Hosted PBX - An Alternative to Traditional Hardware PBX

The hosted PBX system, introduced in late 1997, basically delivers PBX functionality over the PSTN or the internet. With a hosted PBX system, the user gets all the features of the telephone and the voicemail system without having to invest on PBX equipment. Hosted PBX has many advantages compared to a traditional PBX system. With hosted PBX system, the advanced functionalities of a hardware PBX system are provided to the user through a hosted server. Since the user is free from the hassles of maintaining the equipments, the system is also called virtual phone PBX system.

Hosted PBX system provides the customer with all the features of the telephone and voicemail systems. The basic functionalities offered by a hosted PBX system include transfer of call between extensions, custom messages for users holding the line, real time system management, providing detailed call records, custom business greeting for calls, directing multiple calls with employee extension and more. The customer should get the services from a service provider that provides the functions suiting their company requirements. The major benefits of a PBX system include its easy handling and maintenance and features such as automatic voice call facility, fax, fax mail, call screening, caller id tool, web administration, voice mail, toll free enhancement, pager notification, call by extension and multiple voice mailboxes. A good PBX system should help the company increase productivity and enhance its identity, with cost under control.

Hosted PBX is the ideal choice for companies with distributed employees. A Hosted PBX system with distributed administration and unlimited call capacity offers ideal solutions for a small business organization. With hosted PBX system, the customer can utilize the basic functionalities of a hardware PBX at cost-effective rates and with greater flexibility. With a technology comparatively easy to use and manage, more companies are turning towards hosted PBX systems.

How Hosted PBX can benefit your business

Choosing a hosted PBX service provides advantages in several areas where traditional PBX phone systems are weakest. Hosted PBX delivers PBX functionality as a service, available over telephone and/or the internet. The first hosted PBX was introduced in late 1997. Users contract for PBX services from a hosted PBX provider. Today, it is possible to get hosted PBX service with more features than were available from the first systems of this class, or to contract with companies that provide less functionality for more simple needs.

Now using a Hosted PBX Phone System you can have all of the features of the best telephone and voicemail systems, with no equipment to buy, maintain or outgrow. The hardest mainstream features to get in a hosted system are real Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) instead of simple hunt groups, flexible company directories, call transfers between extensions (or to an operator or an ACD queue), and real-time system monitoring. There are many other advanced functions that only a few providers have been able to make available. Web-based administration tools are the norm for hosted PBX services. Adding new users, changing extensions, and changing hunt groups or call queues is as easy as a point and click.

A Hosted PBX phone system can be configured to utilize your current voicemail, for example, transferring calls to your cell phone and letting the call roll into your cell phone voicemail if not answered. A hosted PBX usually can handle a higher number of calls. If the caller enters an extension they will be prompted to stay on the line while their call is transferred. If you answer you will have the opportunity to accept/reject the call. After accepting a call you can transfer the caller back to voice mail or to another extension. If the lines are busy or not answered the caller will hear the voice mail greeting for that extension and be able to leave a message. In addition, hardware PBX buyers are on usually a tight budget and buy small systems that can't grow. But there is no capital outlay for hosted PBX services, and extensions can be changed as needs change. Hosted PBX customers pay only for what they need.

There are other advantages that a hosted system has. The most important is the ability to route calls to any phone, rather than just phones wired to the PBX inside the office. Other major advantages of hosted PBX include lower entry cost, support costs, greater ease of management, flexibility, and improved scalability. No longer will your traveling employees feel out of touch. The right hosted PBX service can make their cell phone into a seamless part of the company telecommunications infrastructure: calls to their extension will ring through to their cell, and they'll be able to transfer and forward calls as usual.