| now how important telecommunication services are to | | | | That Sounds Good, But What About... |
| your business. They let you communicate efficiently | | | | There are some potential disadvantages that you |
| with colleagues, workers and customers. They also | | | | must considered before deciding on whether or not to |
| allow you to serve your customers' needs directly by | | | | use a hosted PBX system. For example, some firms' |
| giving them direct access to your goods and services. | | | | existing telecommunications infrastructure is too large |
| Telecom services also provide one of the major | | | | and/or complicated to convert without an |
| components of your public identity. Your phone number | | | | unacceptable level of disruption to their |
| or website reminds customers who you are, what you | | | | communications. |
| offer and what services you provide. Since these | | | | Reliability is a huge concern with hosted PBX service. If |
| benefits are important to make your business | | | | your connection to the Internet fails, for whatever |
| successful, you should always be looking for new | | | | reason, you will lose your phone service. Make sure |
| telecom services that can increase your efficiency, | | | | there is redundancy in place, an alternative network |
| help your bottom line and improve your identity with the | | | | that will take over if one fails. If the telephone system |
| public. One solution that addresses these issues is a | | | | is crucial to your business and even a short disruption |
| hosted PBX. | | | | of service is unacceptable, you may want to |
| What is Hosted PBX? | | | | reconsider using an IP voice solution at all. |
| PBX stands for Private Branch exchange. With | | | | Another drawback is the potential time and effort to |
| traditional PBX, an incoming call is routed through | | | | teach your firm's workers how to use the new |
| switchboard hardware to different extensions | | | | services. This difficulty may lead to decreased |
| throughout the company. This hardware is usually kept | | | | short-term productivity and increased marginal labor |
| somewhere on company premises. With a hosted | | | | costs that may offset any cost savings the service |
| PBX service, the call will go to the carrier's central | | | | would provide you. |
| office, get processed through the hardware at their | | | | Finally, the short lifespan of the technology needed to |
| site and then will be sent to your phone extensions. So, | | | | implement a hosted PBX network may make it |
| Hosted PBX is an IP-based PBX (Internet Protocol) | | | | impractical in the long run for some firms to use. |
| service that is hosted by someone else and provides | | | | Computer technology changes often enough that your |
| call routing for your company. These systems have | | | | firm must weigh the possibility of having to replace the |
| been in use for decades. | | | | equipment against any benefits you may receive from |
| Today, the technology has improved enough that firms | | | | a hosted PBX service. Your individual situation will |
| should seriously consider the advantages of using a | | | | determine what's best for your company. |
| hosted PBX network before deciding what kind of | | | | Questions to Ask if You Are Considering a Hosted |
| telecom system they wish to use. | | | | PBX Network |
| Why You Should Consider a Hosted PBX System | | | | While considering the advantages and disadvantages |
| The advantages that a hosted PBX network provides | | | | of using a hosted PBX system, you should ask several |
| may make a convincing argument for using such a | | | | questions before making your final decision. What kinds |
| system. Businesses generally save money on their | | | | of businesses benefit from using hosted PBX |
| phone and Internet bills by switching to a hosted PBX | | | | services? Smaller businesses have certain long-term |
| network because all calls and data are processed at | | | | advantages that may make them better candidates |
| one centralized location, which reduces the need to | | | | for using hosted PBX services that larger firms may |
| use a service provider's resources. It also lets firms | | | | not have. Will my business benefit in the long run by |
| easily create as many lines of communication as they | | | | using this service? If so, you then should ask which |
| need because all those lines are also centrally located. | | | | service provider best fits your needs. |
| In addition, it is easy to handle any number of phone | | | | Telecom providers have hosted PBX systems that |
| calls and Internet connections at one time. | | | | offer a wide variety of services for your firm to |
| So with a hosted PBX system, you won't have to | | | | consider. This makes it all the more important for you |
| invest in a new on-site phone system, which can be | | | | to shop around carefully before making a final decision. |
| costly. However, you may need to purchase new | | | | Finally, do you have enough time and resources to use |
| Internet Protocol (IP) phone sets, but the investment is | | | | the service in the long run? Because there are many |
| minimal. You'll get all the features of traditional PBX | | | | short-term disadvantages in setting up the service, you |
| including auto attendant, voice mail, call routing, and | | | | must be willing to commit to using the service for |
| unified communications without the huge investment of | | | | some time before you will see any savings. Otherwise, |
| traditional PBX. | | | | it is a waste of your time and resources. |