New businesses, like yours, which are in the growth mode and are looking to invest money in a professional business phone system having intercom, paging, music-on-hold, speed dialing, multi-line capability, voice-mail boxes, auto-attendant, customized company greetings and so on.
Your business is attracting new customers, phone lines are constantly busy, you need to add more lines from the telephone company, you need to shed off your old two-line phones for a full featured phone system.
It will be surprising to note what some small business owners think that by getting a multi-line business phone system, they will automatically get the hunting features allowing them to receive more calls. If Line 1 is busy, it will automatically go to Line 2 , Line 3 , Line 4 and so on. They do not realize that a business phone system only extends the functionality of your 2 Line or 4 Line phone. If you have a 2 Line or 4 Line phone, you also need 2 or 4 Lines from the phone company to have multi-line call hunting.
A business phone system will NOT magically give you unlimited lines with hunting capability. You will still need to order as many lines from your friendly neighborhood phone company.
What are the key features that drive you to choose an IP PBX System and not the traditional phone system?
Here are a few :
- Why, it's VOIP! Voice over internet technology.
- It's state-of-the-art technology, the latest and the greatest
- VOIP means Free Long Distance, free calling, lower bills.
- The IP PBX phone system is in expensive
- VOIP phone lines are cheap
- I can set it up myself. It connects into the same network as my computers. No additional cabling required.
- I can program the system myself with easy web interface and menu selection
- the system has unlimited expansion capability. No more expensive upgrades. Just buy new handsets/phones and hook them up.
- I can move my phone around and swap with other phones in the office easily, and make admin changes to users and mailboxes
- I can take my phone out of the office and simply connect it to any internet connection across the world and use it as if I was still in the office. Wow, I can be a remote worker. Telecommute.
That's a great feature list. No doubt.
Now lets look closely at each one of them...
Residential VOIP phone service may be cheap when you calculate the cost of all the features bundled into one low price. But when it comes to business VOIP, I beg to differ. Consider this, a good business VOIP service will cost you between $22.95 - $32.95 per month. If you need more than 3 channels for simultaneous outgoing calls ( called multi-line or hunt group in traditional telephony terms ) you may as well opt for a dedicated broadband access which will cost you around $59.95 a month ...remember this is a business account and you will pay a premium for the better grade of service and support.
Taking the lowest figures you will end up spending $128.8 for a 3 channel VOIP trunk. And this works out to minimum $43 per line. Compare this with your friendly neighborhood landline provider with the features that both offer and then make an informed decision.
And talking about features...what features do you really need for any business multiline? If you are going to invest in a business pbx system, then all you need is Caller ID display and Voicemail service. Thats all!
Don't buy VOIP just because of the hype. Remember, when you buy VOIP, you are also relying on the broadband service provider. Whereas, in case of landlines, there is a direct copper wire circuit connecting you directly and exclusively to the telephone company's switching network.
And there are deals being offered by landline providers, to match those offered by VOIP service providers.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The Inner Workings of a VOIP Video Phone
A VOIP video phone utilizes the latest in communication technology using your broadband internet connection. You can stay in touch with friends, family and colleagues anywhere around the world and can even talk to them face-to-face in real time through the video display screen. But before going through the inner workings of this new technology, you must first understand some basic information about a video phone.
What is VOIP?
VOIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, a technology that is used to send digitized voice and video signals through the Internet. Using advanced communication protocols such as SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), H.323 or other proprietary systems, one can call or have videoconferencing with another person using the same technology from across the globe. Using the necessary hardware for your computer like a webcam, headset and VOIP software, you can communicate with audio and video signals over the internet. With a VOIP video phone, you can directly connect to the internet and make video calls.
How does VOIP transmit voice or video signals?
The webcam and microphone captures your voice and video images and converts them into digital signals. These digitized signals are then sent through the internet through your VOIP provider software. The signals are then received by the person you are calling, as long as they are using the same VOIP software at their end. However, with a video phone, you can do away with the webcam or even a PC and connect directly to the Internet and start video phoning.
