Virtual PBX
What is Virtual PBX and how can the One Source 4 Business Virtual PBX system help your business?
PBX is the commonly used term for a private branch exchange, a telephone exchange system that serves one business. Originally a PBX was designed to allow companies to control their phone systems through in-house operators. Today, instead of just connecting calls, these systems also connect fax machines, computer modems, and other types of technology that route through the phone lines.
Businesses embracing VoIP were, from the start, highly interested in making use of PBX systems, but they had to find a way to do so that didn't tap their resources. The solution has been to use "hosted PBX" systems, in which an outside company manages the private VoIP system; instead of the telephone exchange system's being located at the business, it is located at the site of the VoIP host. This arrangement allows a small business to take advantage of a comprehensive VoIP system without having to maintain a staff to keep that system running.
Just as VoIP systems have begun to offer a variety of features, virtual PBX providers have evolved to supply additional services, such as messaging, call-forwarding, and call-waiting options, as well as advanced calling features such as automatic dialing. Virtual PBX hosting also offers advanced features that are unique to the integration of the phone and computer.
For example, many providers offer Outlook integration so that users can access e-mail address books through one location. Additionally, many services offer click-to-call widgets, which appear as buttons on the business's Web site or social networking profile; when a customer clicks the button, the two parties connect by phone. This is a major feature that helps businesses move seamlessly between online and voice interaction.
On a simpler level, the integration of voice and data features allows for ease of communication within the business itself. Since virtual PBX services host video, voice, and data conferencing, a company can achieve remote collaboration without investing in any additional software or hardware. Moreover, virtual PBX systems provide an online means of tracking call data, which can assist with billing and budgeting.
Among a number of other benefits, virtual PBX requires no extra hardware and little training; as a result, it entails lower startup costs for the business. A virtual PBX setup might not be the right solution for every business, however. For example, companies requiring automatic call distribution may find that their options are limited on a virtual PBX; although ACD is available through most virtual PBX systems, it tends to be a simplified version that could be insufficient for businesses regularly routing calls to different areas of the company.
One Source 4 Business focuses less on the specific services provided than it does on the cost of its service. It stands out as a leader in lowering the overall calling costs for all types of businesses. One Source 4 Business also emphasizes lower costs but distinguishes itself from the competetion by concentrating on features as well. Its most outstanding benefit is that it offers scalability, allowing you to get the various services you need at an affordable rate as your business grows.
Ultimately a virtual PBX system should reduce the need for a small business to focus on managing its calls, and it should limit the stress that an advanced calling system can place on a business. And businesses that have remote employees or work in multiple locations may find that using a virtual PBX system to host teleconferences is an easy and efficient way to connect everyone in the company.