What Is A PBX | WhichPBX.com
A private branch exchange, also known as a PBX, is a type of phone system that manages internal phones. A PBX allows a company to have only one (or a few) outgoing lines, but have multiple internal lines. A phone system that uses PBX will have internal extensions – a three or four digit number that you dial from an internal phone to reach another internal phone. Dialing to an external phone will require the same seven (or 10, if you are dialing out of area) phone number that you would use if you were calling someone from your home phone line.
PBXs come in a variety of types. There is a traditional PBX, a hosted PBX, a VoIP PBX, a mobile PBX, and an IP PBX. All of these systems provide the same functions, but with different structures. The users will notice no difference between the various PBX types – unless they are focusing on cost, in which case there are major differences.
A traditional PBX is used in larger companies. It uses traditional telephone lines and requires a person who is technically competent to set up the system and keep it running. A traditional PBX system can connect multiple internal lines to one (or more) external lines. Each internal line will have its own extension, which will allow people to directly call that line from an external source or will allow internal users to dial the extension number when making internal calls. Traditional PBXs are expensive to set up and maintain, and because of that are generally used by larger businesses and governments.
A hosted PBX functions the same as a traditional PBX. The reason it is different is because the actual PBX router and equipment is hosted by the telephone company. A company will generally sign a “lease” agreement which allows the telephone company to provide PBX service for the company. Hosted PBX is cheaper than a traditional PBX because the company is leasing the equipment and technological know-how from a telephone company, rather than having to provide it themselves.
A VoIP PBX is the cheapest PBX available. A VoIP PBX uses a VoIP line to provide PBX services. Many VoIP services can provide a PBX system simply by using some additional software. There is no additional equipment to purchase other than the VoIP equipment. Because a VoIP system operates on computers and over the internet, it is simple to create a PBX system out of a VoIP system by adding the software to make the system work.
A mobile PBX is a PBX system that allows mobile phone access. In a traditional PBX, the phones connected to the PBS system must be landline phones. A hosted PBX can function with landlines, cellular, or VoIP technology. A VoIP PBX requires a VoIP phone, and most VoIP services are not compatible with mobile phones. A mobile PBX system allows the mobile phone to function as an extension, without calling into a service or switchboard.
Lastly, there is the IP PBX. An IP PBX is a PBX system that uses internet protocols to handle the telephone functions. An IP PBX can function with actual PBX hardware, or it can be a software system. The main different is that instead of handling the calls as a call, the IP PBX system handles every call as a data package, just like an internet transmission of download. IP PBX and VoIP PBX are the same thing.
These are the various types of PBX system that exist for use in today’s business world.
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