What is a VOIP video phone?
A VOIP video phone is different from ordinary or standard telephones as they can connect directly to the Internet through a built-in Ethernet port. They can communicate directly through the Internet gateway to other computers or through another VOIP phone. There is no need to use a computer for video phoning and all you need is a broadband or DSL internet connection. You can bring the video phone anywhere around the world and still make video calls back to your family, friends or business associates just by connecting to the Internet.
What are VOIP video phone features?
With several players slowly emerging and taking advantage of this new technology, more and more models of video phones using the latest technologies are coming out in the market. If you are planning to ride the wave of the future and get yourself a video phone, check out the following basic features that your new phone should have:
- 7-inch Digital Color Screen with high resolution
- A video output so you can connect a larger LCD screen
- High quality video imagery
- When not in use, the phone can serve as a digital photo frame.
- Can be used with multiple languages
- Has a USB port so you can download and upload pictures, music and video
- Can receive video mails
- Can receive video greetings
- Cordless or wireless
Sooner or later, all households will have a video phone as a standard fixture in the home. Scenes that we can only see in sci-fi movies are now coming to pass. So get hold of a VOIP video phone right and be part of the future - today.
What is VOIP?
VOIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, a technology that is used to send digitized voice and video signals through the Internet. Using advanced communication protocols such as SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), H.323 or other proprietary systems, one can call or have videoconferencing with another person using the same technology from across the globe. Using the necessary hardware for your computer like a webcam, headset and VOIP software, you can communicate with audio and video signals over the internet. With a VOIP video phone, you can directly connect to the internet and make video calls.
How does VOIP transmit voice or video signals?
The webcam and microphone captures your voice and video images and converts them into digital signals. These digitized signals are then sent through the internet through your VOIP provider software. The signals are then received by the person you are calling, as long as they are using the same VOIP software at their end. However, with a video phone, you can do away with the webcam or even a PC and connect directly to the Internet and start video phoning.
What is a VOIP video phone?
A VOIP video phone is different from ordinary or standard telephones as they can connect directly to the Internet through a built-in Ethernet port. They can communicate directly through the Internet gateway to other computers or through another VOIP phone. There is no need to use a computer for video phoning and all you need is a broadband or DSL internet connection. You can bring the video phone anywhere around the world and still make video calls back to your family, friends or business associates just by connecting to the Internet.
What are VOIP video phone features?
With several players slowly emerging and taking advantage of this new technology, more and more models of video phones using the latest technologies are coming out in the market. If you are planning to ride the wave of the future and get yourself a video phone, check out the following basic features that your new phone should have:
- 7-inch Digital Color Screen with high resolution
- A video output so you can connect a larger LCD screen
- High quality video imagery
- When not in use, the phone can serve as a digital photo frame.
- Can be used with multiple languages
- Has a USB port so you can download and upload pictures, music and video
- Can receive video mails
- Can receive video greetings
- Cordless or wireless
Sooner or later, all households will have a video phone as a standard fixture in the home. Scenes that we can only see in sci-fi movies are now coming to pass. So get hold of a VOIP video phone right and be part of the future - today.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Disadvantages of Voice Over IP
Even though the VOIP technology is being considered technological due to its products and services, it ends up having its cons on the other side of the IP networks. These are some of the main reasons why although VOIP being supported technologically it is still yet to cop up with the market and therefore not a frequently used tool of communication amongst people.
Here are some of the Disadvantages of VOIP Compared to IP
- Due to the IP addresses originally made and designed specifically for the transfer of data and no consideration was put forward to include the real-transportation of voice packets therefore VOIP experiencing problems when trying to run on such networks.
- Delay in Network:- This delays in IP networks occur due to the nature of data communication whereby insufficient bandwidth may end up being a problem to VOIP especially when the traffic on the network is congested and heavy. This also occurs when there is a continuous struggle between voice and data packets.
