Do you have maintenance problems and adjustments to your telephone system? Are developers not able to integrate, add or improve features correctly? Proprietary telephone exchanges often have difficulty using interfaces as they are designed in such a way that only the installers of such exchanges can use them effectively.
The solution to these problems can be found in IP PBXs. Through this technology, companies do not need to alter their operations and external communications infrastructure, they also have a web-based configuration interface, which allows easy installation and maintenance. Do you want to know more about IP PBXs? Don’t miss the next post.
WHAT ARE IP PBXS AND HOW DO THEY WORK?
An IP PBX is similar in appearance to conventional telephone PBXs, but unlike them, they work through companies’ LAN networks, the same ones used by computers. Thus, they can use telephone lines that work through the Internet, replacing traditional lines such as analog or ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network).
The technology used by IP PBXs is called VOIP (voice over IP) and in addition to transmitting voice it also allows you to receive and send data.
This technology goes beyond including advanced communication features, it provides the ability to easily scale your business. The IP PBX can connect to traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) lines via an optional gateway, so it’s easy to keep your daily business communications up to date. Next, we are going to explain what the operation of an IP PBX consists of.
A telephone switchboard or IP telephone system consists of several SIP telephones (telephones prepared to use VoIP technology), an IP PBX server (automatic private exchange) and optionally we can find a VoIP gateway where we can link existing PSTN lines. The set of functionalities of the telephone exchange server is very similar to a proxy server.
SIP clients, whether they are desk phones or softphones (software used to make calls to other conventional phones using VoIP), link to the IP PBX server and when they need to make a call they simply ask the IP PBX to make a connection.
The IP PBX has a directory with all the telephones/users and their relevant SIP address and thus can link an internal call or route an external call in a simple way through a VoIP gateway or a VoIP service provider.
ADVANTAGES OF USING AN IP TELEPHONE EXCHANGE
Save on your phone bill
The use of IP PBXs allows significant savings. You can easily connect the telephone exchanges between offices or branches and make calls without any cost.
Have a simpler installation and configuration process than a traditional one
A software program running from a computer can take advantage of the processing, user interface, and features of the operating system. Anyone with knowledge in this matter will be able to install and configure it easily.
Remain without being tied to a single manufacturer
All modern VoIP phone systems use SIP as the protocol. This means that virtually any VoIP SIP phone or VoIP gateway hardware can be used. In other words, you don’t need proprietary phones to use advanced features.
Add extensions and ease of use
A large number of telephone lines and extensions can be added without problems. An IP PBX allows you to connect physical phones directly to a standard network port (and this in turn can be shared by the computer). Therefore, there is no need to install and maintain a separate wiring network for the central office, as soft phones can be installed directly on the PC, giving you more flexibility to add users or extensions.
Controlling report generation is easier
VoIP exchanges are capable of storing information on incoming and outgoing calls in a database of their own server, and in this way more complete reports on costs and call traffic can be generated.
Improve customer service
Because calls are computer-based, developers are able to more effectively integrate business applications, making things easier for users.