#voip softswitch solution

VoIP is one of those technical industries that are full of jargon. Of course, VoIP development companies, service providers, developers, etc. understand all the terms. But, what about aspiring business owners, developers, engineers, technology lovers, and more who don’t have any idea about these technologies? Well, nothing to worry about as there are multiple tech experts that write articles on these buzzwords. One of the major buzzwords is FreeSWITCH billing and routing, which is often associated with a class 4 Softswitch solution and VoIP billing software. 

In this article, I will share all the important information that you must know to understand FreeSWITCH billing, as well as, the routing concept. 

What is FreeSWITCH billing and routing? 

It is built of two different words, FreeSWITCH billing, plus, call routing. If we break it down further, FreeSWITCH billing is made of two words FreeSWITCH and billing. So now, let’s understand what this jargon indicates. 

Routing is a technique of assigning calls to different carriers, VoIP termination routes, or even users that use VoIP calling services. Usually, VoIP service providers use a VoIP solution such as a VoIP Softswitch solution to provide VoIP services to end users. This solution would have different call routing rules. If we take a classic example of routing and billing, then it is associated with the class 4 Softswitch solution and this switch will have the following call routing rules: 

Priority based routing 

Prefix based routing 

Lossless routing 

Least cost routing 

Hybrid routing 

CLI and non-CLI based routing 

And more 

The service providers bill their customers based on the routing aka distribution rule they opt for or use. Please note that the service provider would also be charged from a carrier or VoIP termination service provider. To bill customers based on the distribution rules they use and to identify the profit or loss of the business, the providers use the best VoIP billing solution. 

Thus, billing and routing represent the phenomenon of billing customers based on the call routing strategies they use from the provider. FreeSWITCH billing refers to the VoIP invoice and bill payment software that is developed using FreeSWITCH technology. 

So altogether FreeSWITCH billing and routing represents a VoIP software solution that is developed using FreeSWITCH technology. It offers call distribution services and it generates invoices and bills for clients based on the distribution strategies they use. 

Added functionality of the platform 

A single client can use multiple or same call distribution strategies. Therefore, a FreeSWITCH billing solution needs to inspect each call routed for a client and the strategy used to offer this service. Likewise, a business may bill customers based on different other factors as well such as subscription fees, taxes, value added services, support, etc. Thus, the VoIP billing software implements multiple other aspects in generating invoices and bills and it doesn’t stay restricted to the distribution rules. But, it is one of the fundamental business models used by some service providers like wholesale VoIP business owners. 

The FreeSWITCH billing solution can be just a billing system or a comprehensive VoIP invoice and bill payment software. The latter type of solution is more advanced and along with generating invoices and sending PDF formatted invoices to clients, it can also let them make payments without any need for human intervention. This completely automates the business model with a single system. 

Concluding notes 

ITSP (Internet Telephony Service Provider) business is gigantic and it is widespread. From the highly developed countries like the USA to developing countries like Africa use services and offerings from ITSPs. There are so many amazing solutions and managed services offered by ITSPs. VoIP Softswitch based communication solutions are one of the major services offered by them. 

The ITSPs serve local and international customers. They cater to B2B (Business to Business) and B2C (Business to Customer) audiences in the domestic and international markets. To provide end to end services ITSP businesses need to use different VoIP solutions. The class 4 Softswitch and class 5 Softswitch are two commonly used solutions by these businesses. 

The best Softswitch can be any one of the wholesale and retail Softswitch solutions or it can be both of them. But, the question is how one can define the best Softswitch solution for ITSP. I will shed more light on this in this article. 

1. Features 

The best switch or software solution is the one that has all the required features. If it is missing out on some of the vital features, then it is of no use. For example, a class 4 Softswitch solution must have all major call routing strategies. In addition to that, if it also has a hybrid routing facility, then it is even better as it can give you a competitive edge. 

