Whether we start the journey with our own business, or if we decide to expand, improve our change our Internet service for companies; telephone calls are still a very important point to consider. The market offers two different alternatives in terms of providing telephone service companies: the tradicional switchboard and the VoIP exchange. What are the differences between the two? What does one or the other contribute?
Traditional PBX and IP PBX: what are they?
Let's go to the point. The traditional PBX is a device that must be physically installed in our company. Through it all incoming and outgoing calls will go through cables, in addition to requiring an installation that, sometimes, can be expensive. We can not forget that this type of switchboard requires not only installation, but also that the telephony operator allows its connection to the telephone network. The VoIP exchange also allow us to relocate the telephone service of the company, VoIP terminals are connected to the Internet, either in the office itself or in the home of a worker who telework. Usually, these VoIP terminals, like those of the Cisco brand, are small computers and to get to install them and handle them as an expert, we must resort to training.
And what is IP Telephony?
VoIP (Voice over IP protocol) is a technology that was born in 1973 and that was used on the 'grandfather' of our current internet: ARPANET. This technology allows phone calls between users connected to the same program, as well as calls from the Internet to the convencional telephone network. This technology is widespread: we find it in our Smartphone, computers and tablets in the form of WhatsApp, Telegram, Facetime, or Skype - among others - and in the vast majority of large companies, which use VoIP PBXs for their communications.
What is the cost of one and another switchboard option?
The traditional switchboard will requiere a strong investment to be able to carry out the intire deployment. Both the installation of the device itself, as the wiring from the device to each of the phones require an investment and subsequent amortization. Yes, once the maintenance is installed is minimal and we should only take into account that the physical switchboard will age after a few years, as well as the possible extensions that we have to do.
On the contrary, the VoIP exchange takes advantage of the data network already existing in the company. We only have to connect the VoIP terminal to the router and have an expert configure the access, as if it were another computer. Yes, the weak point of this type of switchboard is that, if we do not have access to the Internet, we will not have the possibility of making calls through channels that depend on it.
And if I want to increase the capacity of my PBX?
In case the traditional PBX, we must increase it in the same way that we installed it for the first time: buying the physical device, wiring and activating thw switchboard. On the other hand, the VoIP exchange, since it does not require any installation, only needs to contact the service provider, request the increase of lines and configure them.
Let's take an example. We have started a new business and we opted for two telephone lines and one operator. After a few months and thanks to good work in customer service, we need to increase. If we have installed a traditional switchboard, the increase will be made with the purchase of another device and the installation of the cables. On the contrary, if we have a VoIP switchboard we will simply configure the new terminals connected to the company's data network. If, in addition, our business requieres a change of venue, the option of VoIP swithboard allows us to change the location without problems, since the terminals only requiere connection to the network. Nothing else.
My PBX muest be flexible, which one interests me?
If you have come this far it will be easy to understand that, if your business requires flexibility, the best option is the VoIP exchange. The traditional switchboard can be changed, of course, but that will mean dismantling and reassembling the switchboard in the new headquarters.
The VoIP exchange only requieres an Internet connection and configure it. Imagine that we opened a headquarters in another city and there are 3 lines required (one for the reception and two for the telephone service). All we have to do is craete the phone numbers from our headquerters and proceed to install the devices. This is how flexible the VoIP exchange is.
The veredict: the VoIP exchange, no doubt
The old physical switchboards have been surpassed by the flexibility and comfort of the new VoIP control units.
These are easy to configure and, in many cases, the same Internet provider offers the service. While it is true that VoIP terminals are more complex than regular phones, but with many more options to increase our productivity.
There are many platforms that you have to make the leap to VoIP technology. In avanzada 7 we have Cisco IP terminals, which allow you to save on your phone bill each month and achieve business success, providing an excellent communication service to your customers.
Undoubtedly, the future of communications in companies is the voice over IP (VoIP) protocol.