- Delay Jitters:-These are variations that occur in the delay of packets in the network. There is always a possibility that when two packets send from the same source towards the same destination may end up taking different routes through the network, this normally happens in packet-based networks because the packets are normally routed through the network independently, therefore, two packets between the same source and destination may experience two different processing delays and different congestion occurrences in the network therefore resulting to a variation in the overall delay experienced by the packets.
- The Cost:-Usually, the major disadvantage of a new product, item or technology in the market is always the initial cost. Therefore, wire line communication is definitely very cost effective due to almost all the R&D having been completed in the area, infrastructures are already built, and the public is basically used to using the initial type of media. To use VOIP more often, you will have to incur major costly changes and for stronger and more reliable networks, you will have to build a better bandwidth and a better Quality of Standards Compliance, new products and services will have to be developed.
- Due to the data travelling across the internet, there is a great potential of drop outs which are just similar to what happens with cell phones thus affecting the quality of the voice.
- Due to the architecture of some of the services of VOIP solutions, it becomes a requirement that both the communicators should subscribe to this service in order for the communication to be complete. In cases where it is dealing with the software it entails for the software program to be installed on both ends to enjoy the services.
- By the virtue that VOIP requires a live internet connection, it can easily be affected by a power/electricity failure therefore hindering the communication.
- Another major drawback is when it comes to the 911 emergency service, unlike the traditional telephone it becomes very difficult to locate the exact location of an IP address with a geographical certainty.
Here are some of the Disadvantages of VOIP Compared to IP
- Due to the IP addresses originally made and designed specifically for the transfer of data and no consideration was put forward to include the real-transportation of voice packets therefore VOIP experiencing problems when trying to run on such networks.
- Delay in Network:- This delays in IP networks occur due to the nature of data communication whereby insufficient bandwidth may end up being a problem to VOIP especially when the traffic on the network is congested and heavy. This also occurs when there is a continuous struggle between voice and data packets.
- Delay Jitters:-These are variations that occur in the delay of packets in the network. There is always a possibility that when two packets send from the same source towards the same destination may end up taking different routes through the network, this normally happens in packet-based networks because the packets are normally routed through the network independently, therefore, two packets between the same source and destination may experience two different processing delays and different congestion occurrences in the network therefore resulting to a variation in the overall delay experienced by the packets.
- The Cost:-Usually, the major disadvantage of a new product, item or technology in the market is always the initial cost. Therefore, wire line communication is definitely very cost effective due to almost all the R&D having been completed in the area, infrastructures are already built, and the public is basically used to using the initial type of media. To use VOIP more often, you will have to incur major costly changes and for stronger and more reliable networks, you will have to build a better bandwidth and a better Quality of Standards Compliance, new products and services will have to be developed.
- Due to the data travelling across the internet, there is a great potential of drop outs which are just similar to what happens with cell phones thus affecting the quality of the voice.
- Due to the architecture of some of the services of VOIP solutions, it becomes a requirement that both the communicators should subscribe to this service in order for the communication to be complete. In cases where it is dealing with the software it entails for the software program to be installed on both ends to enjoy the services.
- By the virtue that VOIP requires a live internet connection, it can easily be affected by a power/electricity failure therefore hindering the communication.
- Another major drawback is when it comes to the 911 emergency service, unlike the traditional telephone it becomes very difficult to locate the exact location of an IP address with a geographical certainty.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
5 Powerful Advantages of Broadband Telephony Services
The concept of low rate VOIP internet phone service is new if one considers the unharnessed potential of this technology. Casually, this has been in use in major countries for quite some time and it is only a matter of proper public marketing that low rate VOIP services become a household name. As it is, more and more service providers are entering this field, so there is no dearth of quality deals.
A VOIP Internet phone functions by sending digital audio signals in small packets of digital data over the internet to other VOIP phones, the usual PSTN phones and land lines, or another computer with internet facility. As VOIP employs existing internet network, it can transmit a single call to multiple numbers thus making call conferencing a breeze.
