Softphone
Short answer: A softphone is an application that places and receives phone calls over the internet, almost always via SIP, from a computer, tablet or smartphone. It stands in for a desk phone: you type in SIP credentials, the app registers with the provider, and calls are made or answered through a headset or your speakers.
Softphones span free open-source tools all the way to paid business clients, but every one of them needs the same small handful of details from your provider.
Definition
The name sets software apart from hardware handsets. A softphone bundles the SIP user agent, audio codecs and a dial pad into one application.
How it works
- Type in the SIP server address, username and password.
- The app registers so incoming calls know where to find it.
- Outgoing calls go out as SIP INVITEs, with audio encoded through a shared codec such as G.711.
How it applies to SMS Conecta
Any softphone that follows SIP standards works with a SMS Conecta number. Site guides cover Zoiper, Linphone, MicroSIP, Bria and Groundwire. SMS Conecta doesn't publish a mobile app of its own; if you'd rather skip installing anything, the browser-based web dialer lets you call from any number you own.
Softphone compared with the web dialer
| Softphone | Web dialer | |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | An app like Zoiper, Linphone, MicroSIP, Bria, or Groundwire | None needed; it runs right in the browser |
| Getting set up | Type in the SIP server, username, and password | Just log into the dashboard |
Related terms
- SIP
- Web dialer
- Codec G.711
- NAT and STUN
Frequently asked questions
Do softphones cost money?
Plenty don't, like Linphone and MicroSIP, while others such as Bria are paid. Either way, the number and SIP service are billed separately by your provider.
Is a softphone mandatory for SMS Conecta?
No. You could just use the browser web dialer, forward calls elsewhere, or read SMS straight from the dashboard.
Why does my call connect but I hear nothing?
One-way or absent audio is almost always a NAT issue. Turning on STUN or switching to TCP or TLS usually clears it up.
Can the same number register in two softphones at once?
How that behaves depends on the setup involved; the SIP troubleshooting guide walks through the common scenarios.