Account owners must place an initial order as part of the onboarding process for getting their new SIP.US account up and running. The initial order prompt appears after the account clears the vetting process and converts to a full-status account.
Please note the initial order is not binding, and services can be modified at a later time. The purpose of the initial order is to streamline the account setup process so that you can add a SIP trunk service plan, purchase DIDs, establish a prepaid account balance, and add a payment method all at one time. The account will then be ready to configure to a phone system for service deployment.
Begin the Initial Order
Log in to the SIP.US customer portal and click on the Payment Center tab. The page will load and prompt you to proceed with an initial order. Click the link to begin the order.
Choose Channel Capacity
The first menu explains the SIP Trunking service plan. SIP.US provides a channel-based service plan in which each active call is treated as an occupied channel. You will need to choose a sufficient number of channels to meet your maximum call demand at any given time. If you exceed the channel capacity defined on the SIP trunk, the calls will fail until more channels free up from ended calls.
Choose enough channels for your usage:
- SIP.US provides unlimited calling to the US48 and Canada via the channel-based service plan.
- Inbound calls count as 1 active channel, outbound calls count as 1 active channel.
- If you set call forwarding on your account, such as forwarding all calls to a cell phone, please note that forwards occupy 2 channels (for the inbound call leg and then the outbound call leg).
- International calls are charged per minute and do not count towards your channel capacity. Those charges are deducted from the account prepaid balance (explained more in latter section).
Order Your Telephone Numbers (DIDs)
This order page allows you to define what type of new phone numbers you wish to add to your account. If you are porting your phone numbers in, you may not need to purchase numbers.
Determine what numbers you need to order:
- Standard numbers are for general purpose.
- Enhanced numbers are for your CID when making calls to emergency services (911). Single-location businesses usually purchase at least one Enhanced number. Please read E911 - Important Information for more information.
- If you port in your numbers, you can convert any standard number to an Enhanced number later in the customer portal. Please read How to Convert Standard Numbers to Enhanced for E911 Provisioning.
- If you order a Toll Free DID, you will need to add funds to the account prepaid balance for the per-minute call costs.
- Please contact the Billing team if you're looking for international numbers or vanity (specific) numbers.
Add Funds to Prepaid Account Balance
SIP.US recommends adding funds to the account balance in the event you need to place outbound international calls or if you use a toll free number. The associated per-minute charges will be deducted from this balance. A negative balance should always be avoided, because if the balance drops to a negative value, a call freeze will eventually engage and not allow any calling until the balance has been replenished to a positive value.
- The prepaid balance and monthly billing statement are separate.
- SIP.US provides an auto-replenish function which the user can define. Low balance notifications can also be set. Refer to this article to configure these options: Configure Auto-Replenish and Low Balance Notifications.
Verify Address
If you have yet to verify your business address, a screen will appear next, asking you to enter your business address and confirm the auto-locate address (via USPS postal system confirmation) and submit the address information.
Review and Place Order
The page will load a summary of the initial order and associated charges, which you will see on your first monthly billing statement. You may expand the "taxes and other fees" line for more information. You will then add a credit card for the payment method requirement.
NOTE: SIP.US does not store your credit card information directly and relies on a secure vendor.
Once you proceed with the order, you will see a final screen confirming your order details, as visible below:
Your account will then be considered in full active status. You can order additional SIP trunks, phone numbers, add funds, add/change additional payment methods, or make account changes at any time.
Choose Your Phone Numbers (DID Order)
An additional step is required to acquire your new phone numbers after placing the initial order. The initial order allows you to choose the type of phone numbers you would like to use, but it does not include the selection of the individual numbers from the SIP.US number pool.
You will navigate to SIP Trunking > Order Telephone Numbers to begin the number search. There, you may choose the state, city, and area code for the numbers you wish to use. You will not be charged again if the DID order matches what you selected in the initial order.
Refer to this guide on How to Order a Telephone Number for the step-by-step process.