5 powerful advantages of low rate VOIP internet phone service:
1. Slashing costs - As these phones are easily incorporated into an existing infrastructure, there is no need for an additional telephone network thus slashing bills by more than 40%. In addition to this, the long distance call charges are much less compared to traditional phones.
2. Secure call encryption - A major hurdle in processing secure telephone calls between traditional phones is converting and reconverting them into digital signals. This process is already there in a VOIP phone and thus the standard route of encryption becomes shortened.
3. Several advanced features - A VOIP internet phone service can be complemented with advanced telephony features such as call routing and Automated Voice Response systems.
4. Easy integration with other facilities - The fact that a VOIP phone works with a computer and an internet network makes it effortless to exchange other information, files, do video conferencing, pass on address books and so on.
5. Increased accessibility - all one needs to make a VOIP call is a high speed internet connection and a subscription with a VOIP service provider. Hence one can use this practically anywhere.
A VOIP Internet phone functions by sending digital audio signals in small packets of digital data over the internet to other VOIP phones, the usual PSTN phones and land lines, or another computer with internet facility. As VOIP employs existing internet network, it can transmit a single call to multiple numbers thus making call conferencing a breeze.
5 powerful advantages of low rate VOIP internet phone service:
1. Slashing costs - As these phones are easily incorporated into an existing infrastructure, there is no need for an additional telephone network thus slashing bills by more than 40%. In addition to this, the long distance call charges are much less compared to traditional phones.
2. Secure call encryption - A major hurdle in processing secure telephone calls between traditional phones is converting and reconverting them into digital signals. This process is already there in a VOIP phone and thus the standard route of encryption becomes shortened.
3. Several advanced features - A VOIP internet phone service can be complemented with advanced telephony features such as call routing and Automated Voice Response systems.
4. Easy integration with other facilities - The fact that a VOIP phone works with a computer and an internet network makes it effortless to exchange other information, files, do video conferencing, pass on address books and so on.
5. Increased accessibility - all one needs to make a VOIP call is a high speed internet connection and a subscription with a VOIP service provider. Hence one can use this practically anywhere.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Moving Office? Cannot Keep the Old Phone Number?
Here's another valuable tip, not available to thousands of business owners in the pre-voip era.
So you are moving offices, and for whatever reason, your phone company declares that you will not be able to keep the same phone numbers?
What do you do now?
I recommend switching your phone lines or "porting" to service providers who are able to give you the same number at your new location.
If regular land-line service providers cannot do this, then look around for VOIP phone line providers. Don't worry if you hate VOIP and refuse to buy cheap service and risk your business' reputation.
You will have to do a bit of research to find the most suitable VOIP phone line provider who will be able to "port" your existing telephone numbers onto their service and the rest is easy.
Once the phone number has switched vendors or "ported", just get this vendor to forward your line to the lines at your new location. The phone lines at the new location can be from your old telephone company or any new vendor.
It can be the same VOIP vendor too, if you want to save more money !) Advantages of going with this plan : Your regular telephone company would charge you way to much to forward your old lines to the new location, with the same result.
Results may differ based on telephone company and location. Please check with your telephone company and compare the costs, before making a decision.
There are chances that your existing telephone company may come back with a great deal in order to keep your account!
So you are moving offices, and for whatever reason, your phone company declares that you will not be able to keep the same phone numbers?
What do you do now?
I recommend switching your phone lines or "porting" to service providers who are able to give you the same number at your new location.
If regular land-line service providers cannot do this, then look around for VOIP phone line providers. Don't worry if you hate VOIP and refuse to buy cheap service and risk your business' reputation.
You will have to do a bit of research to find the most suitable VOIP phone line provider who will be able to "port" your existing telephone numbers onto their service and the rest is easy.
Once the phone number has switched vendors or "ported", just get this vendor to forward your line to the lines at your new location. The phone lines at the new location can be from your old telephone company or any new vendor.
It can be the same VOIP vendor too, if you want to save more money !) Advantages of going with this plan : Your regular telephone company would charge you way to much to forward your old lines to the new location, with the same result.
