VoIP or PBX? Which is Best for Me?
For those in the early stages of evaluating your options for a new VoIP phone system, you’re bound to come across a lot of IT jargon. One particular area we often cover with clients is how this relationship shapes their various options moving forward and what they need from their PBX environment. With a clearer understanding of these factors, you’ll be able to better determine along with your staff or consultant which platform and set-up meet all your business communication needs that also aligns with any goals that may exist within the company as well!
If you’re looking for a new phone system, it can be difficult to understand whether your business needs VoIP or PBX. In this blog post, we’ll break down the differences between these two options and give you some tips on what to look for when making a decision about which one is best suited for your business.
What is PBX?
A PBX is a private branch exchange or phone network that you own rather than an outside company. With your own system, it’s easy to control and configure settings for things like call forwarding and voicemail options without needing help from another party- so long as the area of coverage doesn’t extend beyond your business!
What Does a PBX System Do?
The PBX is the most important part of your phone system. It takes call data and sends it to where it needs to go, so if you’re down then nothing works – that’s like being brain dead! All other parts such as firewalls, gateways, carriers; all work together with this one critical component in order for calls from you to reach someone else successfully.
Inbound calls are answered by the PBX and it can determine where to send them. This system also controls voicemail, automated attendants, transfer options, conference bridges, and menu options so that your business is not disrupted if there’s an issue with the phone systems.
Does a Hosted PBX use VoIP?
When working with a hosted PBX, VoIP really becomes an assumed component because you connect to the PBX via your existing internet connection. Since it’s your ISP that provides your internet connection, there isn’t any network configuration required on your part per se except for telephone configurations and potentially firewall issues.
VOIP headset on laptop computer keyboard concept for communication, it support, call center and customer service help desk
Using an On-Site PBX with VoIP
With an on-site PBX, in order for it to be used with VoIP, you need an IP based PBX. Unlike traditional analogues you won’t have physical phone lines running from the PBX to each of your phones; instead, they will use their own built-in network cards and special software that makes sure calls are routed properly over this new form of communication called Voice Over IP (VoIP).
You’ve simplified your voice and data infrastructure by combining the two. Not to mention, you’ll be able to reduce hardware costs by maintaining a separate network for each one. If this is not already well equipped with an existing internet connection or bandwidth capabilities, then it may require upgrades in order to accommodate more usage/traffic of these combined networks – but don’t worry! Your IT consultant will help analyse what needs upgrading depending on your current setup so that everything runs smoothly without any problems at all!
Don’t Forget About VoIP Enabled Phones
If you’re looking to upgrade your phone system and want a voice that stands out then check into VoIP enabled phones. These allow the registering of an assigned IP address, which will give customers something new to talk about when they call in! There are two ways these can be deployed: with hosted or onsite PBXs. But before making any decisions it’s important for business owners like yourself to do their research by consulting experts who offer unbiased opinions so you don’t end up regretting anything down the line; better safe than sorry!
Need Help? Contact Gulaga Networks Today
There are many options available when it comes to VoIP and PBX systems, but they all vary in price and features. Contact Gulaga Networks today for an evaluation of your needs so you can make the best decision possible about a telecommunications solution that will work best for your business. We’re here to help!