---
title: "How do I give my business phone customers both a desktop and mobile app?"
topic: "White-Label / Wholesale"
updated: 2026-05-06
canonical: https://acrobits.net/resources/knowledge-base/desktop-and-mobile-softphone/
summary: "Cloud Softphone provides native iOS and Android apps from a single provisioning configuration. Pair with a WebRTC desktop client for full coverage. SIP supports multiple simultaneous registrations per account."
---

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

> Cloud Softphone provides native iOS and Android apps from a single provisioning configuration. Pair with a WebRTC desktop client for full coverage. SIP supports multiple simultaneous registrations per account.

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

## The Multi-Platform Problem

Most operators start by offering a mobile softphone, then get requests for desktop. The instinct is to find a separate Windows or macOS app and bolt it on. This 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

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, one branding package — 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 install required. Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chromebooks. Many operators already have a WebRTC client from their switch vendor (Ooma, BroadSoft, Odin by Alianza).

**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** is the key. Cloud Softphone's provisioning system delivers SIP credentials, codec settings, and feature flags via 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.

## Same Account, 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. Most modern softswitches do this out of the box.

## Push vs. Persistent Connection

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

## Getting Started

The fastest path: 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/).

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