX and XMPP protocols and can work with multiple accounts. Contacts are stored locally or on Zoiper servers, in a searchable global address book. The Russian language is already included in the starting distribution. The settings are very, very rich, the program can be customized to your liking. Program functionality:
- Video call support;
- Generation of comfortable noise;
- Noise suppression;
- Skin support.
There is no forwarding in the free version, and there is no advanced work with contacts. The interface is not very convenient and not very beautiful . It is also too intrusively suggested to purchase the business version - there is a note about this literally at every step.
Module in QIP Infium
The popular multi-protocol messenger QIP Infium contains a module for working with SIP telephony. The setup comes down to entering your account data and selecting the necessary codecs. The interface has a simple panel with dial-up, and it is possible to connect a USB phone. The ability to quickly access the provider's services is also implemented, but it does not always work - it probably all depends on the settings.
This “dialer” is suitable for those who do not want to clutter up their RAM with additional applications. But you need to remember that there is no additional functionality (except echo suppression) here.
Built-in SIP client on Android
Android smartphones already have a SIP client built into the phone. It is quite convenient and easy to configure - to connect it you only need to fill out three fields. This is a versatile softphone that supports many connection options. For this program to work fully, you should set your phone settings so that you can not only make but also receive calls on your smartphone.
There are quite a few softphones, in other words, softphones, on the market, and their number will undoubtedly increase, especially if we take into account the rapidly growing popularity of IP telephony. At the same time, there are several most popular models that have proven themselves over the years. Of course, everything written here is not the ultimate truth, but I hope that the note can help someone decide and make the right choice.
Advantages and disadvantages of softphones:
The obvious advantages of a softphone are ease of use and the ability to save on purchasing a separate telephone set. In order to make and receive calls, just launch the program on your computer and, if you have speakers with a microphone or a headset, you can talk. Therefore, if a softphone is free, then using it can significantly reduce the cost of an IP telephony solution. Softphones are also used as a temporary replacement for hardware phones or to try out IP telephony without purchasing equipment.
It is very convenient to use a softphone while traveling, making calls directly from your laptop, or store the softphone on a flash drive with a built-in sound card, which makes it possible to make a call by simply connecting the flash drive to the nearest computer with Internet access.
Types of mobile applications
There are three main types:
- Web application or mobile site;
- Hybrid application;
- Native application.
Let's look at each type in more detail.
Web application or mobile site
It is a regular website with advanced functionality. The main feature is that the operation of the application is entirely dependent on the Internet connection.
Sometimes such an application can be downloaded through the official store (Windows store, App store, Google play). But the application will still work using a browser. If the Internet connection is poor, the quality of communication will be poor. This is the main disadvantage of the web application.
The indisputable advantages are the ability to use on any mobile platform, low cost and fast development time.
Hybrid app
In essence, it is something between web applications and native ones. Such applications are downloaded from official stores and have limited access to the hardware of mobile devices. For example, you can set up push notifications. But the content remains cross-platform and hosted on the server.
In terms of cost, there are cheaper and more expensive hybrid applications. The price depends on how close the application is to the native one.
The main disadvantages of a hybrid application are:
- appearance that will not change depending on the mobile platform;
- limited information storage capacity; the application will download additional information from the Internet;
- complex optimization process for different screen sizes;
- development of some components (additional lines, sliding menu, etc.) from scratch each time.
Native app
A native application is the most labor-intensive, but most suitable for every mobile operating system. Development is carried out for each platform (Windows Phone, IOS, Android) separately. This is quite complicated and the deadlines will be longer compared to other types of applications. Accordingly, the price will be the most expensive. These are the main two disadvantages of a native application.
Clients for other OS
You can use IP telephony not only on a computer, but also on a smartphone. The optimal SIP client for Android is 3CXPhone - VoIP/SIP phone, it can be downloaded via Google Play. The program is very functional, fast and has a pleasant interface. The disadvantage is the lack of Russian language.
If you use the Zadarma service, we recommend that you download the Zadarma application for Android from Google Play. The program is easy to configure, can show the cost of calls, and can replace a standard dialer. This is an ideal client for Zadarma, which does not load the smartphone and does not lead to rapid battery consumption. The interface is Russian, it is possible to display service information - balance, tariff, user data.
The most popular SIP client for iPhone is the 3СXPhone program. It can work with multiple accounts and has great flexibility in settings, like its Windows counterpart. It is not surprising that this SIP client has become the most popular. The ForFone client is also in demand - the program has a clear interface, allows you to communicate by voice and in chat mode. The disadvantages include the fact that it is focused on working with the SIP provider of the same name.
Comtube subscribers will be able to use applications from their provider - they can be found in the AppStore. To make calls, you need an IP-Phone program, similar to the programs for the above-mentioned platforms.
