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PBX Defined
PBX is an
acronym for Private Branch
Exchange and is an
exchange system used in
companies and organizations to
handle internal and external
telephone calls.
How a true PBX
system Works
PBX systems
allow callers to be routed to
the appropriate person and/or
department, most of the time
without talking to an actual
operator. To do this
companies have to spend a lot of
money. They typically
purchase:
- A
telephone exchange which
includes area code, i.e.
(207) 532-
- A group
of numbers for the exchange
(the last 4 digits of the
phone number) (207)
532-xxxx.
- PBX
switching equipment (very
expensive)
A caller
will place a call to a
company's main telephone
number. From here the
PBX system kicks in and
typically answers the call
automatically and provides
the caller with a set of
options....
- If
you know your party's
extension you may dial
it at any time.
-
Press 1 for billing
-
Press 2 for sales
- Etc,
etc, etc
Once
the caller makes a
choice and presses a
number, the PBX system
switches the call to the
appropriate line and
connects the call.
From here the person or
department receiving the
call can either answer
the phone or let it go
to voicemail.
How a Hosted PBX system
Works
Virtual PBX systems work
much differently than
true PBX systems.
While the caller doesn't
notice any difference
between and virtual or
true PBX system, there
are many:
-
No PBX switching
equipment is needed.
-
Only one phone
number is needed
(Usually Toll Free
and provided as part
any package you
buy).
-
Calls can be
forwarded to
virtually any
pre-existing phone
or cell-phone.
- Multiple people
organization need
not be working in
the same building,
in fact they can be
all over the world
if you want.
- More and powerful
options available
-
VERY
AFFORDABLE!!!!
Calls to a virtual
PBX are routed to
your virtual PBX
hosting company
instead of to a
switching station.
Once there, the
hosting company's
system will answer
the call and provide
the caller with the
same options as with
a true PBX system:
-
If you know your
party's
extension you
may dial it at
any time.
-
Press 1 for
billing
-
Press 2 for
sales
-
Etc, etc, etc
However, this
time when the
caller makes a
selection, the
Virtual PBX will
look up:
-
Who should
the call be
routed to?
-
Which of
that
person's
number
should I
route to
(you can set
up several)?
-
Is the
person
answering
calls at
this time of
day?
If not they
will be
routed to
voicemail
(you can set
different
options for
different
times of
day).
Now, you
could be at
home
watching TV
on a Tuesday
morning and
your virtual
PBX system
will know to
route all
your calls
to your home
phone number
(because you
set it up to
do that)..
You answer
and are
given the
option to
accept the
call or send
it to
voicemail.
You choose
to talk to
the caller,
conduct your
business,
all the
while the
unsuspecting
caller
believes
they are
talking to
someone
stuck in a
cubicle in
an office
building
somewhere.
You complete
the call and
go back to
whatever it
was you were
doing.
The main
points to
remember are
that Virtual
PBX systems
in
comparison
to true PBX
systems:
-
Are VERY
affordable
(How
affordable?
Check
out the
pricing.)
-
Are VERY
flexible
-
Are VERY
easy to
set up
-
Are
packed
with
lots of
features
to make
your
life
easier
More
Resources
If you're
interested in more detail about
true PBX systems, check out this
link at
VirtualPBX.com. They
also have a great description
about
hosted PBX systems too. |
