How Does Hosted PBX Work?

Enterprises have used private telephone networks or Private Branch Exchange (PBX) for decades to communicate with people inside and outside their organization using different communication channels. Traditionally, these PBX solutions are on-premises systems, as the hardware remains in the organizations’ physical location. However, with the emergence of remote work, organizations are increasingly switching to hosted PBX solutions. These offer services and features that are similar to on-premise PBX systems, but do not require as much hardware in the office premises. In this article, we will explain how the hosted PBX service works.

How Do Hosted PBX Platforms Work?

Hosted PBX platforms are designed for businesses users to make calls using the internet. These can support unified communication requirements, along with regular PBX features such as call routing, call recording, and conferencing. They offer more flexibility and control than traditional PBX systems. There are primarily two types of hosted PBX platforms.

• Cloud-Native PBX

  Cloud-based PBX systems are virtualized phone systems that are rooted on the internet. The solution is managed entirely offsite and requires minimal or no hardware on the premises. This minimizes installation and maintenance costs and reduces dependence on dedicated IT staff.

  Cloud PBX solutions, such as Microsoft Phone System, provide comprehensive Unified communications as a service (UCaaS) capabilities ranging from voicemail to email delivery, auto attendants, and video conferencing. They are relatively easier to set up and manage.

• SIP Trunking Hosted PBX

  Most enterprises have already implemented IP PBX systems that use digital networking protocols instead of analog switchboards, such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN). These often use Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunking to deliver Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services. These systems, which are installed on servers in the office premises, can be moved to the cloud to route calls to virtual offices.

  Although SIP trunking-based PBX solutions typically have fewer features than cloud-native PBX systems, they can be more affordable, especially for larger enterprises and call centers. Hosted Issabel IP PBX is an example of such an implementation.

What Are the Advantages of Hosted PBX?

Here are some of the advantages of hosted PBX over legacy phone systems.

• Hosted PBX solutions allow users to communicate and stay connected regardless of the location and device they are using.
• Businesses can procure and add numbers, including toll-free numbers on-demand at low costs without adding additional hardware and infrastructure.
• Customer service teams have access to a host of new features that are not available with traditional systems.
• Hosted PBX solutions are easier to set up, maintain, and scale.
• Cloud-based solutions are safer as everything is encrypted, more reliable with built-in redundancies, and guarantee better performance.

Apps4Rent Can Help with Hosted PBX Solutions

Modern enterprises can no longer rely on their legacy servers and outdated PBX solutions to save costs, as it will inevitably lead to compromise on performance. Softphones have started replacing desk phones, and agents can provide services simply with an internet connection with hosted PBX solutions.

However, Virtual PBX solutions can vary significantly in terms of features, costs, and serviceability. As a Microsoft Gold Partner in several competencies and a Tier 1 CSP, Apps4Rent can provide Office 365/ Microsoft 365 licenses with Microsoft Teams Phone System for the most advanced features that are tightly integrated into the cloud experience. Alternatively, we can provide Issabel IP PBX on Azure or host it in our top-tier SSAE-16 datacenters. Contact our business phone service advisors, available 24/7 via phone, chat, and email for assistance.