What is Early Media in SIP and how is it used in an intercom?
Early Media is a term that refers to audio or video that is transmitted before a call is fully established. It means that media can be heard or seen before the call is officially answered.
In an intercom scenario, Early Media can be used to play ringtones or announcements, or even transmit audio or video before the call is accepted by the receiver. These improve the user experience by providing feedback before the call is answered.
As a SIP-based service, Robin intercoms support standard SIP call flows, including Early Media. The specific configuration depends on the SIP server or VoIP provider in your project, as these settings are typically controlled by the telephony platform rather than the intercom itself.
Not all endpoints support Early Media. This will depends on the devices being used as endpoints, which may be SIP phones, indoor displays, desktop clients, or mobile apps.
All three components (the intercom, the SIP platform, and the receiving device) must support Early Media for it to work.
If the endpoint does not support Early Media, the user will usually receive just a standard ringing signal and won't see video or hear audio until after the call is answered.