What is VoIP?
Voice over IP, abbreviated to VoIP, is also commonly called Internet Telephony and IP Telephony. In a word, Voice over IP is a technology that allows you to make and receive local and international phone calls over the Internet. Most individuals and companies that have replaced their traditional phone lines with Voice over IP, or used the two in parallel, have cut their communication costs by as much as 70%. Cost-cutting is not the only benefit of Voice over IP – it also provides you with many additional features, which will enrich and empower your communication experience, among many other benefits.
VoIP services can be used with traditional telephones, via the use of an ATA ( analog terminal adapter). Services can also be accessed with SIP/VoIP phones, softphones applications, or web clients.
VoIP works similar to a regular telephone except that instead of the call going across the phone companies wiring, the call is routed over the Internet. Depending on who is making and receiving the call, the calls can be routed in regular phones, VoIP phones or between regular phones and VoIP phones.
What is a Cloud PBX?
A PBX (Private Branch eXchange) is a telephone exchange or switching system that serves a private organization and permits sharing of central office trunks between internally installed telephones, and provides intercommunication between those internal telephones within the organization without the use of external lines. The central office lines provide connections to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and the concentration aspect of a PBX permits the shared use of these lines between all stations in the organization.
In recent years, this kind of PBX system are replaced by cloud based PBX very quickly.
A cloud PBX, better known as hosted PBX, is a business phone system that runs over an internet connection. You don’t need to have Private Branch Exchange (PBX) equipment in your location — a VoIP provider does it for you.
Essentially, a cloud PBX provides all the functionality needed in an office phone system such as voicemail, call forwarding, and of course, calling. Instead of setting up a server you have to maintain, you’d use a VoIP provider for your company’s communications.
What is the advantages of a Cloud PBX
Besides beaming electrons over the internet to talk with others, what makes a hosted phone system the ideal choice for businesses?
With an on-premises PBX, everything is analog, and you need phone lines for every handset. It also means you have a telecom expert who can perform maintenance and upgrades.
Here are the main advantages cloud communication systems provide for businesses.
1) Powerful features level-up your workflows
Mobile device support (mobile apps)
Voicemail to email transcription
Auto attendants (call flows)
Automatic call recording
Intelligent call forwarding
Built-in video conferencing
Inbound call queuing
These added capabilities mean you can get more work done with enhanced productivity.
2) Flexibility for all locations and seasons
A flexible phone system means it can adapt to the changing conditions in the workplace. You can customize your phone system around your business needs versus feeling constrained by an old PBX.
In the era of remote work, employees can stay connected with a robust VoIP softphone app. Alternatively, you can have them take their office desk phone home.
When you increase demand, such as holiday sales, a hosted PBX will allow you to increase your call capacity. Plus, you can add hold music and comfort messages in minutes. This way, you can bump up your call quality and customer satisfaction.
One of the pros of a cloud PBX is to have the flexibility to work from anywhere.
A cloud PBX lets your team have the flexibility to work from anywhere.
3) Worry-free reliability and uptime
Luckily, a cloud PBX keeps you always reachable.
This increased reliability is made possible thanks to a redundant network of separate data centers. VoIP will work even during a power outage. You can route calls to different locations, including mobile phones, within seconds. On the flip side, a traditional phone system can crash due to weather, power failures, and other disasters.
4) No maintenance
Lack of maintenance is a tremendous advantage of cloud PBX systems. System updates, network routing, adjusting VoIP codecs — it’s all handled by the hosted provider.
IT leaders and CIOs deal with a lot of fires throughout the week. (We hear you!) You can empower select people to make changes to your phone service online. Today’s VoIP phones are hassle-free, so it means fewer helpdesk tickets.
The problem with on-premise PBX systems is maintenance doesn’t stop when you hire full-time support. Having a technician available at all times is great, but you have to budget.
Businesses today have to get more done with less. It’s why switching to a cloud solution is a sensible investment. Get ready to say goodbye to a bulky on-prem communications system and costly VoIP maintenance contracts.
5) Unparalleled security
Cloud PBX phone solutions offer higher security compared to traditional PBX. When you have a physical landline, it’s up to you to ensure no one gains access to it. Many PBX systems are vulnerable to outside attacks, and audio signals they transmit are much easier to intercept.
6) Cost-effective for all companies
You’ll save a ton when you upgrade to VoIP service. Compared to a traditional PBX, premium features are either included or available for a low cost.