Private Branch Exchange (PBX)
A PBX (private branch exchange) is a telephone system within an enterprise that switches calls between enterprise users on local lines while allowing all users to share a certain number of external phone lines. The main purpose of a PBX is to save the cost of requiring a line for each user to the telephone company’s central office.
PBX 357
PowerMind Business Solutions LTD offers the professional IP PBX 357 Open standards Telephony Platform. PBX 357 is offered in business and Call center each supporting specific features maximizing performance, reliability and expandability.
Overview
Make and Receive Calls
View Missed Calls – Call back
Network of Connected Phones
Shared Phone Network
Save Calling Info and History
PBX Features
PBX 357 is compatible with most of the IP phones on the market. Use the same extension on multiple devices.
PBX General Features
- Caller ID
Call Forwarding
Call Transfer
Call Queue
Call Waiting
Streaming hold music
Voicemail to email
Call Blocking
Advantages
The initial setup and ongoing costs are generally less for operating a VoIP system than a more traditional phone system. As VoIP works off your internet connection, there is no need for a traditional phone line. This means that you only need to deal with one account, one bill, for both internet and phone.
Calls from PC to PC over the internet are free. Calls from PC to landline usually have a cost attached but the rates are significantly less than with a traditional phone line.
A VoIP phone system is distinctly different from a traditional phone system. Distance or location makes no difference to a VoIP system, whether you are calling your head office on the other side of the country or making a call to the other side of the world. As long as you both have an internet connection, communication is possible.
All that is necessary is that you sign into your broadband account. If you are frequently on the road, or away from the office but wish to remain connected, you can do so at minimal cost. VoIP is much more convenient than a traditional phone line.
Unlike a PBX (Private Box Exchange) a VoIP network has a great deal of flexibility. With a private, internal phone network, you are limited to how many phones can be added to the system by the number of lines available within the system. With a VoIP network, you are limited only by bandwidth, so thousands of connections can conceivably be made.
If you have a reliable internet connection with good bandwidth, you should experience voice quality that is the equal of, if not better than, a traditional phone connection. If you are in a rural area without a strong connection, your qualities will suffer. See “Latency” below.
Traditional phone services have a selection of extra features for which you usually pay more. VoIP is different. It comes with a wide selection of extra features like call forwarding, call waiting, voicemail, caller ID, three-way calling and more. You can also send data like documents and pictures while you are engaging in conversation.
VoIP also has the advantage of allowing you, your staff, and your clients to hold video conversations, access and exchange data files, and more, while the conversation is ongoing. This allows for more integrated and flexible meetings that can seamlessly include people from multiple office locations throughout the world.
Checklist Of Criteria For Switching To VoIP
The business must have hardware for running off SIP. SIP (Session Initiation Protocol ) is the means by which Internet telephony service providers (ITSPs) are able to deliver telephone services and unified communications for customers equipped with SIP-based private branch exchange (IP-PBX).
The business owners must be interested in saving money. If saving money is less important than a familiarity with an existing traditional PBX-based telephone system, then VoIP is not for you.
Are you looking for a greater scalability of system? VoIP allows you to grow into a phone network system in ways that a traditional PBX cannot.
The business must have access to high bandwidth. VoIP will not function satisfactorily without it. Check with your ISP provider if need to upgrade your bandwidth.
Summary
Most business owners agree that the advantages of VoIP far outweigh the disadvantages. PowerMind Solutions is a network service provider that specializes in building networks that are tailored to meet your specific needs, including VoIP capability. If you match the criteria required and are interested in finding out more about what we offer, contact us.