Results may differ based on telephone company and location. Please check with your telephone company and compare the costs, before making a decision.
There are chances that your existing telephone company may come back with a great deal in order to keep your account!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Cisco Unified Communications Manager and SIP Trunking
SIP trunking is becoming a very popular way to connect to the Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN). Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a signaling protocol, widely used for setting up and tearing down multimedia communication sessions such as voice and video calls over the Internet. Instead of a line from your local provider (AT&T, Verizon, etc..) you connect to one of a number of SIP trunk providers, sometimes referred to as Internet Telephony Service Provider (ITSP). They can provide telephone numbers in most of the area codes and provide features like Direct Inward Dial (DID) and Caller-Id over the SIP trunk. Think of Vonage, but on an enterprise scale.
What is confusing to a lot of people is that the SIP Trunk is a logical connection. It is not like POTs, T1 or PRI that are physical connections. The most common ways to connect to the ITSP is over the Internet or a private MPLS circuit. The biggest limitation of using the Internet is the lack of Quality of Service (QOS), but it is surprising how well it works.
SIP Trunks have been supported in Cisco Unified Communications Manager for a while. Configuring SIP trunks directly into UCM has it limitations. This is why Cisco has recently added expanded SIP trunking support on their routers. Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE) is a feature set that can be added to the voice gateway. There is an added cost for the software, but when compared with the cost savings of going to SIP it can make a lot of sense.
What is confusing to a lot of people is that the SIP Trunk is a logical connection. It is not like POTs, T1 or PRI that are physical connections. The most common ways to connect to the ITSP is over the Internet or a private MPLS circuit. The biggest limitation of using the Internet is the lack of Quality of Service (QOS), but it is surprising how well it works.
SIP Trunks have been supported in Cisco Unified Communications Manager for a while. Configuring SIP trunks directly into UCM has it limitations. This is why Cisco has recently added expanded SIP trunking support on their routers. Cisco Unified Border Element (CUBE) is a feature set that can be added to the voice gateway. There is an added cost for the software, but when compared with the cost savings of going to SIP it can make a lot of sense.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Key Telephone Systems Vs VOIP-IP PBX Phone Systems
What is the difference between a Key Telephone System & a PBX Phone System?
With the introduction of VOIP or IP Phone Systems, this old-technology question is becoming all the more relevant in your final decision to purchase the right phone system today.
I have cut and pasted the following text from a Google search, just to show you a classic example of a technically correct explanation for this question that would not only be technical jargon to you, but also throw up a bunch of new questions.
A key system has telephones with multiple buttons that permit the user to directly select the telephone company's central office phone lines. A key telephone system (KTS) is not a switch.
A private branch exchange (PBX) allows several trunks (outside lines) from the central office to be shared and the switching for selecting these lines is within the PBX. A PBX is sometimes referred to as a phone switch.
Key systems are usually found in small companies where few features are required. A PBX is usually found in larger companies that need more capabilities.
Was I right?
Now your questions would be :
- What is a switch? What is central office?- I didn't quite understand why PBX is a phone switch and the KTS is not a switch?
- Why do I care?- I want to know what each can do and cannot do for me?
- Now what do I need to have in a phone system and what not? How do I know?
- I am a small business, so do I have to look out for a Key Telephone System?
- Is the PBX Phone system not for me?
- Is the PBX more expensive?
- Well I don't want to be stuck with something that is having few features, so what do I do?
- What other features does a PBX have, which a Key Telephone System doesn't
have?.....But I know somebody who has a business phone system and he says its a PBX... he has a staff of six! And I am confused! Did he get cheated? or Did he pay too much for something he didn't need?
- Gosh, I didn't even know there were two different types of phone systems?
- Help!
Ok. Here is my version of the explanation...
And this is really the most important thing you will ever need to know in today's market, where there are hundreds of new phone systems with VOIP technology, IP PBX Systems, IP Phone Systems that are competing with the Panasonic, Nortel, Avaya, NEC, Samsung types.
