How Can Hosted PBX Help You Gain The Communication Balance

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How Can Hosted PBX Help You Gain The
Communication Balance
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Synopsis

• Things to Check before Implementing a Hosted PBX
  Solution
• Hosted PBX Understanding the Difference between
  PBX and VoIP
• How to Choose between a PBX and Hosted PBX System
• Hosted PBX and Other Types of PBX Systems
• How to Select the Best Hosted PBX System

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Things to Check before Implementing a Hosted PBX
Solution

• It is important to ensure that you have the
  infrastructure needed to start using a hosted PBX
  service. A good idea is to work with a service
  provider and have them review your current
  network infrastructure first. They will check it
  for compatibility and offer advice as well. You
  would require certain tools and equipment to
  start using the service. For instance, you need
  to have Power-over-Ethernet switches to make use
  of a hosted PBX service. In the absence of a
  compatible switch, you will not be able to use
  the service.
• Be sure to educate yourself about the security of
  your hosted PBX system. Many businesses do not
  realize the importance of keeping their system
  secure. The use of the internet makes it less
  secure, but you can use certain tools to enhance
  security. Similarly, you need to talk to the
  service provider and ask them about the tools
  they are using to ensure better security. Not
  paying attention to this point could cost you
  dearly, so ensure that your PBX system is safe
  and secure.
• Check the quality of your connection. You have to
  bear in mind that you will be using a hosted
  service the quality of which depends directly on
  your internet connection. Therefore, it is a good
  idea to evaluate the quality of your broadband
  connection before investing in a PBX system. You
  should always check the jitter first, which is
  the result of a congested network. It can keep
  you from enjoying a steady stream of data
  packets. Similarly, you should also check latency
  and packet loss. If you are opting for a hosted
  PBX system, you need to ensure that your
  connection does not experience any packet loss.
  You will notice a change in voice quality even
  when there is a 1 packet loss.

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Hosted PBX Understanding the Difference between
PBX and VoIP

• PBX systems are not new and have been helping
  businesses connect with customers for years.
  These systems utilize your standard phone line to
  help you make and receive calls. You will require
  a manual control board, a computer server, and
  several lines to start using your PBX system. The
  lines lead to an internal switching system that
  diverts calls to different phone lines. VoIP
  phones, on the other hand, help you make calls
  through the internet. It means that you require a
  high-speed internet connection to start using
  VoIP phones.
• Both systems may have different equipment
  requirement. In case of a traditional PBX system,
  you can get started with your standard analog
  phone equipment. It means that you usually need
  nothing more than a cordless or corded phone and
  a headset. You will have several equipment
  options when you put your money on a VoIP system.
  You will need a wireless or IP phone to connect
  to the internet. You may require more to utilize
  different features of VoIP systems.

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Hosted PBX Understanding the Difference between
PBX and VoIP

• Both systems vary greatly in terms of
  configuration options. While hosted PBX systems
  now offer good configuration options, you cannot
  compare it with VoIP systems. You will also find
  it much easier to configure and manage VoIP
  systems because you can manage everything
  directly from a computer. You do not require any
  serious knowledge to program and reprogram VoIP
  phones. You can use any internet connection to
  change your system settings. Moreover, you can
  use a PBX system to divert calls to different
  numbers, but you can achieve the same more
  efficiently when using a VoIP setup. These
  systems are considered more efficient because
  they also offer voice mail-to-text feature.
• Call quality may not be the same. As mentioned
  already, your VoIP system requires an internet
  connection to function properly, so you may not
  always experience great connectivity. Voice
  quality may seem better when using a PBX system
  because you have to use the traditional settings
  to take advantage of its features.

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How to Choose between a PBX and Hosted PBX System

• In most cases, a standard PBX (Private Branch
  Exchange) system works just fine. It is basically
  a simple piece of software that diverts several
  calls to different departments in your company.
  It also helps connect internal calls in a
  seamless way. When you have a PBX system
  installed, every call that comes to your office
  will first go to the automated attendant. The
  software will then direct those calls to their
  respective departments to ensure that caller can
  receive quality assistance in a timely manner.
• Similarly, the PBX will also manage all outgoing
  calls in a simple and hassle-free way. The most
  important thing to understand is that your
  traditional PBX system will utilize your regular
  landline to make and receive calls. It means that
  the biggest benefit of using this option is that
  you do not have to make a big upfront investment,
  as no special equipment is needed to get started.
  Do keep in mind that this type of system will
  work for you only if you already have the IT
  department and resources to manage it for you.

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Hosted PBX and Other Types of PBX Systems

• Standard PBX System It has been in use for years
  and is probably the most cost-effective way to
  divert calls to different extensions. You can
  start using it if you have a conventional
  landline phone. No specific equipment is needed,
  which is one of the best advantages of putting
  your money on a conventional PBX system.
• Hosted PBX System With a conventional PBX
  system, you have to manage everything on-site,
  which can be quite challenging at times. To
  resolve the issue, you can turn to a hosted PBX
  system. A VoIP provider will maintain it
  off-site, giving you the best service and total
  peace of mind. The provider will manage
  everything and you will only have to pay a
  nominal fee to keep using the service. It is also
  a cost-effective option because you do not need
  to make a large initial investment. Using a
  hosted PBX is a good choice if you have less than
  20 employees using the service.
• IP PBX System It is essentially an upgraded form
  of a traditional PBX. You may benefit from this
  system if you have many employees relying on the
  service. Keep in mind that IP PBX systems have a
  high start-up cost because you will be purchasing
  equipment to install the network on site. There
  may also be an ongoing cost because you will need
  a specialized IT department to take care of
  everything. It means that after making a good
  investment, you will be in total control of how
  your PBX should be configured, and of course,
  there will be no subscription fee that is
  associated with a hosted PBX system.

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How to Select the Best Hosted PBX System

• Will your benefit from a hosted PBX? It is an
  obvious thing to consider, but many people do not
  pay attention to it and select a hosted system
  just because they know it worked for someone they
  know. This is not the right way to proceed
  because you will be paying a set amount every
  month to use the service. You may be paying for
  services that you would never use. This is the
  reason why you should first determine your needs
  and then make a decision. Be sure to know how
  many lines you need, how many employees will be
  using the service, how many locations you are
  going to cover with the same system, and how
  often you will need conference calling features.
  By answering these questions, you will be in a
  much better position to decide if you should put
  your money on a hosted PBX or start with a
  conventional PBX system.
• Understand your bandwidth requirements. You
  should bear in mind that a hosted PBX is a
  cost-effective option, but the quality of service
  depends heavily on the bandwidth you get. If you
  do not go for additional bandwidth, your
  connection will not be able to handle voice
  traffic efficiently. Bandwidth is basically the
  speed at which data moves through the circuit,
  which is the reason why you may require a higher
  bandwidth to receive impressive voice quality.
  Keep in mind that depending on the number of
  employees using the service, a hosted PBX VoIP
  call may use up to 450kbps of bandwidth.
  Therefore, you should consider this point when
  opting for a hosted PBX service.

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