Mobile numbers give customers another convenient way to reach your business. For teams using unified communications (UCaaS) or contact center (CCaaS) platforms, GSM gateways and FCS Mobile offer two approaches to mobile calling, each with different advantages and requirements.
GSM Gateways: Mobile Calling Through SIM Cards
A GSM gateway connects your business phone system to a mobile network using SIM cards installed in a physical device. Calls pass through the gateway, so performance depends partly on the mobile signal where it is installed.
Advantages
- SIM-based flexibility: Businesses can choose compatible SIM subscriptions suited to their calling needs, subject to carrier terms.
- Control over equipment: Your team manages the gateway and its configuration.
- Use of existing SIM numbers: Compatible existing SIMs may be incorporated into the setup, subject to carrier approval.
Considerations
- Location affects reception: Weak indoor coverage or poor signal at the gateway’s location can affect calls.
- Hardware needs maintenance: The device requires power, configuration, monitoring, and occasional replacement.
- Capacity depends on hardware: Simultaneous calls are limited by the gateway’s available channels. Expansion may require additional equipment.
- SIMs require administration: Multiple subscriptions, billing cycles, and SIM-related issues can add work for your team.
Mobile SIP: Mobile Calling Without an On-Site Gateway
Mobile SIP, offered by the telco as FCS Mobile, connects mobile calling to your business phone system through a SIP connection. It provides an alternative for businesses that want mobile connectivity without managing a local GSM gateway and its SIM cards.
Advantages
- Signal is not dependent on your office location: Calls do not rely on mobile reception at an on-site gateway. Your team’s connection to the service still needs reliable internet or supported network connectivity.
- Trunk hunting: Incoming calls can use an available channel within the configured trunk group. This helps accommodate concurrent calls instead of being restricted to a single busy channel, subject to subscribed capacity.
- Less equipment to manage: There is no on-site GSM gateway or collection of SIM cards to maintain.
- Provider-managed capacity: Additional call capacity can be arranged through the service provider, subject to availability and the subscribed plan.
Considerations
- Connectivity matters: Poor internet quality can affect calls, so a dependable connection is essential.
- Capacity must be sized correctly: Trunk hunting uses available channels. It does not provide unlimited simultaneous calls.
- Service terms shape the setup: Number availability, calling rates, caller ID, and supported features depend on the agreed service.
- Changes require provider coordination: Activation, capacity upgrades, and service adjustments may require provisioning time.
Compare the Two at a Glance
| Area | GSM Gateway | Mobile SIP |
|---|---|---|
| Connection method | SIM cards in a physical gateway | SIP connection to the service |
| Local mobile signal | Depends on reception where the gateway is installed | Does not depend on mobile reception at your office |
| Equipment | Requires gateway hardware and SIM management | No on-site GSM gateway required |
| Simultaneous calls | Limited by installed gateway channels | Limited by subscribed trunk capacity |
| Trunk hunting | Depends on gateway configuration and carrier arrangements | Uses available channels within the configured trunk group |
| Expansion | May require more hardware and SIMs | Requires provider provisioning and capacity availability |
| Costs to assess | Hardware, maintenance, and SIM subscriptions | Service charges, call rates, and connectivity |
Choose Based on Your Calling Needs
A GSM gateway may suit a business that prefers a SIM-based setup and has dependable mobile coverage at its location. Mobile SIP may suit teams that want less on-site equipment, trunk hunting, and mobile calling that is independent of local mobile reception.
For either option, the right setup starts with your expected call volume, peak simultaneous calls, and UCaaS or CCaaS requirements.
Book a Free Consultation with Tritel to compare the options and find a setup that fits your business.