5.2. Hardphones, Softphones, and ATAs

There are three types of endpoints you would typically provide your users with that could serve as a telephone set. They are popularly referred to as hardphones, softphones, and Analog Terminal Adaptors (ATAs).

A hardphone is a physical device. It looks just like an office telephone: it has a handset, numbered buttons, etc. It connects directly to the network, and it’s what people are referring to when they talk about a VoIP telephone (or a SIP telephone).