In any business environment, the need for an efficient business telephone system is necessary. Having one in place enables users to communicate and exchange information in a fast and cost-efficient manner.
Private Branch Exchange system or PBX system is a type of business phone system that is commonly used these days. Unlike phone systems that a telephone company or carrier runs for various enterprises, it serves a specific office or business.
A Brief History
The Pbx Phone System was first introduced during the time when companies were heavily dependent on manual switchboard operators. Not too long after that, electronic and electromechanical switching system started to take over and replaced the old scheme. The new system was called Private Automatic Branch Exchange or PABX, and, sometimes, Electronic Private Automatic Branch Exchange or EPABX. Today, it is more commonly referred to as PBX.
Components Of A PBX System
A Pbx Phone System includes the following:
- The PBX phone system’s internal switchboard
- Network of wires
- Power cards, control cards, logic cards, switching cards, and other related tools that aid in the betterment of the PBX operation
- Telco trunks that can transmit signals to and from the PBX
- A computer that can process date, logic, and control
- An Uninterruptible power supply or UPS that has batteries, power switches, and sensors
- Telephone sets or stations
- Housing materials such as vaults, cabinets, and closets
- Optional switchboard or console that can be controlled by a human operator
Fundamental Functions of A PBX System
A PBX phone system has four primary call processing responsibilities, and they are:
- To facilitate connections between two users through their telephone sets
- To disconnect calls every time users request for it
- To ensure that connections are secure the entire time the users need them
- To provide data and information necessary for accounting and other similar purposes
Other Features Of PBX
Apart from the four main functions of PBX enumerated above, it also offers other capabilities that businesses can request for from the manufacturers. Some of the most popular additional features are:
- Call blocking
- Call waiting
- Call transfer
- Conference call
- Auto dialing
- Music on hold
- Voice mail
- Welcome message
- Busy override
- Speed dialing
Benefits Of Using A PBX Phone System
When looking for a PBX phone system to adapt for your business, it is important to spend some time looking at what advantages you can get from it. Doing so can help you pinpoint if it really is worth the investment.
PBX can be implemented in all types of business, whether they are small-scale, medium-scale, or large-scale. Unlike other phone systems, its networking capacity is not limited to 5 or 10; it can actually take in more than 40 users.
If you have certain preferences on the functionalities of your phone system, you can program PBX to support whatever implementations you need to facilitate smooth communication between internal users and external users.
Many businesses opt for PBX also because of its economical aspects. Because this system works by routing incoming calls coming from outside lines to internal lines, and separate lines are not necessary for each user, it saves businesses money. The sharing of lines makes it more cost-efficient.
Overview On Hosted PBX Phone System
We already know that PBX is a phone system made up of both software and hardware components and acts as a company’s or business’ switchboard. Now, we will take a peek at what hosted PBX is, its types, and its functions.
A hosted PBX phone system is a service usually offered by telephone companies by utilizing the equipment already in place in their exchange premises.
There are two general classifications of hosted PBX.
The first one is the mobile PBX, which caters to mobile devices like smartphones, PDAs, and cellular phones. Unlike other hosted PBXs, mobile PBX does more than forwarding calls or data to other devices. It can actually facilitate communications and other various phone functions by making use of the keys and buttons, without the need to call into it first.
The other type of hosted PBX is called IP PBX. Its capabilities essentially appear the same as the mobile PBX to the end user, but if you look closely, you will find vast differences.
With the use of Internet protocol, this particular PBX phone system can be stored in a cloud and can be accessed through a certain IP network. It can virtually exist, meaning it can perform its duties as a software program, or physically exist, meaning it can be actually seen as a hardware part.
Summary
PBX phone systems are gaining more popularity because of their positive contributions to businesses. They can make possible remarkable cost savings, improve usage tracking and monitoring, and cut down calling costs.