2. Add-on facility and features 

Some features are considered vital while using a retail or wholesale Softswitch solution. But, it might not come as an integral feature of the software. For example, a VoIP billing solution is one of the must have tools in an ITSP business. It is possible that the VoIP Softswitch does not have this feature because it is not just a set of few features. It is the whole functional software that one would need. In this case, even as an add-on, a business should be able to add these missing features or solutions in their Softswitch solution.  

3. Security 

In an ITSP business, security threats are common. Hack attacks and threats can make administrators lead to sleepless nights. Carelessness in this regard can invite dangerous losses such as monetarily loss, data loss, client loss, reputation loss, etc. Thus, the best solution is one that has a thorough security mechanism implemented into the system. For example, fraud detection and management software made available with class 4 and class 5 Softswitch solutions help in keeping the software, data, infrastructure, and clients secured. 

4. Scalability  

An ITSP business is one of the growing businesses. With the right strategy, skills, and tools, an ITSP can grow in leaps and bounds. Thus, all software solutions used to cater to clients must match the growth bandwidth of the business. The best retail or wholesale Softswitch solution is the one that is highly scalable and does not take too long to scale up the capacity of the software. 

5. Flexibility  

Another important factor that defines the best characteristics of the Softswitch solution in the ITSP business is its flexibility. It must be compatible with all operating systems and platforms. It must be flexible enough to handle changing environments, hosting platforms, etc.  

Concluding notes 

The driving factor behind the prosperity of the VoIP (voice over internet protocol) industry is the mounting demand for VoIP solutions among different users. From end users to small businesses, enterprises, and VoIP service providers, one or more VoIP solutions or services are used. Depending on the type of consumer, there are different VoIP solutions available. In this article, we will discuss more about open source VoIP billing software and how it dominates the VoIP industry and touches other industry verticals as well.

What is a VoIP billing solution? It is a versatile VoIP system that handles different aspects of a VoIP business to support a service provider with high business efficiency. The business aspects managed by a billing system in a VoIP system are listed below: -Client management -Tariff management -Rate card management -Billing and invoicing -Payment processing -Reports -And more

The billing software can be used with any VoIP solution such as: -Multi tenant IP PBX -WHMCS VoIP platform -Class 4 Softswitch -Class 5 Softswitch -Calling card system -SIP trunk software -DID number management -Call center software -And more

Types of VoIP billing platforms: Depending on different factors, you can segment types of billing solutions. The major and popular type of this platform is based on its license. Open source VoIP billing solution, which comes under GPL (General Public License) and is available for free. Proprietary billing software comes under a private license and you need to pay a license fee for that. In this article, we will explore how the open source billing software has been dominating the VoIP industry.

1. Proven track record A majority of open source VoIP platforms have been in the industry for decades. These platforms have become more mature and advanced over the years. Thousands of businesses worldwide use one or more open source VoIP solutions and share their feedback, questions, concerns, etc. on the forums. A huge community of open source contributors contributes to the enhancements and advancements of these platforms. This helps open source platforms, including open source VoIP billing solutions to mature over the years and provide the best software that has efficiently benefited thousands of businesses worldwide.

2. Simplify billing and invoicing for businesses The popular open source Asterisk or FreeSWITCH billing software simplifies the process of invoicing and billing with its value added features. The businesses can define different rate cards, tariffs, etc., and assign them to different VoIP products or services. The customers can also have a specific billing plan. This is a simple process as a provider does not need to manually perform this job every time. Even added taxes or penalties can be added to the invoice. Everything will be performed using a GUI based panel, which further simplifies the process.

3. Automate billing to save resources The open source VoIP billing software developed using FreeSWITCH and OpenSIPS will automate the whole process of invoicing and billing. Even the most intricate billing will be performed automatically. The software will create an invoice and send it directly to the user as per his or her billing cycle. This invoice will also have a link for payment processing. This software will also send a receipt of the bill and payment in PDF format. More than 95% of actions will be automated and will not require manual resources. This will not only speed up the process and make it more efficient, but it will also eliminate manmade errors.

