| In most cases yes, it absolutely does. There are, | | | | wide variety of features. However, all the virtual |
| however, specific requirements that need to be | | | | PBX systems have quite a number of advantages |
| met to get the best out of a hosted VoIP | | | | over the conventional PBX systems. A virtual PBX |
| service. With that question out of the way, let us | | | | system offers all the features of the conventional |
| find out what hosted/virtual VoIP actually is. | | | | one, and more. |
| We are all aware of a PBX (private branch | | | | To begin with, you do not have to maintain a |
| exchange) system, which exists in offices and | | | | large physical piece of equipment, and have it |
| buildings. It is a piece of equipment that has | | | | operated by someone. A service provider |
| multiple phone lines coming in, which are shared | | | | maintains your own private virtual PBX. In the |
| with a higher number of extensions. An operator | | | | case of the conventional, premise based PBX |
| sitting by the PBX equipment answers the | | | | system, you cannot call outside the office without |
| incoming calls, and forwards the calls to specific | | | | incurring additional costs. |
| phones via phone lines inside the building. So, we | | | | The advantages of the virtual PBX is that you |
| need elaborate hardware that requires specialist | | | | can route your calls to any number, anywhere in |
| knowledge to operate, and someone to attend to | | | | the world, unlike the office based PBX, where calls |
| it. | | | | can be routed only to phones physically connected |
| By contrast, a hosted/virtual PBX does not | | | | to the system. Distance and location does not |
| require any software or hardware to be | | | | matter to employees as they can receive |
| maintained by you. A service provider maintains | | | | business calls wherever they are. |
| the system, and the calls are routed from the | | | | Hosted Virtual PBX systems are a great |
| hosted/virtual PBX to your telephones, directly, | | | | alternative for smaller companies who do not |
| without any sharing of lines. It's similar to the | | | | have the wherewithal to tie down their capital in |
| concept of website hosting, but instead of hosting | | | | PBX equipment. The initial start-up costs are also |
| your website, the service provider hosts your | | | | very low. |
| virtual PBX. | | | | Your service provider takes up the burden of the |
| The Basics of hosted VoIP and a The Virtual PBX | | | | complex system management in the case of the |
| The way technology is advancing, especially in the | | | | virtual system, which would otherwise be your |
| field of communications, small companies are now | | | | headache, if you have the conventional PBX |
| able to narrow the gap between themselves and | | | | system. |
| the larger companies but without a large capital | | | | The disadvantage of installing a conventional PBX |
| outlay. The case in point is the hosted/virtual PBX | | | | system is two fold. One is that you may soon |
| system. | | | | outgrow the small system you may have |
| In place of expensive telephony equipment you | | | | installed, and replacing your system - say, every |
| install on your premises, a virtual PBX system is a | | | | two years - to suit your growth is quite an |
| phone system - fully functional - available over | | | | expensive proposition. Second, you may decide to |
| your existing private network or your existing | | | | install a larger system right in the beginning, tying |
| Internet connection. You just need to subscribe to | | | | up your capital by paying more for a system you |
| a VoIP hosting service provider that offers what | | | | do not need right now. |
| you want. As your business grows, you can | | | | The hosted/virtual PBX system is not size |
| arrange to upgrade your hosted telephone | | | | dependent, but is based on the number of users. |
| system, enabling you to handle higher volumes of | | | | You can scale up, or scale down your system |
| calls and add extra telephone extensions, queue | | | | whenever you wish to, and pay only for what |
| extensions, IVR extensions, mailboxes and more. | | | | you use. |
| Virtual PBX systems are very affordable, and | | | | The conventional PBX system has the capacity to |
| offer the following benefits, among others, to | | | | handle a limited number of incoming calls - |
| companies of any size: | | | | depending on the number of incoming lines installed |
| - They typically have a very low initial start-up | | | | in the system. When more calls come in, the caller |
| cost, since no traditional PBX hardware/software | | | | receives a busy signal, and chances are you may |
| is needed on your premises. | | | | lose business. Upgrading, to add more incoming |
| - Upgrades are instant and cost-effective and, | | | | lines, is expensive. On the other hand, virtual PBX |
| since they are hosted, require minimal technical | | | | systems handle more incoming lines than any |
| support or maintenance. | | | | existing conventional system can handle. The caller |
| - Often times, they will offer cheaper calling rates | | | | never hears a busy signal, and if they ever do, |
| to cellular, national and international telephone | | | | then it may be time to change your service |
| numbers (least-cost routing) | | | | provider. |
| - In some cases, free calling between extensions, | | | | A hosted/virtual PBX system makes great sense |
| regardless of geographic location (virtual office) | | | | for businesses that have distributed employees, |
| - Real-time access to your hosted system | | | | and those who need to keep their initial capital |
| through the Internet, regardless of which city or | | | | outlay low. It is also advantageous for companies, |
| country you, or your staff, find themselves. | | | | small or large, whose incoming call capacity is |
| - Most will provide an Interactive Voice Response | | | | large, expect their requirements to change, and |
| (IVR) service, negating the need for a separate | | | | wish to offer toll-free and low-cost calls to its |
| IVR system, which can sometimes costs | | | | customers and employees. |
| thousands. | | | | Keep in mind that not all virtual PBX systems are |
| - Features such as voicemail that can be emailed | | | | created equal, and there are choices available for |
| to you and real-time, digital call recordings which | | | | you to select - to suit your style and type of |
| are available for download through a web | | | | business. Do some research before spending your |
| browser. | | | | money and make sure you deal with people who |
| Advantages of hosting your telephony compared | | | | are familiar and experienced with Voice over |
| to a traditional PBX System | | | | Internet Protocol (VoIP) and PBX hosting, to avoid |
| No one virtual PBX system is complete in itself, | | | | unnecessary expense and delays. |
| with a variety of service providers offering a | | | | |