This month, TMC launches SIP Magazine. I am elated about this launch and the industry has echoed my feelings. I have had extensive conversations with the true leaders in the world of SIP and they think the time is right for us to have launched this publication.

Here is my Publisher’s Outlook from the first issue of SIP magazine, January 2006. You will notice there are interviews as well which I will blog separately and probably individually. Feel free to post your comments on SIP and what you think about what I wrote for the first issue.

Our SIP Future

By Rich Tehrani

We are on the verge of entering into a world of united communications where we will be able to reach each other more effectively than ever before, regardless of device, operating system, or network. We will simply communicate without the need to worry about scrambling for lists of phone numbers or other unique identifiers tied to today’s devices and networks. We will know when the person we want to reach is available and we won’t be constantly interrupted during meetings and other important events if we choose to be unavailable. The new world of communications will be much better than it is today. We will be happier. We will be more productive. We will take control of communications - not the other way around.

One of the engines driving this future of simplified communications is SIP.

SIP stands for session initiation protocol, and is used extensively in instant messaging, voice, and video conversations. Furthermore it is at the core of IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem), an architecture designed to allow wireless and wireline service providers to provide next generation services in an integrated fashion.

SIP is the protocol that helps us be accessible anywhere and everywhere - on our terms. It allows us to stay connected to corporate PBXs regardless of location and lets corporations purchase SIP-based VoIP trunks to connect to their PBXs – eliminating the need for traditional voice T1s and related equipment.

SIP is the standard protocol for human communications of the future. It is a peer to peer protocol, meaning it does not need a centralized server to work but can interface with such a server if needed, for example, in a service provider implementation.

SIP is powerful and SIP is complicated. SIP can drastically reduce communications costs and increase communications speed and efficiency.

This magazine is devoted to the world of SIP. Our aim is to educate you on the latest developments regarding SIP and to help you understand how the products on the market can help you save money, make money, become more efficient, etc… depending on your needs.

TMC has been publishing magazines in the technology space since 1972. We launched the first magazine in call center space in 1982, Customer Interaction Solutions; the first magazine in the VoIP space in 1998, Internet Telephony; and now the first magazine in SIP. Thank you for you loyal readership over the decades. We promise that this magazine will be the objective voice of SIP and will help you to do your job better.