Just recently during a sales meeting, a prospecting client was all in favour of the new IP PBX from Microsoft...the Microsoft Response Point, but it was this KEY difference, (no pun intended!!) that made them reject the Microsoft Response Point and choose the Traditional PBX from Panasonic.
What was this "key "difference?
Key System Functionality is seen when each business phone or extension connected to your business phone system is able to have a button ( called Line or CO Button) dedicated for each Phone Line that you have for calling out i.e. the local telephone company or CO lines.
When you press this Line Button on your phone, you are actually connected to one of the CO Lines from your phone company.
Lets say you have subscribed for 4 business telephone lines from your local phone company then you will have Line 1, Line 2, Line 3 and Line 4 Buttons on your business phone.
You are able to pick and choose what ever line you want to dial out. Also if one of the lines is faulty you will actually hear a crackling or if it is dead then you will hear nothing except a slight hiss. In short you are able to SEE all your lines coming into the office.
You are also able to see the status when someone in the office is using any of the CO Lines, because the corresponding Line Button will be lit up RED or have a Black Triangle against it ( this feature is available in all business phone systems with slight variations.) If you press this Lit up Line Button, it will beep at you and if you have a display , it will show you the current status as LINE BUSY.
Based on my experience in the practical world, KEY Telephone Systems HAVE All and more features than PBX phone systems.
In fact this very feature of Having Line Buttons or Line Presence is a HUGE HUGE factor for most small businesses who usually have about 3 to 8 CO Lines and about 3 to 25 phones.
And what is a PBX Telephone System?
In fact, the PBX Telephone System, in the practical sense, does not have the Line Presence feature or CO Line Button feature at all!
Which makes the PBX System a bit inferior when compared to a Key Telephone System. Doesn't it? Well, take my word..this is true. Key Telephone Systems today have all the features you will possibly need, whether you are a big business or a small business.
It is true, though, that if you are a very very large business , like Microsoft, or GE or AT&T etc. i.e if you need lots and lots of CO Lines than the number of buttons on your business phone, then you would go for a pure PBX Telephone System.
(That doesn't mean you cannot use a Key Telephone System for large organizations...Key Telephone Systems can be SETUP as PBX systems, but PBX systems CANNOT be setup as Key Telephone Systems. )
Didn't mean to confuse you...but ignore this comment and read on.
A PBX or Private Branch Exchange, is a business phone system that doesn't need the ability to have Line Presence on all its business phones or extensions. Now there are technical differences in how they work, as a switch, etc etc. but when it comes to your understanding,that is the KEY feature.
Both phone systems have the ability to handle multiple lines, multiple conversations, auto-attendant, voice mail boxes, for a wide range of office sizes.
The really really important thing to know today that most of the IP PBX Systems or IP Phone Systems or VOIP Phone Systems DO NOT have the Line Presence feature.
And if you think that's important to you, just like my last client did, then please don't opt for the IP PBX Systems. You will have nothing but a nice headache!
But you will want the latest and the greatest or the simplest and easiest IP PBX systems or VOIP PBX Systems, if you like the other features it has.
Till then...happy calling.
With the introduction of VOIP or IP Phone Systems, this old-technology question is becoming all the more relevant in your final decision to purchase the right phone system today.
I have cut and pasted the following text from a Google search, just to show you a classic example of a technically correct explanation for this question that would not only be technical jargon to you, but also throw up a bunch of new questions.
A key system has telephones with multiple buttons that permit the user to directly select the telephone company's central office phone lines. A key telephone system (KTS) is not a switch.
A private branch exchange (PBX) allows several trunks (outside lines) from the central office to be shared and the switching for selecting these lines is within the PBX. A PBX is sometimes referred to as a phone switch.
Key systems are usually found in small companies where few features are required. A PBX is usually found in larger companies that need more capabilities.
Was I right?
Now your questions would be :
- What is a switch? What is central office?- I didn't quite understand why PBX is a phone switch and the KTS is not a switch?
