Boerne VoIP Phone System Services
Call Us: 830-357-7010
VoIP PBX and Hosted Services Phone Systems
Up until just a few years ago, companies only had a choice of conventional – or as they were also known as – analog PBX systems.
The nature of the technologies also meant that the voice calls and the data services were on two completely separate networks.
But with the new VoIP telephony revolution, businesses are quickly migrating to VoIP PBX systems, which offer substantial business advantages such as the convergence of data and voice networks.
Because high-speed Internet access has now become available and much more reliable, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems are now one of the best investments a company can make with regards to its communication services.
Today’s VoIP telephone systems are more versatile, have more features, and are more reliable than traditional analog phone systems.
You have a choice today between two telephone system configuration options.
One is a VoIP system that is physically installed at your business location – and the other is what is known as Hosted VoIP – or a hosted PBX (private branch exchange).
But how do you know which system is best for your business?
To make the best decision between the two available options, you need to understand the main differences between the two types of system configurations.
Hosted VoIP phone systems
With a hosted system there is no other equipment other than the phones themselves located at your business.
The phone system itself is a part of a centrally located computer that could be located anywhere in the world – thus they “host” the service.
You just plug your phones into the Internet and then all the programming and features are maintained remotely.
Also – you can use your Cat5 or Cat6 cabling that goes to your computer by utilizing a data port – which means that software phones can be installed directly on your PC.
This can eliminate the need for and costs associated with needing separate phone wiring and cabling and will make it much easier and cost-efficient when you need to move an employee to a new work area, or add a new member to your staff.
Then, should you move to a new location, you can eliminate having to wire up extra cable outlets for a small business phone system.
The company providing the hosting makes sure that all the software is working correctly and updated without you having to worry about it.
So the only thing you have to purchase is the IP phones themselves.
You can also lease the phones if that works better for you and your budget.
On-premise VoIP PBX phone systems
One of the significant differences of a VoIP phone system located at your business is that you are then responsible for the purchasing, installation, managing, and maintaining of all the hardware.
Of course, our small business telephone system service department would do everything for you.
Generally speaking and both types of systems are feature-rich – and a partial list of the features you might want to think about is listed below.
The main difference between the systems is the upfront costs and the ongoing costs involved.
With a hosted system you’ll basically have an initial setup fee and the cost of the phones – or as mentioned earlier – a lease on the phones.
Some hosting providers allow you to remotely access your account and make any changes that you may need as you need them.
They also provide the availability to call a technician who can make the program changes for you so that you don’t make a mistake that takes your whole company out of service.
But sometimes the changes don’t take effect immediately so there could be a lag time between when you order something and when you actually get it.
Also sometimes there may be features that can’t be customized on a hosted system vs. a system that is located at your business.
Another drawback is that if the hosted provider system goes out of business, you’re left with no phone service.
Call us at 830-357-7010
What If You Move Your Business?
An additional difference to consider between the two types of systems comes into play if you decide to move your business.
When your system is located at your business location, you have to physically move the system itself – but with the other type of system, you just unplug the phones from your current location and then plug them into the Internet when you get to your new location.
Something else to think about with hosted systems is the bandwidth required for optimal operation.
Generally speaking, a hosted VoIP phone system requires more bandwidth on your Internet connection, which could lead to higher Internet service costs, or if your link doesn’t provide enough speed, it could result in service problems like cutoffs and clipping on voice calls.
As with any decision concerning technology, what works today can be vastly different from what works tomorrow.
So, be careful when you choose a company for your phone system needs.
Make sure they’re a stable VoIP service provider company because if you have your phone system located physically at your business site, you can always have another vendor do service on it.
But if you have a hosted system and you don’t like the way they service or treat you – you’re stuck.
Another benefit of the new VoIP technologies is in the area of what is known as “Unified Communications” where communication systems are combined, thus permitting your staff with the ability to stay in contact with everyone regardless of where they may be physically located.
Unified Communications also enables people to send messages from one kind of technology and get it on another type of technology.
As an example, you could get a voice-mail message and can decide to listen to it using your email.
Basically – the purpose of Unified Communications is to allow the optimization of your business by taking advantage of all the various technologies and devices being able to be integrated and accessed in multiple ways.
Features You Might Want To Consider In A New VoIP or Hosted Phone System
In closing, after you decide which type of phone system you want, here is a partial list of features you’ll also need to think about.
• Auto attendant• Auto dialing• Automatic call distributor• Automatic call distributor• Call accounting• Call blocking• Call forwarding on busy or absence• Call park• Call pick-up• Call transfer• Call waiting• Camp-on• Conference calling• Customized greetings• Direct inward dialing• Direct inward system access• Directory services• Follow-me calling• Music while on hold• Night service• Public address voice paging• Shared voicemail boxes• Speed dialing• Voice message broadcasting• Voicemail• Voicemail emailing• Welcome greeting
Call us at 830-357-7010
We look forward to providing you with more information with regard to any communication needs you may have.
Boerne Business Telephone System Services 1580 S Main St. Boerne, TX 78006