10 Reasons to Switch to an IP PBX
What is an IP PBX?
An IP PBX is a complete telephony system that provides telephone calls over IP data networks. All conversations are sent as data packets over the network. The technology includes advanced communication features but also provides a significant dose of worry-free scalability and robustness that all enterprises seek.
Enterprises don t need to disrupt their current external communication infrastructure: An IP PBX is able to connect to traditional PSTN lines via a VOIP gateway - so an enterprise can keep its regular telephone numbers.
How it works
An IP PBX system consists of one or more SIP phones, an IP PBX server and optionally a VOIP Gateway to connect to existing PSTN lines. The IP PBX server functions in a
...additional charges for services like caller ID, speed dialing, call waiting, call forwarding, and voice mail. All local and long distance calls within the U.S. and Canada are included in one flat monthly price. Long distance charges are a thing ...
The top 10 Reasons
Reason #1: Much easier to install & configure than a proprietary phone system:
An IP PBX runs as software on a
...sending voice signals in digital format in discrete packets that enables two or more computer users to converse between themselves. Many software companies have developed free software products exclusively for the use of Internet telephony. With the help of this ...
Reason #2: Easier to manage because of web/GUI based configuration interface:
An IP PBX can be managed via a web-based configuration interface or a GUI, allowing you to easily maintain and fine tune your phone system. Proprietary phone systems have difficult-to-use interfaces which are often designed to be used only by the phone technicians.
Reason #3: Significant cost savings using VOIP providers:
With an IP PBX you can easily use a VOIP service
...are even better because since VOIP uses the Internet, the settings on your VOIP phone can be changed and used from anywhere you can access your account online. For example, you can use any computer with Internet to use call ...
Reason #4 Eliminate phone wiring!
An IP PBX allows you to connect hardware phones directly to a standard computer network port (which it can share with the adjacent computer). Software phones can be installed directly onto the PC. You can now eliminate the phone wiring and make adding or moving of extensions much easier. In new offices you can completely eliminate the extra ports to be used by the phone!
Reason #5: Eliminate vendor lock in!
IP PBXs are based on the open SIP standard. You can now mix and match any
...you travel. As long as the place you are going to has an internet connection you can take your land phone line along with you in the comfort of a small Vonage connection box.Premium services like voicemail, caller ID, 3 ...
Reason #6: Scalable
Proprietary systems are easy to outgrow: Adding more phone lines or extensions often requires expensive hardware modules. In some cases you need an entirely new phone system. Not so with an IP PBX: a standard computer can easily handle a large number of phone lines and extensions just add more phones to your network to expand!
Reason #7: Better customer service & productivity:
With an IP PBX you can deliver better customer service and better productivity: Since the telephone system is
...free PC-to-PC calls. Gizmo Call especially is extremely easy to use and absolutely free without users requiring to register, or download software.To decide which VOIP service you would like to subscribe to, you should look at your requirements. If you ...
Reason #8: Twice the phone system features for half the price!
Since an IP PBX is software-based, itis easier for developers to add and improve feature sets. Most VOIP phone systems come with a rich feature set, including auto attendant, voice mail, ring groups, advanced reporting and more. These options are often very expensive in proprietary systems.
Reason #9 Allow hot desking
...CD, online or ebook format. They provide training in Canada and the United States.* TrainingCity offers a two-day seminar across North America, and will also provide consulting.* GBdirect provides a five-day instructor led seminar on VoIP training. The focus is ...
Hot desking the process of being able to easily move offices/desks based on the task at hand, has become very popular. Unfortunately traditional PBXs require extensions to be re-patched to the new location. With an IP PBX the user simply takes his phone to his new desk No patching required!
Users can roam too if an employee has to work from home, he/she can simply fire up their SIP software phone and are able to answer calls to their extension, just as they would in the office. Calls can be diverted anywhere in the world because of the SIP protocol characteristics!
Reason #10 Better phone usability: SIP phones are easier to use
Employees often
...might be associated with one or another Account, Contact, Lead, etc.Let s consider the process of the phone call/receiving or message recording: CRM User opens client form and reads telephone or skype ID to place the call. If she/he would ...
Not so with an IP PBX all features are easily performed from a user friendly Windows GUI. In addition, users get a better overview of the status of other extensions and of inbound lines and call queues via the IP PBX Windows client. Proprietary systems often require expensive system phones to get an idea what is going on on your phone system. Even then, status information is cryptic at best.
Conclusion
An investment in a software based IP PBX makes a lot of sense, not only for new companies buying a phone system, but also for companies
...appears to be no upper limit to the number of extensions. Every DTA and phone combination costs $100, and there exists a $40 activation fee per line.Because all the extensions attach to the equivalent PBX, calls to extensions and calls ...
Nick Galea is CEO of 3CX, http://www.3cx.com, a developer of IP PBX software. Nick has written articles & whitepapers about Network administration, Telecommunications Software, Security & VOIP.