- Why do I care?- I want to know what each can do and cannot do for me?
- Now what do I need to have in a phone system and what not? How do I know?
- I am a small business, so do I have to look out for a Key Telephone System?
- Is the PBX Phone system not for me?
- Is the PBX more expensive?
- Well I don't want to be stuck with something that is having few features, so what do I do?
- What other features does a PBX have, which a Key Telephone System doesn't
have?.....But I know somebody who has a business phone system and he says its a PBX... he has a staff of six! And I am confused! Did he get cheated? or Did he pay too much for something he didn't need?
- Gosh, I didn't even know there were two different types of phone systems?
- Help!
Ok. Here is my version of the explanation...
And this is really the most important thing you will ever need to know in today's market, where there are hundreds of new phone systems with VOIP technology, IP PBX Systems, IP Phone Systems that are competing with the Panasonic, Nortel, Avaya, NEC, Samsung types.
Just recently during a sales meeting, a prospecting client was all in favour of the new IP PBX from Microsoft...the Microsoft Response Point, but it was this KEY difference, (no pun intended!!) that made them reject the Microsoft Response Point and choose the Traditional PBX from Panasonic.
What was this "key "difference?
Key System Functionality is seen when each business phone or extension connected to your business phone system is able to have a button ( called Line or CO Button) dedicated for each Phone Line that you have for calling out i.e. the local telephone company or CO lines.
When you press this Line Button on your phone, you are actually connected to one of the CO Lines from your phone company.
Lets say you have subscribed for 4 business telephone lines from your local phone company then you will have Line 1, Line 2, Line 3 and Line 4 Buttons on your business phone.
You are able to pick and choose what ever line you want to dial out. Also if one of the lines is faulty you will actually hear a crackling or if it is dead then you will hear nothing except a slight hiss. In short you are able to SEE all your lines coming into the office.
You are also able to see the status when someone in the office is using any of the CO Lines, because the corresponding Line Button will be lit up RED or have a Black Triangle against it ( this feature is available in all business phone systems with slight variations.) If you press this Lit up Line Button, it will beep at you and if you have a display , it will show you the current status as LINE BUSY.
Based on my experience in the practical world, KEY Telephone Systems HAVE All and more features than PBX phone systems.
In fact this very feature of Having Line Buttons or Line Presence is a HUGE HUGE factor for most small businesses who usually have about 3 to 8 CO Lines and about 3 to 25 phones.
And what is a PBX Telephone System?
In fact, the PBX Telephone System, in the practical sense, does not have the Line Presence feature or CO Line Button feature at all!
Which makes the PBX System a bit inferior when compared to a Key Telephone System. Doesn't it? Well, take my word..this is true. Key Telephone Systems today have all the features you will possibly need, whether you are a big business or a small business.
It is true, though, that if you are a very very large business , like Microsoft, or GE or AT&T etc. i.e if you need lots and lots of CO Lines than the number of buttons on your business phone, then you would go for a pure PBX Telephone System.
(That doesn't mean you cannot use a Key Telephone System for large organizations...Key Telephone Systems can be SETUP as PBX systems, but PBX systems CANNOT be setup as Key Telephone Systems. )
Didn't mean to confuse you...but ignore this comment and read on.
A PBX or Private Branch Exchange, is a business phone system that doesn't need the ability to have Line Presence on all its business phones or extensions. Now there are technical differences in how they work, as a switch, etc etc. but when it comes to your understanding,that is the KEY feature.
Both phone systems have the ability to handle multiple lines, multiple conversations, auto-attendant, voice mail boxes, for a wide range of office sizes.
The really really important thing to know today that most of the IP PBX Systems or IP Phone Systems or VOIP Phone Systems DO NOT have the Line Presence feature.
And if you think that's important to you, just like my last client did, then please don't opt for the IP PBX Systems. You will have nothing but a nice headache!
But you will want the latest and the greatest or the simplest and easiest IP PBX systems or VOIP PBX Systems, if you like the other features it has.
Till then...happy calling.
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