The quest of controlling fund allocation to save money for profitable business decisions is real for enterprises. The booming VoIP technologies and platforms have come up as a boon for these enterprises as it helps in cutting costs effectively. Not only in tangible ways but also reduces the expenses in intangible ways as well, so enterprises can save money from different and all possible directions. There are several effective IP telephony solutions invented by smart telephony platform developers and providers that reduce enterprise expenses and one of them is class 5 Softswitch software. 

How does a class 5 Softswitch solution cut costs for enterprises? 

Class 5 Softswitch is a brilliant telecommunication solution that comes up with amazing advantages. One of the major advantages of this software is the effective reduction in expenses. Let’s explore how it exactly happens and on what elements it cuts costs for enterprises. 

1. Infrastructure

The first thing to consider while setting up the retail communication network is clumsy infrastructure. An enterprise needs to set up gateways, wires, phone systems, routers, switches, and much more. The class 5 VoIP Softswitch simply provides a web app or software solution along with an IP phone or SIP Softphone for PC or mobile as part of communication. This system will have minimum hardware. Thus, it will reduce the cost of infrastructure. 

2. Set up

As explained in point one, the communication infrastructure will be minimal and hardware elements are negligible. Thus, the software will not need any huge setup. It will not need a big physical space to set up the software or telecommunication infrastructure. It will also not need technical engineers or expertise to set up the system to use for calling. This will eliminate expenses related to setting up an enterprise communication system. 

3. Communication

SIP based communication is always cheaper as it uses internet protocol instead of TDM lines. Thus, the cost of communication would be quite low while using a class 5 Softswitch solution. Even for international calls, the enterprise will face minimum and cheaper costs. Moreover, this VoIP based communication system makes app to app or extension to extension calling completely free. This makes internal communication absolutely free and saves significant money for a business. 

Enterprises need advanced communication and collaboration features, which are offered by the class 5 Softswitch software effectively. These features will be available as part of the solution and the business will not need to pay additional for the same as it needs to pay in the conventional telephony system. This further cut costs. 

4. Manual resources

This system not only saves on software and infrastructure, but it also saves on manual resources. It can automate call routing, attending incoming calls, sending a prerecorded voice message, and multiple other operations. This helps in saving time on manual resources. These resources can be used in other productive jobs of the business. 

5. Management

As it is a software solution, one does not need to manage it technically or in any other way. This saves on management costs. The GUI based application makes it quite easy to use this communication tool by any enterprise user. 

Concluding notes 

There has been an ever going debate between superiority of two VoIP Softswitch solutions:

Wholesale Softswitch aka class 4 Softswitch software 

Retail Softswitch aka class 5 Softswitch software

The VoIP service provider has been debating on the fact, which switch is the best and that is what we are going to delve deeper into this article.

To understand the difference between both of these VoIP solutions, let’s understand the utilities, working models and features of both of these software solutions.

1. Class 4 VoIP Softswitch

It is used to serve wholesale VoIP business by providing call routing services to international wholesale VoIP service providers. The major utility of class 4 Softswitch software is to deliver call distribution from source to destination for massive call volume. This switch serves to the retail VoIP service provider to connect end user calls to the destination, which can be local or international.

As the whole business model of class 4 Softswitch software revolves around call distribution, the major features supported by this software also revolves around different approaches of routing calls.

Key features supported by wholesale Softswitch:

Least cost routing (LCR)

CLI & non-CLI routing

Priority based routing

Prefix based routing 

Lossless routing

And more

2. Class 5 VoIP Softswitch

This third party or open source Softswitch solution is used to provide communication services to the end user. It supports all communication features to deliver exceptional communication services. Usually, class 5 Softswitch software is used to cater to the communication needs of local customers and it can handle hundreds of calls in parallel to serve clients.

As the class 5 Softswitch solution is used to deliver end user communication service, all features of this software revolve around communication.

Key features supported by class 5 VoIP Softswitch:

Calling 

Call queues

Ring group

Voicemail

3-way conferencing

Call hold and pickup

Call mute and un-mute

Call forwarding

Call transfer

Call barring 

Blacklisting

Whitelisting

IVR

Holiday based call routing

Call logs

And more

Working model of Softswitch solutions

As now you understand both of these VoIP Softswitch solutions, let’s now understand how these two systems work in a harmony by exploring its working model. 

Any local call initiated by a user will be routed by the class 5 Softswitch open source or proprietary solutions. If the destination is local, the call will be connected between source and destination using this open source Softswitch solution only.

