Softswitch
A softswitch (software switch) is a central interconnecting device in a telecommunications network, which routes calls from registered end points much like a traditional switch board, but does so by running as software on a computer server. Most softswitches manage VoIP signals and therefore require a conversion device such as a SIP trunk to route calls from the PSTN. A softswitch can integrate call management platforms to allow the billing and management of a large number of calls passing through a network.