Starting from countries with a developed information technology sector, the SIP technology application has spread globally within just over half a decade since its inception, contributing to the socialization of the telecommunications industry worldwide, including Vietnam.
The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is used to establish sessions over IP networks. Each session can represent a two-way phone call, a notification of messages, etc. The SIP standard is similar to the earlier H.323 protocol in that both can establish and transmit call signals over the Internet. However, unlike H.323, SIP is a peer-to-peer protocol that interacts in real-time, allowing it to manage information within complex network structures.
Since its announcement by the Internet Engineering Task Force in 1999, hundreds of manufacturers have begun to produce SIP-enabled servers and phones. SIP also plays a crucial role in many multimedia applications such as instant messaging, video calls, and online gaming.
In recent years, the VoIP community has recognized SIP as the leading protocol for signal transmission over the Internet. This technology has become an essential component of integrated data (text) and voice (audio) IP networks. For example, companies can save costs by using a single line to a desktop computer with IP (eliminating the need for a second line for traditional telephones). In this case, the computer acts as a softphone, allowing users to make calls by selecting numbers from their PC’s contact list.
In addition to Internet phone applications, SIP is now widely implemented in e-commerce as well. Being an HTTP-based protocol, SIP facilitates the easy integration of voice with other web services to enable multimedia communications such as video conferencing and live interactions. Customer call answering units can now be replaced by a more efficient Internet protocol-based communication center capable of managing multiple channels, thereby enhancing customer relationships.
Analysts predict that SIP will maintain a strong position in wireless technology and third-generation (3G) mobile networks. Cisco and many IP PBX manufacturers are incorporating SIP into their hardware, while platforms like Skype, Yahoo, Microsoft, and America Online have integrated SIP into their instant messaging systems. The renowned telecommunications company WorldCom has also established a dedicated SIP technology business and collaborated with Microsoft to support the protocol in the Windows XP Server beta release.
In Vietnam, SIP standards were only applied to international Internet phone services starting in late 2005. The pioneering service for this application is Voice777 from the New Generation Telecommunications Center (VNGT). The Computing and Data Communication Company (VDC) and Saigon Postel are also investing in technology and infrastructure to launch new services using the SIP protocol.
Domestic providers will need to invest further for the new application to be widely accepted in the market, but it is undeniable that in 2006, SIP applications will continue to be a prominent topic in Vietnam’s information technology and telecommunications industry.
Hai Nguyen
