VoIP glossary - S
The HipTel VoIP dictionary (VoIP glossary) was created to help our users understand common VoIP terminology. Use the search feature to look up VoIP terms, or look up terms alphabetically. Have a question, still unsure what something means? Feel free to
contact us.
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) — Protocol set for initiating an interactive user session that uses multimedia such as video, voice, instant messaging and more.
Soft Phone — Also referred to as a USB phone, a soft phone plugs directly into your computer. It uses your broadband Internet connection as a telephone medium. Soft phones are great travel companions. Anywhere you receive Internet service on your laptop or desktop you will be able to plug it in and use; even on a wireless connection.
Switch — A device owned by your telephone provider connecting two telephone lines together. Often long distance calls are routed through a series of switches until it reaches its end destination. Each time a call is routed through a switch, the owner of the switch charges a rental fee for use on their switch.
Symmetric DSL (SDSL) — SDSL is a DSL line that has the same up and down stream feeds. SDSL can span a maximum of three kilometers or 1.86 miles.
