Wholesale voice
Call OriginationAlso known as Voice origination, Inbound origination
Definition
Call origination is the part of a call that starts on the public phone network and is delivered to a VoIP provider or phone system, usually through a DID number. In the carrier market it is the wholesale service of providing numbers and carrying inbound calls to a customer’s SIP infrastructure, the mirror image of termination.
How origination works
A carrier obtains number ranges from national numbering plans and assigns DIDs to customers. When someone dials one of those numbers from any phone, the call travels through the public network to the carrier, which sends a SIP INVITE over the customer’s SIP trunk. The customer’s PBX or platform then routes it to an extension, IVR or queue.
- Local and national DIDs give a local presence in a city or country.
- Toll-free origination is paid by the receiving business.
- Pricing is usually a monthly fee per number plus per-channel or per-minute charges.
Origination vs termination
| Origination | Termination | |
|---|---|---|
| Direction | Inbound to your service | Outbound to the called network |
| Built on | DIDs / numbers | Routes and rate decks |
| Typical buyer | Businesses, contact centres, apps | Service providers, carriers |
See call termination and wholesale VoIP for the other side of the market.
Inbound calls on mobile numbers
Origination quality is judged on answer reliability, caller-ID delivery and how quickly failed numbers are rerouted, since a missed inbound call is often a lost customer.
Mobile numbers are reached through the mobile network rather than a SIP trunk. A GSM gateway holding the SIM receives those calls and forwards them over SIP, so a business can answer its mobile numbers on the office phone system. GSMCalls handles this inbound path and records CDRs; see cloud GSM gateway.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between origination and termination?
Origination brings inbound calls from the phone network to your service; termination delivers your outbound calls to the called party’s network.
Is a DID the same as origination?
A DID is the number; origination is the service of carrying calls to that number onto your SIP trunk.
Can I get origination numbers in other countries?
Yes, from carriers with numbering rights there, subject to local rules such as proof of address.