---
title: "How do I give my business phone customers both a desktop and mobile app?"
topic: "White-Label / Wholesale"
updated: 2026-07-09
canonical: https://acrobits.net/resources/knowledge-base/desktop-and-mobile-softphone/
summary: "Cloud Softphone gives your subscribers native iOS and Android apps from a single provisioning configuration. Pair it with a WebRTC or native desktop client and they reach the same number on every device. Both sides draw on one subscriber record and one credential set, so call history stays consistent across mobile and desktop."
---

# How do I give my business phone customers both a desktop and mobile app?

> Cloud Softphone gives your subscribers native iOS and Android apps from a single provisioning configuration. Pair it with a WebRTC or native desktop client and they reach the same number on every device. Both sides draw on one subscriber record and one credential set, so call history stays consistent across mobile and desktop.

**Cloud Softphone gives your subscribers native iOS and Android apps from a single provisioning configuration. Pair it with a [WebRTC](/voip-glossary/webrtc/) or native desktop client and they reach the same number on every device.** Both sides draw on one subscriber record and one credential set, so call history stays consistent across mobile and desktop.

## Why desktop and mobile softphones create provisioning issues

Many operators start with a mobile softphone and later get requests for desktop. The instinct is to add a separate Windows or macOS app, which creates three problems:

  - **Two provisioning systems.** Separate apps mean separate onboarding flows, separate credential delivery, and separate update cycles.

  - **Inconsistent push behavior.** Mobile apps need push notifications for incoming calls. Desktop apps use persistent connections. If both are registered, you need call forking logic on the switch.

  - **Double the support surface.** Different apps from different vendors means different bugs, different logs, and different escalation paths.

## What Cloud Softphone covers on mobile and desktop

Cloud Softphone provides [native apps for **iOS and Android**](/resources/knowledge-base/best-softphone-ios-android/) from a single provisioning configuration. One subscriber record, one set of credentials, and one branding package, all deployed to both mobile platforms simultaneously.

For desktop coverage, operators typically combine Cloud Softphone with one of these approaches:

**WebRTC-based desktop client.** A browser-based softphone that subscribers access from any desktop. No separate desktop install is required. Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chromebooks. Some operators already have a WebRTC client from their switch vendor.

**Native desktop app.** A dedicated Windows or macOS application for subscribers who need persistent presence or hardware phone integration. Cloud Softphone's provisioning can share SIP credentials across mobile and desktop clients.

**Unified provisioning.** Cloud Softphone's provisioning system delivers SIP credentials, codec settings, and feature flags through a single endpoint. Whether the subscriber activates on iOS, Android, or a desktop WebRTC client pointed at the same SIP account, the configuration stays consistent.

## How one account works across multiple devices

SIP supports multiple simultaneous registrations per account. When a subscriber has Cloud Softphone on their phone and a desktop client on their laptop:

  - **Incoming calls ring both devices.** The switch forks the INVITE to all registered endpoints.

  - **The first device to answer wins.** The other stops ringing.

  - **Outbound calls use the active device.** Caller ID stays consistent regardless of which device originates the call.

The only operator-side requirement is ensuring your switch supports **multiple registrations per AOR** (Address of Record) and handles call forking correctly. Many modern softswitches support this.

## How mobile push differs from desktop registrations

The biggest behavioral difference between desktop and mobile:

  - **Mobile (Cloud Softphone):** App is suspended by the OS. Incoming calls arrive via push notification handled by [SIPIS](/voip-glossary/sipis/), Acrobits' push infrastructure (operational since 2009), which works regardless of which softswitch you run. Battery-efficient, 99%+ reliable.

  - **Desktop:** App stays running. Uses a persistent SIP REGISTER. No push needed; the socket stays open because desktops do not aggressively kill background processes.

This means your switch needs to support both push-triggered and persistent registrations for the same subscriber. Cloud Softphone handles the mobile side; your desktop client handles its own connection.

## How to deploy desktop and mobile softphones

The fastest path is to deploy [Cloud Softphone](/cloud-softphone/) for mobile, pair it with your existing desktop WebRTC client, and [unify credentials through your provisioning system](/resources/knowledge-base/provision-softphone-hundreds-users/). From there your subscribers reach the same number on every device they use.

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