If the call destination is international, the call will be passed to the class 4 VoIP Softswitch solution and this switch will route the call to the destination. At the destination, it will assign this call to another class 5 Softswitch solution, so it can be traversed to the receiving party.

As you can understand, both of these solutions have their own roles to play in the VoIP communication network.

Conclusion

Both of these VoIP solutions have different utilities and serve different purposes. Thus, each of these solutions are important and are popular as the best solution in the respective domain. For example, in the VoIP wholesale market, there is no other software better than a class 4 Softswitch open source solution. Likewise, to deliver exceptional calling services to the end users, you cannot find any better option than a class 5 Softswitch open source solution. 

Class 5 Softswitch Solution Development For Current and Future Requirements

Technologies evolve. Markets change. VoIP service providers and carriers need to realign to take advantage of emerging opportunities and to stay current. In this scenario, sticking with existing legacy class 5 softswitches can prove to be a bottleneck to further expansion or to meet current demand. It pays for such services to look to the present and future in class 5 softswitch technology, development and deployment.

Market realities

Carriers and VoIP service providers may be satisfied with serving wholesale market with class 4 softswitches and including class 5 softswitch as an afterthought for retail. Today, the retail segment presents great opportunities for cloud voice platforms and technologies that have capabilities to handle not just voice but also video and media. This calls for the latest in class 5 softswitch development. This carries forward the standard features while including better capabilities to scale, virtualize and put in place a flexible IP multimedia subsystem environment to service the retail segment. Mobility is one reason to have a class 5 softswitch in the IP network. Businesses that relied on PSTN are now switching over entirely to VoIP communications. Even home users realize the advantages of VoIP, especially for long distance and international calls. Competition between carriers is fierce. Older softswitches are expensive to maintain and have limited functionality.

Custom development the key

Each carrier and service provider’s infrastructure is different and so are customers and usage patterns across various segments. In this scenario it is custom class 5 softswitch development that will satisfy technological needs. In addition, customization extends to billing and account management, further facilitating the financial side of operations. The crucial factor is how well the class 5 softswitch development is aligned with existing infrastructure and business models to fit right in and be future-proof while including scope for further expansion. The cloud based softswitch is a natural choice since it leaves the onus of upgrades and maintenance on the vendor.

Smart technologies

Intelligent and State of Art Class 5 Softswitch Software for VoIP Service Providers

VoIP use is burgeoning, especially in the retail segment and VoIP service providers need to be ready to meet this demand. According to marketwatch.com the VoIP market is poised to grow to USD 190 billion by 2024. Retail segment will grow considerably, boosted consderably by the use of mobile devices in the VoIP communication chain. Managed IP PBX will account for the highest share. In both use case scenarios, the class 5 softswitch plays a key role.

Service complexity – broader possibilities

Legacy class 5 softswitch software may not be quite capable of addressing use case scenarios. Today’s operations are different from the previous generation where PSTN and voice connectivity were all that the setup had to deal with. Today’s VoIP configurations are inherently more complex and make use of, among other things, the IP Multimedia System and the class 5 softswitch must integrate with this and other topoligies to facilitate IP to IP calls, audio, video and conferencing using a variety of devices. Service providers may expect softswitches to include functions of IMS and also integrate well into various existing topologies in service provider networks. VoIP service, naturally, want the broadest possible integrations to take in IP, internet, PSTN, embedded services, value added multimedia and user services that they can offer to retail customers or to resellers.

Customization the key

Against this backdrop it is obvious that standard class 5 VoIP switch software is going to prove inadequate for the present and estimated future use case scenarios of a VoIP service provider or carrier serving retail end points. Customization is the key and roping in a developer to offer advanced tech class 5 softswitch with assisted implementation can create an infrastructure that permits smooth, ununinterrupted flow of bulk traffic with no hitches. Apart from the technical side where class 5 softswitch developers factor in the existing network topology of service providers and design the softswitch to fit right in, there are other considerations too.

Monetizing tool

VoIP service providers are sitting in a zone from where they can reach out directly to retail and individual users and also appoint a string of resellers. In addition, with class 5 softswitch in their kitty, they can offer value added services to bulk users such as WebRTC, unified messaging, personal communication and so on. Here too, customization by class 5 softswitch developer can result in:

White labelling: Service providers get white labelling softswitch they can brand in their own name and create a favorable brand image.

Language customization: A Europe or Asia based service provider will naturally want local language for billing, statements and other purposes.

Billing: A billing module that has the facility to let service provider set rates for different customers, for resellers and for end users and thus offer satisfaction in addition to generting optimal revenues.

Easy monitoring and controls: This part is indispensable and needs to be customized to suit the business model and how the class 5 softswitch is used.