Hosted PBX and VoIP: Which One Is Right for Your Business?

A hosted PBX system is a virtual phone system that is used by businesses of all types, sizes, and types. Hosted PBX services are great for companies that do not have enough space to accommodate a regular phone system. A hosted PBX service has many of the features of a traditional phone system, while at a fraction of the cost. A hosted PBX allows more than one telephone number to be connected to one company number. The hosted PBX even handles outgoing calls from multiple companies, without the need to own or manage each phone. Automatic messages, faxes, phone inquiries, touch-tone menus, conference calls, and incoming phone calls from other companies are all services provided by advanced…

The main advantage to hosted PBX services is the fact that it offers the same benefits as a traditional telephone system while at a reduced cost. This includes extensive data centers, which offer redundant power sources, air conditioning, heating, data storage, etc. Phone service providers have to maintain vast data centers to support themselves. Hosted PBX services utilize data centers so that small businesses can cut their costs and spend that money on more productive areas. Data centers also makes hosted pbx services more secure, by utilizing high-security measures such as firewalls and software that protect your business’ confidential information.

Another major benefit to a hosted fax service is the fact that it is much less costly than purchasing and maintaining an on-premise PBX phone system. If you purchase your own PBX phone system, you have to buy the hardware, plus the wiring and service plans. You also have to hire highly trained telecommunication personnel, rent phone lines, etc. A hosted PBX phone system only requires one owner/user, and no telecommunication staff. All of these fees are eliminated when you use a hosted fax service instead.

One big disadvantage of using a hosted fax service instead of making a phone call is that you can’t add additional lines to your hosted system. As mentioned before, data can be moved to data centers, but that also entails extra expenses. Many small businesses don’t have the extra funds to pay for this additional wiring. Some hosted PBX providers do provide additional options such as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), though, which allows you to make phone calls using an internet connection rather than a phone line.

A third disadvantage of a hosted fax service is that many providers don’t have the infrastructure in place to provide the high-quality audio and video that VoIP providers do. If your business relies on media players, cordless phones, or other analog devices for communication, you may want to consider switching back to a traditional phone line. On the other hand, if you depend on text-based communication, then switching to an IP PBX will likely be more cost effective.

One more advantage of a hosted fax service over a traditional phone service is that you don’t need to worry about technical support. Even if you get a poor signal or some problems, most providers offer great customer support. That means if you experience any problems you don’t have to spend hours researching the internet to find someone to solve it for you. Another advantage of a hosted pbx system is that if your internet connection is down, it doesn’t mean the end of the world. It means you have to get your business back up and running quickly. In the case of internet connections, this is usually not an issue, especially since there is such a large amount of data being sent through the internet at all times.

For some companies, there are advantages to switching to an on-premise PBX rather than a hosted PBX. One of the biggest advantages is that the on-premised ones have access to features like voicemail and call waiting. This allows you to get additional calls without having to pay for them. Many companies also have the ability to route faxes and make phone calls from their existing lines.

Of course, there are significant disadvantages to an IP telephone system. These generally include the fact that you don’t have any sort of portability so you can’t take calls with a portable phone. Also, if your area has a lot of congestion, you may be unable to place calls using an IP system. On the other hand, this is typically only an issue if you are talking to customers that are consistently using high volumes.