4. Allow customized billing based on business requirements The open source platforms give access to the code of the software along with the solution. This gives the flexibility of customizing features, modules, etc. of the VoIP billing software solution. Businesses can not only use a white label VoIP billing platform, but also add new features and modules or enhance the performance or features of existing ones to meet custom business needs.

5. Can be used with any VoIP platform or software The open source FreeSWITCH and Asterisk billing software can be integrated with any VoIP solution regardless of its VoIP development technology. Unlike many proprietary billing systems that can only be used with either a multi tenant IP PBX system or a calling card system, but not with any other solution. This makes open source billing platforms dominating in the industry.

6. Cost effective The open source VoIP billing solution comes under GPL, which provides software access with code for free. It means you can use an open source VoIP platform for free without investing a penny in it. In case, if you don’t know how to install or configure a software solution, then you may need to take technical help, which would cost you a certain fee. But, the open source FreeSWITCH and Asterisk billing software solutions come for free. The same software can be used with more than one VoIP solution without investing anything in addition. For example, if you are using a DID number management and class 4 Softswitch solutions, then for both of these VoIP solutions, you can use the same open source platform to automate billing and invoicing. You don’t need to pay an additional fee for that like a proprietary billing platform.

Concluding notes All major driving factors of open source billing software make it the best platform, which businesses and the best VoIP service providers have been using for decades. The open source VoIP billing solution providers constantly add new and advanced billing features of this platform, which keeps it on the list of top billing platforms even if there are thousands of proprietary billing solutions available. In a nutshell, the open source VoIP billing software provides two major influencing benefits to businesses:

Superior functionality

Zero investment

VoIP service providers use different types of VoIP solutions to run their businesses and generate revenues. In some cases, from class 4 Softswitch software to hosted calling card platform, SIP trunk software, multi tenant Softswitch, and multiple other VoIP solutions are used by the providers to run an omnichannel business. On the other hand, some service providers choose to ace one of the top VoIP solutions to dominate one market segment in the VoIP telephony world. The multi tenant IP PBX software is one of the solutions that are majorly used by businesses to run the business as the best VoIP service provider.

To help these service providers, the VoIP software development companies have come up with an IP PBX system that is built by leveraging the power of cutting edge technologies and multi tenancy characteristics. Let’s explore more details about this software and how it benefits service providers.

1. Enterprise grade communication 

The enterprise grade voice and video communication have become necessary in businesses. The service providers can meet this business need by using the top multi tenant IP PBX system. This system uses cutting edge technologies such as FreeSWITCH to support hundreds of concurrent calls without degrading voice or video quality. In addition to that, the multi tenant PBX solutions also support enterprise grade communication features to empower businesses with a reliable and modern communication tool.

2. Excellent customer communication 

The multi tenant IP PBX platform supports several features that can help in delivering excellent customer support. Some of the key features available in this software to provide customer services are as below:

Call queues

Ring group

Time and holiday based call routing 

Call recording 

Call forwarding

Call transfer 

IVR

And more

3. Consolidated collaboration

The multi tenant IP PBX system not only provides excellent customer communication features, but also internal collaboration features like an extension to extension calling, voicemail, etc. All these features intend to provide a reliable collaboration tool to support remote work, too.

4. Centralized administration of communication

The multi tenant IP PBX software provides a centralized administration and control panel to the service provider. This not only helps in managing tenants, but also simplifies administration of usage of the system, assigning rate cards using a VoIP billing solution, etc. This software helps in delivering excellent control over the whole business model, which is much needed in this kind of business.

5. Monitoring with analytics 

Monitoring any business is necessary to get insights related to the following:

Customers

Demanding features or services 

Experience 

KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)

The modern multi tenant PBX solutions provide reports and insightful analytics that can help service providers gauge how the business is moving forward. This not only helps in optimizing workforce and service models to deliver a better customer experience, but it also helps in defining new profit making strategies based on the solid data available in the system.

