What is an IP PBX?
An IP PBX is a complete telephony system that
provides telephone calls over IP data networks. All
conversations are sent as data packets over the
network. The technology includes advanced
communication features but also provides a
significant dose of worry-free scalability and
robustness that all enterprises seek.
Enterprises don’t need to disrupt their current
external communication infrastructure: An IP PBX is
able to connect to traditional PSTN lines via a VOIP
gateway - so an enterprise can keep its regular
telephone numbers.
How it works
An IP PBX system consists of one or more SIP
phones, an IP PBX server and optionally a VOIP
Gateway to connect to existing PSTN lines. The IP
PBX server functions in a similar manner to a proxy
server: SIP clients, being either soft phones or
hardware-based phones, register with the IP PBX
server, and when they wish to make a call they ask
the IP PBX to establish the connection. The IP PBX
has a directory of all phones/users and their
corresponding SIP address and thus is able to
connect an internal call or route an external call
via either a VOIP gateway or a VOIP service
provider. More information and commonly asked
questioned about IP PBXs can be found on IP PBX, SIP
& VOIP FAQ - http://www.3cx.com/PBX/IP-PBX-faq.html
The top 10 Reasons
Reason #1: Much easier to install & configure
than a proprietary phone system:
An IP PBX runs as software on a computer and can
leverage the advanced processing power of the
computer and user interface as well as Windows’
features. Anyone proficient in networking and
computers can install and maintain an IP PBX. By
contrast a proprietary phone system often requires
an installer trained on that particular proprietary
system!
Reason #2: Easier to manage because of web/GUI
based configuration interface:
An IP PBX can be managed via a web-based
configuration interface or a GUI, allowing you to
easily maintain and fine tune your phone system.
Proprietary phone systems have difficult-to-use
interfaces which are often designed to be used only
by the phone technicians.
Reason #3: Significant cost savings using VOIP
providers:
With an IP PBX you can easily use a VOIP service
provider for long distance and international calls.
The monthly savings are significant. If you have
branch offices, you can easily connect phone systems
between branches and make free phone calls.
Reason #4 Eliminate phone wiring!
An IP PBX allows you to connect hardware phones
directly to a standard computer network port (which
it can share with the adjacent computer). Software
phones can be installed directly onto the PC. You
can now eliminate the phone wiring and make adding
or moving of extensions much easier. In new offices
you can completely eliminate the extra ports to be
used by the phone!
Reason #5: Eliminate vendor lock in!
IP PBXs are based on the open SIP standard. You can
now mix and match any SIP hardware or software phone
with any SIP-based IP PBX, PSTN Gateway or VOIP
provider. In contrast, a proprietary phone system
often requires proprietary phones to use advanced
features, and proprietary extension modules to add
features.
Reason #6: Scalable
Proprietary systems are easy to outgrow: Adding more
phone lines or extensions often requires expensive
hardware modules. In some cases you need an entirely
new phone system. Not so with an IP PBX: a standard
computer can easily handle a large number of phone
lines and extensions – just add more phones to your
network to expand!
Reason #7: Better customer service &
productivity:
With an IP PBX you can deliver better customer
service and better productivity: Since the telephone
system is now computer-based you can integrate phone
functions with business applications. For example:
Bring up the customer record of the caller
automatically when you receive his/her call,
dramatically improving customer service and cutting
cost by reducing time spent on each caller. Outbound
calls can be placed directly from Outlook, removing
the need for the user to type in the phone number.
Reason #8: Twice the phone system features for
half the price!
Since an IP PBX is software-based, itis easier for
developers to add and improve feature sets. Most
VOIP phone systems come with a rich feature set,
including auto attendant, voice mail, ring groups,
advanced reporting and more. These options are often
very expensive in proprietary systems.
Reason #9 Allow hot desking & roaming
Hot desking – the process of being able to easily
move offices/desks based on the task at hand, has
become very popular. Unfortunately traditional PBXs
require extensions to be re-patched to the new
location. With an IP PBX the user simply takes his
phone to his new desk – No patching required!
Users can roam too – if an employee has to work
from home, he/she can simply fire up their SIP
software phone and are able to answer calls to their
extension, just as they would in the office. Calls
can be diverted anywhere in the world because of the
SIP protocol characteristics!
Reason #10 Better phone usability: SIP phones are
easier to use
Employees often struggle using advanced phone
features: Setting up a conference, transferring a
call – On an old PBX it all requires instruction.
Not so with an IP PBX – all features are easily
performed from a user friendly Windows GUI. In
addition, users get a better overview of the status
of other extensions and of inbound lines and call
queues via the IP PBX Windows client. Proprietary
systems often require expensive ‘system’ phones to
get an idea what is going on on your phone system.
Even then, status information is cryptic at best.
Conclusion
An investment in a software based IP PBX makes a
lot of sense, not only for new companies buying a
phone system, but also for companies who already
have a PBX. An IP PBX delivers such significant
savings in management, maintenance, and on going
call costs, that any company should be looking at
upgrading to an IP PBX.
Nick Galea is CEO of 3CX,
http://www.3cx.com, a developer of IP PBX
software. Nick has written articles & whitepapers
about Network administration, Telecommunications
Software, Security & VOIP.
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