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Types of VoIP PBX Phone Systems: IP PBX
An IP PBX is a completely Internet-based phone service with a PBX that resides on-premises. That may sound like a step back to the traditional PBX phone system and the need for complicated hardware, space, and professional services, but it's not. The IP PBX is simple to set up, monitor and maintain.

The standard PBX was a complicated, bulky box. The IP PBX is much simpler. An IP PBX is typically software and a PCI interface card on a dedicated computer, with a web-based interface for management that can be accessed anywhere there's an Internet connection. External hardware requirements are relatively minimal, such as dedicated PoE (Power over Ethernet) switches to power the IP phones, Ethernet cables to connect the phones to the Ethernet port, and routers.

The IP PBX offers the same flexibility, scalability, and convenience of a hosted VoIP PBX phone system. An IP PBX generally has the same call controls, plus a few additional advantages related to network integration, portability, and facilities management.
• Integrates with the user's computer (click-to-dial, email IDs as caller IDs)
• No phone wires — uses Ethernet cables to connect with the Internet
• IP phones retain the identity of the user (via the configuration) when moved from desk to desk
• Web-based PBX system management
• Voice over WiFi (VoWiFi) phones can be used
• Can use a softphone rather than phone hardware

The IP PBX allows for totally converged voice and data communication over the Internet. That means that everything is sent as data packets over the Internet. It also means that voice calls originate as data packets -- no conversion from analog to digital (using a VoIP adapter) first.
With an IP PBX phone system, the small business phone system becomes completely digital. Callers use IP phones that are connected directly to the VoIP network, and often to their computer. With an IP PBX phone system, traditional phone wiring is redundant.

The initial cost for a pure, 100% digital IP PBX phone system can be a little steeper than using hosted PBX phone services for a small business phone system. The expense of an IP PBX phone system is due primarily to the cost of IP phones. However, over time the cost of an IP PBX business phone system becomes significantly lower than a hosted PBX VoIP phone system. That's because many hosted PBX phone systems charge per user. With an on-site IP PBX, there is no monthly per-seat fee.

Benefits of PBX Phone Systems
Traditional PBX phone systems replaced the earlier key systems that companies used as their small business phone system. Key systems used phones with lights on the bottom of the phone to indicate a line was in use. But once PBX systems became affordable for small businesses, PBX phone systems became the standard for most small business telephone service. PBX phone systems are more efficient than key systems. PBX phone systems are faster and use fewer outside lines.

Here's where they are really different:
Key Systems
• Key systems used dedicated lines. That meant busy signals.
• Callers had to use a specific 'outside line' to make outbound phone calls.
• Required more external lines.
• Key system callers had to call a main line and be transferred. No direct inward dialing (DID).

PBX Systems
• There's DID and extension-to-extension dialing on PBX phone systems.
• PBX phone systems feature line "pools" that allow for next-available use.
• With SIP trunking, fewer outside lines are needed.
• PBX offers more internal extensions and scalability.
• PBX includes automation and convenience features, such as voicemail.
• PBX offers after-hours messages, directory service, music-on-hold, and other features.
• PBX systems handle and route calls in-house using a local circuit switch, so phone bills for local phone service are lower.

Join us tomorrow to find out the advantages of a VOIP PBX Phone System.

Smart homes are the buzz over the past few years. Some of the largest consumer-focused brands in the world, including Google and Amazon, are making the smart home mainstream through easy-to-use and affordable solutions. Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Assistant, Nest’s connected home devices and even the Ring Video Door Bell link together lighting, temperature control, security and home appliances to allow us to be more productive, comfortable, and safer in our homes – while also saving money.

We are beginning to see what the future of the home will look like, but what will the future of the office look like? Usually the smart office is thought of in the same way as the smart home – control of lighting, HVAC, security and appliances through centralized networks that help make an office more sustainable and cut back on power consumption. If you are looking for a example of this and the way that data can be used to drastically minimize the footprint of a business while making an office more comfortable for employees, check out Deloitte’s office in Amsterdam.

The next step needed to make the smart office mainstream is to incorporate functions that make a business more productive and more profitable. For this reason and this reason alone, I believe the smart office has a ways to go. With that said, the idea of a smart office is much more complicated then the smart home, as to truly make a difference it needs to use data, communication flows, presence and other real-time factors to increase revenue and sales.

Though they may not be widely used at the moment, there are some intriguing examples of what the smart office of the future will look like, and how it can improve business and communication processes. Let’s take a deeper look, tomorrow.

This Frighteningly Smart Office Building Knows Exactly What You Want, When You Want It The Edge may be the most connected–and greenest–office anywhere in the world. Is this the future of working?

Security
It’s hard to go a day without reading about a new hack or cyber-attack, so understandably security is a top priority. On-premise solutions offer greater protection for your communications network over hosted, due to the nature of controlling, monitoring and securing your own network. Instead of putting security in the hands of your hosted provider, you’re able to maintain control over your system and network, thus the security as well.

Size
Size matters – it’s one of the top determinants for hosted versus on-premise. Depending on the size of your organization your needs surrounding features, cost and control will vary. Hosted IP PBXs are often good for smaller businesses who don’t have an IT team or system administrator readily available, and when the recurring costs per user won’t snowball into an unmanageable amount. For businesses with simpler feature needs, hosted solutions would be a good fit, as you won’t be needing as many customized features and integrations. While medium to larger businesses often require more control, more customizations and higher capacity, which makes an on-prem solution advantageous.

Continuity
As is the nature with VoIP technology, we rely on a stable internet connection to keep our communication systems running. Both hosted and on-premise offer different continuity features to make this possible. With hosted, if your internet goes out so does your phone system, although calls can be forwarded to voicemail or mobile phones, as the hosted provider keeps the system running on their servers. If your service provider is experiencing issues, you’re at their whim waiting to get service back up. With an on-prem solution you have multiple options if your internet connection goes out. First, incorporating PSTN lines means calls can still be made, and to avoid hardware downtime from other causes, you can incorporate a redundant or high-availability solution.

Join me tomorrow for Part 3 the conclusion