Concluding notes

In conclusion, whether you use an open source multi tenant PBX or a third party multi tenant PBX solution, you can take advantage of having a centralized system to run your business as the best VoIP service provider. You can deliver excellent call quality along with enterprise grade features. At the same time, the multi tenant IP PBX software will ensure that you get complete and centralized control over all operations and tenant accounts. This gives a great business tool to generate revenue.

International travelling has become common nowadays. From leisure trips to higher studies, business trips and many more reasons encourage people to travel abroad. During their international trips, people have to communicate back home. International direct calling is quite expensive. There are some free applications available for international calling, but again, there are some limitations and inconveniences attached to it such as both parties have to have that app. The calling card solutions can be a great money saving tool that offers international calling services without any added hassle.

What is a calling card system? VoIP calling cards give a great solution for cheap international calling. The user receives a card similar to a SIM card from a VoIP service provider. This card will connect the call to either the provider’s VoIP route or to a dedicated route assigned to a user to call at international destinations. As these cards use a SIP based calling mechanism to connect calls, the cost of a call will be lower than direct calling. The platform used to manage these cards by a service provider is called VoIP calling card platform.

There are two types of VoIP calling cards available in the market: -Prepaid -Postpaid Both of them have the same mechanism as a normal SIM card for calling. Either you pay the bill at the end of the billing cycle or you recharge your card to use cheap international calling services. You can leverage the advantages of calling using any of these types of calling cards. In this article, I will share how you can save more money using the prepaid international calling card offered by a provider or one of the calling card resellers. Top tips to save money using prepaid international calling cards:

1. Choose a cheap calling card When you are looking for an international cheap calling card, there are plenty of options in each country. In fact, at the airport only you can get the best calling cards from calling card resellers. Some of the branded card providers cost higher for this solution and service. Thus, it is advisable to buy it from one of the providers that offer cheaper services and cheaper cards. The calling card solutions and their features can be explored in detail to buy the best and cheap option.

2. Use LCR for international calling The calling card platform offers an array of features to the service providers and one of the most useful features is call routing strategies. There are multiple strategies available to provide different services. For example, a priority call ensures that your call gets priority in routing and receives crystal clear voice quality. If you want to save on international calling, you must ensure that you use LCR (Least Cost Routing), which is the cheapest for international calling.

3. Take advantage of real time billing Real time billing is not available in each calling card system, but it is necessary. Check with your provider about its availability. It will make sure you can make calls only till you have a balance in your account and your phone doesn’t go in the negative balance. This is a cheaper solution for calling with a prepaid card.

To cope with transiting customer demands and increasing competition, businesses need to focus on increasing customer engagement. Along with using skilled staff, businesses also need to invest resources in getting the best tools. The good news is VoIP Softswitch solution providers offer multiple solutions as a hosted system, which takes off the concerns related to expenditures. Even the most advanced and feature rich multi tenant hosted PBX solution is available with a rental model.

A multi tenant IP PBX software solution, which is also known as hosted IP PBX system, is a full featured business communication platform. It strengthens all types of business communication, so the main need of the business can be satisfied.

1. Internal communication and collaboration get consolidated

The first thing businesses need to work on is consolidating internal processes, communication, teams, etc. The multi tenant PBX software helps in achieving this. It has some amazing features, which can consolidate internal communication and collaboration such as the extension to extension calling, call transfer, etc.

All these features can be accessed remotely. It means that business team members don’t need to wait till they meet in the office to connect with each other and discuss. Also, they don’t need to use any third party tool for remote communication, which may not log business conversations or may use sensitive business data.

2. Work as a customer engagement machine

Not only call center solutions, but a multi tenant hosted PBX solution as well works as a customer engagement machine. Yes, if you handle a lot of customer support requests, you must use a call center solution, but if you have moderate requests or if you don’t find need all features available in the contact center software, then using a multi tenant IP PBX software solution is sufficient as it has multiple amazing communication features to engage clients.

3. Let you track everything

Any conversation carried out via a multi tenant PBX software solution will be logged into the platform. It means you can see all details and statistics in the reports of this software to take the required decision or make the required changes in the strategy.

