Making a Line Between Ip Pbx And Softswitch

"IP PBX and softswitch are quite related terms. There is very thin line between the two and I am exposing that line here. Many people think that these two terms are same. They must not think that after reading this article."


How do you differentiate between IP PBX systems and softswitches? They are relative to each other but there is a thin line between them and I am going to expose that line today. Let me assert to clear the little confusion in people’s mind that softswitches can be IP PBX systems but the reciprocation does not always work. The former is possible so as to avoid dependence on hardware. The latter, though, cannot be called softswitches. Their features are derived from hardware i.e. expansion boards.


The mention of the word IP PBX implies that the system supports VoIP communication to any handset or PSTN. For instance, Avaya and Nortel are IP PBX systems. Softswitches, on the other hand, pulls all their functionality from software. All the important features like call centre functionality, call handling and voicemail are handled through software with the basic system connected with PSTN. Asterisk can be quoted for this type of system.


Apart from the ones mentioned above, there are some hybrid systems like Vertical communications and AltiGen. They need hardware to operate (Vertical’s HMP systems) and are software based as well since they derive most of their features from software running on windows PC server.


Most of the VoIP Soft Switch allows for programming of APIs. This allows gateways to be programmed in common programming languages like VB or .net. We can quote the example of Asterisk which is programmable and AltiGen and TeleVantage includes COM object based SDKs allowing extensive control over switches. This helps in the creation of IVRs and custom based call management. Contrasting it with hardware based systems like IP PBX, it is not possible for the end users to alternate the gateway without any help from the service provider.


For the ones who are familiar with the vocabulary of TDM systems, let me assert that Softswitch and IP PBX are analogous to switch and PBX in TDM networks. Softswitch can act as a switch and can access technology based on IP/GSM/CDMA/UMTS/WCDMA. IP PBX, on the other hand, does the following:


• Converting IP phone calls to TDM calls with PSTN or other switches
• permits calls within IP PBX networks


I hope these facts have helped you in configuring the difference between the two. I agree that there are many confusions and confusions needs to be cleared with crystal clear concepts in mind.