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Get Prices → 📞 0121 268 0121SIP phones, softphones and VoIP handsets explained — what they are, how they work, the best brands and whether you actually need physical phones at all.
A SIP phone is any device that makes and receives calls using the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) standard — the technical protocol that underpins virtually all modern VoIP phone systems. When you switch to a cloud or hosted VoIP system, SIP phones are what your team use to make calls.
SIP phones come in two forms: hardware IP phones (physical desk phones that connect over ethernet or WiFi) and softphones (software applications on a computer or mobile).
A SIP phone is any device that makes and receives calls using the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) standard — the technical protocol that underpins virtually all modern VoIP phone systems. When you switch to a cloud or hosted VoIP system, SIP phones are what your team use to make calls.
SIP phones come in two forms: hardware IP phones (physical desk phones that connect over ethernet or WiFi) and softphones (software applications on a computer or mobile).
A traditional desk phone connects to a copper phone line. A SIP phone connects to your internet router or WiFi. It registers with your VoIP provider using SIP credentials, then makes and receives calls over your broadband connection.
A softphone is a software application — on a computer, tablet or smartphone — that works exactly like a physical SIP phone but without any hardware. You make and receive calls through your device's speakers and microphone (or a headset).
Softphones are ideal for remote workers, hot-desking employees, or anyone who prefers not to have a physical desk phone. The Telexico mobile app is a softphone — it gives your personal phone a separate business number that's fully integrated into your cloud phone system.
Not necessarily. Many businesses run entirely on softphone apps — no physical phones at all. This works particularly well for remote or hybrid teams. If you do want desk phones, Telexico supplies Yealink handsets pre-configured for your system, starting from £79.
Get a free quote from Telexico — we beat any renewal price, guaranteed.
| Feature | SIP Phone | Traditional Analogue Phone |
| Connection | Ethernet / WiFi | Copper phone line |
| Call cost | Included in monthly plan | Per-minute charges |
| HD Audio | ✅ Wideband codec | ❌ Narrow band only |
| Remote working | ✅ Use anywhere with internet | ❌ Fixed to physical line |
| PSTN 2027 ready | ✅ Yes | ❌ No — will stop working |
| Features (recording, AI etc) | ✅ Full feature set | ❌ Very limited |
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"Switched our entire office phone system and broadband. The team handled everything, zero downtime. Saving over £200 a month compared to our old BT contract."
"Had failover installed after losing internet for a whole day. Assure X kicks in within seconds. Our team didn't even notice when the main line dropped last week."
"Our dental practice needed reliable phones and fast broadband. Telexico sorted everything in one visit. The AI receptionist handles after-hours calls brilliantly."
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