You can also record calls similar to contact center software for quality assurance.

4. Centralized communication

One of the major advantages of using a multi tenant PBX solution is that it centralizes the administration of communication carried out via different business branches. This can be a huge advantage as the main headquarter of the business will not only have access to all reports and recording, but it will also have access to administer features to be allowed to use in a business or not.

5. Will not cost the earth

Using a multi tenant IP PBX system can be very expensive if you choose to buy the license. But, thanks to VoIP Softswitch solution providers who offer PBX multi tenant solution as a hosted system with a monthly rental model. This makes the use of this platform easier and cheaper. You can also use an open source multi tenant PBX software system. But, in that case, you may end up managing technicalities related to the platform. Thus, using a hosted platform can be a boon for any business.

Concluding notes

In a nutshell, businesses in the 21st century need advanced and better solutions. Communication being an internal part of the business, using the top infrastructure for communication can define the present and the future. Using a PBX multi tenant solution can be expensive, but worth using as it is a full featured, comprehensive, reliable, robust, and scalable communication solution that any business can use.

To launch or to continue growing your business in the VoIP industry as a VoIP service provider, you will need the right Softswitch solution. Whether you use a class 4 Softswitch solution or a class 5 Softswitch solution, you have two options to choose from:

Hosted Softswitch solutions

On premise Softswitch solutions

Both hosted and on premise VoIP solutions have their own pros and cons. In this article, I will share a major comparison between both of them to help you choose the right software.

1. Setup and deployment

Your class 4 or class 5 VoIP Softswitch solution will be installed and set up by your hosted VoIP Softswitch provider if you use a hosted solution.

It will be hosted on the cloud of your provider and you don’t need to worry about buying this VoIP software and setting it up for your business.

If you choose to use on premise software solutions for class 5 and class 4 Softswitch software, then you will need to first buy your own cloud space or servers. 

In the case of an on premise solution, you will also be responsible for buying the Softswitch solution and installing it on the right platform.

2. Cost 

To use any VoIP solution, there are two types of costs involved: Capital investment and ongoing expenses.

If you choose to use on premise VoIP solutions for your business as a VoIP service provider, you need to invest a huge sum of capital because you need to buy the class 4 Softswitch solution or class 5 Softswitch solution. You also need to buy cloud space or servers. If you buy on premise servers, you will need a physical office and bare costs related to the same.

If you choose to use hosted Softswitch solutions, the only cost you need to invest in is the cost of using the VoIP Softswitch solution. You will neither need to buy software nor will you need to invest in hosting.

The on premise Softswitch solutions also need you to bear the cost of maintenance. 

On the contrary, the hosted Softswitch providers bear the cost of maintenance of the software. 

3. Scalability

The Softswitch solutions are used to handle massive call volume and aim to keep increasing the number of users and number of concurrent calls. In other words, it is a highly competitive business and the best VoIP service providers need VoIP software that is highly scalable. 

In the case of using on premise software solutions, you can scale up the software, but it needs considerable involvement in scaling up the software and related infrastructure along with the cost.

But, in the case of using a hosted system, hosted Softswitch providers will handle all intricacies related to scaling up the system. All you need to do is upgrade your existing package and pay an extra monthly usage fee for that.

4. Security

Security is often one of the major concerns of each and every VoIP service provider.

It is obvious that an on premise solution helps you keep your data confidential and private as you own the system.

Hosted VoIP Softswitch provider gives assurance of keeping your data secure and confidential.

Concluding notes

Having on premise or hosted Softswitch solutions needs you to consider different aspects before making the final choice. Both class 4 and class 5 VoIP Softswitch solutions are expensive platforms. Thus, using a hosted solution can make a huge difference in terms of expenses. Moreover, the hosted solution also has the advantage of fewer intricacies compared to on premise solutions because everything, from purchase to maintenance, upgradation, etc. will be managed by the hosted solution provider.