VoIP PBX
VoIP PBX can replace traditional
PBX systems for businesses at a fraction of the costs.
VoIP PBX not only provide the same services but some
enhancements as well. When a VoIP PBX system is based
on the SIP protocol it offers advantages in flexibility
and scalability that many other systems simply cannot
offer.
In order to figure out your requirements
for your organization's new VoIP PBX system, you'll
need to analyze the features and functionality that
works best for your company's particular situation.
For example, if your company currently has a traditional
PBX system and wishes to upgrade to a VoIP PBX system,
the first bit of information you'll need to find out
is the number of concurrent, simultaneous calls supported
on the current system so that your new system can accommodate
this same number as well.
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The
next bit of information you'll need to know for
your new VoIP PBX system is how you'll want the
system to field calls. Does your organization
need direct calling to each individual phone or
do you want an operator to intercept and relay
the calls? If choosing to have calls fielded by
an operator then an attendant console will be
necessary. If you'd like an automated attendant
to direct calls to specific extensions through
a menu system, then you'll need a reporting system
for call-completion rate to see if an inordinate
amount of people drop out, thus warranting some
additional adjustments. |
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Perhaps you'll need your new
VoIP PBX system to have an automatic call distributor
so that incoming calls go to a pool of customer-service
representatives. You'll also need the VoIP PBX system
to have a monitoring system for answered calls, hold
times and call completion rates.
Most VoIP PBX systems currently
developed will handle several different protocols. The
most important (and common) of these protocols is H.323
and SIP. The H.323 protocol has been around for years
and SIP has become the new standard, which has many
advantages over other protocols. Besides the H.323 and
SIP protocols, VoIP PBX also needs to interface with
traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network)
systems. Most SIP/H323/PSTN PBX systems are in one of
three styles, Open Source, Proprietary and Virtual.
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Asterisk
is the most notable of the Open Source VoIP PBX solutions.
The Asterisk software runs on Linux and provides the ability
to interoperate with almost all standards-based telephony
equipment using relatively inexpensive hardware. Ericcson
and a few others offer proprietary solutions that integrates
fixed and mobile telephony, IP phones, PC softphones,
cordless phones, mobile/cellular phones, digital phones
and IP Gateways. VocalTec and Zultys Technologies are
a couple of the companies that offer virtual VoIP PBX
solutions.
For those small businesses who may be too small for
a full-blown VoIP PBX system but still need to project
a big image, then a virtual PBX service such as that
from GotVMail may
be just what your business needs. This system delivers
everything that an in-house system can without all the
overhead.
No matter what, though, when
it's time to upgrade it is certainly time to get off
the old PBX system and upgrade to the latest and most
cost-effective technology that a VoIP PBX solution has
to offer whether that means in in-house system or an
outsourced service.
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