PBX vs VoIP
Telecommunications needs are as varied as businesses are, and choosing the right PBX vs VoIP features at the right price may seem like a daunting task. A small business looking for a solution to host multiple incoming, outgoing, and interoffice calls first has to choose between a traditional Private Branch Exchange or PBX vs VoIP technology.
Here we present an overview of the pros and cons of PBX vs VoIP
PBX
The acronym PBX stands for Private Branch eXchange. In legacy telephone systems, the term PBX was used to distinguish private business systems from a common carrier or public telephone systems. Early PBX systems used operators to manually connect incoming and outgoing calls. Today, any private telephone system with multiple lines can be called a PBX system.
Traditional PBX systems were only compatible with the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). In the current business telephone market, many PBX vs VoIP systems are compatible with both PSTN and Voice over IP (VoIP) technology. These are sometimes referred to as hybrid systems, and they have the advantage of managing calls for either PSTN or PBX vs VoIP telephones.
PBX vs VoIP systems can offer many useful features, including auto attendant, auto-dial, call hold and forwarding, call waiting, and direct inward dialing (DID). Managing these features on PBX vs VoIP systems can be technically challenging and involve proprietary hardware and software changes, while PBX vs VoIP systems have streamlined interfaces that make this task easier.
Implementation
A PBX system takes all of the phone lines in a business and links it onto one central platform. PBX solutions generally offer technical support for users, but initial implementation and installation can be costly. Switching to a PBX vs VoIP may require purchasing equipment, such as telephones, which impacts costs.
Scale
Similar to VoIP solutions, PBX systems offer packages for a base number of users. Additional lines and additional users increase costs. Future scaling with PBX vs VoIP may require the purchase of additional equipment.
Features
PBX systems offer all the functionalities that a business would need—from voicemail to call-waiting and more when comparing PBX vs VoIP.
Call quality:
In general, call quality is good with PBX vs VoIP systems and does not present some of the problems that a troublesome internet connection can with VoIP. PBX systems protect sensitive information through secure phone lines and backup batteries to ensure communications in the case of power outages when considering the difference in PBX vs VoIP call quality.
Costs
Depending on the specific needs of a business, a traditional PBX vs VoIP solution can be more costly than VoIP, with variables such as call management, installation, additional lines, and features all impacting total costs.
VoIP
There are features that VoIP systems offer that are not available in other technologies. Voicemail and fax integration with email are examples of VoIP-only features that are becoming standard business features. The ability to receive voicemails and faxes through email can greatly improve productivity and responsiveness for any business. VoIP systems can also include mobile and text messaging capabilities that are not part of the standard PBX vs VoIP feature set.
VoIP systems are more flexible also. Adding lines and users involves making a few changes in a web-based interface, while in a PBX system these may require hardware and software updates. PBX vs VoIP systems are designed to be scalable PBX vs VoIP and do not require hardware upgrades to add lines or users.
VoIP also has the advantage of decreased calling costs. Because VoIP does not use the PSTN to route calls, the costs of using the traditional telephone network are bypassed. In some cases, such as toll-free services and dedicated long distances, these cost savings are dramatic in PBX vs VoIP systems.
Some businesses have been reluctant to adopt PBX vs VoIP systems because of concerns over call quality and consistency. With the recent improvements in broadband technology and digital communications, these concerns have effectively been eliminated. Today it is very difficult to distinguish between the quality of a PBX vs VoIP call and a call made over the traditional telephone network.
When choosing between traditional PBX vs VoIP, it is important to determine which features and capabilities are required, along with operating costs over the long term. After a thorough review of these requirements, each business can arrive at the best choice for its situation.
Implementation
Hardware demands including telephones, tend to be less costly than those required for PBX vs VoIP.
Scale
VoIP systems are generally designed with scalability in mind, allowing businesses to add lines with relative ease and minimal added equipment costs PBX vs VoIP.
Features
VoIP offers all the features of traditional phones with added capabilities like call forwarding to the desktop and mobile devices when comparing PBX vs VoIP.
Call Quality
VoIP systems come with some risks including the unpredictable reliability of internet connections that impact voice quality. PBX vs VoIP call quality is getting better all the time, but it is not always necessarily as secure as a hard phone line.
Costs
VoIP is generally touted as the cost-saving telecommunications solution that combines incoming, outgoing, local, and long-distance calls with the internet. Call management with a hosted VoIP solution may add to the final bill, and because business needs can vary widely, it's often difficult to find one PBX vs VoIP price that fits everyone. Business buyers should seek customized quotes and compare these with a PBX vs VoIP equivalent when making the choice for a telecommunications solution.
Assess your company's telecommunications needs to see if PBX vs VoIP is the right choice. Our buyer's guide can help your selection between PBX vs VoIP much easier. Contact PBX vs VoIP vendors for personalized quotes to meet your feature and scale needs.
