Published on April 4th, 2018 | by Sunit Nandi

Shopping for Your First Business Phone System: A Buyer’s Guide

Good communications lie at the heart of any successful business and that means having access to an equally good business phone system. With the technological advances that have been made in recent years, companies no longer need to rely on traditional landlines. With the choices available, a new business must consider first the size of the communications budget and the number of support staff required.

Traditional Landlines

These are also referred to as Public Switched Phone Networks and operate through an extensive network of copper wiring. A new business would have to install its own Private Branch Exchange (PBX) hardware system. This would allow for a variety of functions including multiple extensions, directory data and call transferring. One bonus would be that the set-up can be incorporated into a VoIP system as the needs of the business progress. It is a reliable system that has proved its worth over the years. It would however, require a relatively large budget and a certain number of staff to implement it.

Virtual Phone Systems

This is ideal for a business with a small budget as by using the appropriate software, it can be operated through existing equipment and can be integrated with cell phones. Calls are transferred from a main number to remote workers, enabling a customer to reach the correct member of staff. However, a business is not independent but reliant on the existing network of landlines and mobile phones and would incur monthly or pay as you go charges that are typical of those providers.

VoIP Systems

Directly evolved from the landline network, Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), runs through the internet connections every business has. Easy to implement, it provides excellent flexibility in terms of cost and capabilities. However, there are two distinct versions that are at opposite ends of the financial scale, On Premises and Cloud Based.

On Premises VoIP Systems

A new business would need considerable investment to set up this self-hosted format as it requires independent PBX hardware. This in itself would lead to security requirements and is only really viable for much larger companies with a sizeable IT department to justify the cost of installing the necessary hardware.

Cloud Based VoIP Systems

These offer a flexible option as they operate in a similar way to the category above except that the expensive hardware is Cloud based and is not stored on the business premises. Operating the system, including the initial set up, is all done through the business computer making it an ideal choice for a small budget enterprise with a limited workforce.

Conclusion

Many businesses start small and can probably only afford to devote a limited amount of resources to their communication systems, but by choosing wisely, they can allow for developing their systems as their businesses grow. There are many flexible options that PMC Telecoms offer business telecommunication solutions regarding phone systems and providers to suit every size of new business.

Tags: business, buyer, first, guide, Phone, shopping, system, telecom

About the Author

Sunit Nandi I'm the leader of Techno FAQ. Also an engineering college student with immense interest in science and technology. Other interests include literature, coin collecting, gardening and photography. Always wish to live life like there's no tomorrow.