How to Use SIP to Join Any Video Meeting from Your Office Screen

You’ve just walked into a meeting room, tapped the screen to start your video call, and realised the host sent a Zoom link—not a Google Meet link. Instead of scrambling for a laptop or asking someone to resend the invite, you can now join that meeting directly from the room’s screen using SIP (Session Initiation Protocol). It’s like having a universal remote for every meeting platform.

SIP is a standard way for devices to connect to calls, and Google Meet hardware now supports it. This means your office screens can dial into meetings hosted on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, or any other SIP-compatible service—without needing extra apps or cables.

What SIP is and why it matters

SIP (pronounced “sip”) is a set of rules that lets devices start, manage, and end real-time communication sessions—like video calls. Think of it as the digital handshake that says, “Hello, I’d like to join this meeting.” Most video conferencing systems use SIP in the background, but until recently, Google Meet hardware couldn’t initiate calls to external systems this way.

Now, with SIP support on Meet hardware, your meeting room screen can dial a meeting ID or phone number just like a traditional video conferencing system. This is especially useful in offices where different teams use different platforms.

How to join a meeting using SIP on Google Meet hardware

Here’s how to use this feature in a typical office setup:

1. Turn on the Meet hardware Press the power button on the screen or camera bar. The device will boot up and connect to your office Wi-Fi or wired network.

2. Open the dial pad On the main screen, look for an icon that looks like a phone keypad or says “Join by SIP.” Tap it. If you don’t see it, your device may need a software update—check with your IT team.

3. Enter the meeting details You’ll need:

   • The meeting ID (often a number like 1234567890)
   • Or a SIP address (e.g., [email protected] or [email protected])
   • Sometimes a password or PIN

   Type or paste the details into the dial pad and press Call or Join.

4. Wait for the host to let you in Once connected, you’ll see a waiting screen. The host will need to admit you—just like in a regular video call.

5. Use the room controls You can now use the touchscreen to:

   • Mute or unmute your microphone
   • Turn your camera on or off
   • Raise your hand (if the host supports it)
   • Share your screen (if enabled)

💡 Tip: If the meeting uses an IVR (interactive voice response) system—like “Press 1 to join the main room”—you can use the on-screen keypad to enter numbers.

Troubleshooting common issues

Even with SIP, things can go wrong. Here’s what to check:

• No dial pad? Your device might be on an older software version. Ask IT to update it to the latest firmware.
• Call fails? Double-check the SIP address or meeting ID. A single digit wrong can stop the connection.
• No audio or video? Make sure the room’s speakers and camera are plugged in and powered on. Also, check that your network allows SIP traffic (port 5060 is commonly used).
• Can’t hear others? Try switching to a different speaker or headset if available.

If problems persist, your IT team can enable SIP logging on the device to diagnose the issue.

Wrap-up

SIP support on Google Meet hardware is a quiet but powerful upgrade. It turns your meeting rooms into universal video endpoints, ready to join any call with just a few taps. Next time you’re in a room and the host sends a Zoom link, you’ll know exactly what to do—dial in, wait for the host, and focus on the discussion, not the tech.

Try it today: the next time you’re in a meeting room, look for the SIP dial pad and give it a go.