Cloud PBX Office Telephone – Getting Started

When shopping for office telephone system business owners tend to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of components to be considered and the number of service providers in the market today. Regardless of how daunting it may seem someone has to do it and sadly it is often in the business owner’s hands because it involves pivotal decisions that can affect the business.

However, not all office telephone system is as complex as you think. A cloud PBX office telephone system does not require any hardware apart from the actual handsets and all you need are basic business infrastructure and you are good to go. Firstly, let’s start by explaining the cloud PBX. Basically it is a business grade communication system that uses trunk lines and the internet instead of the usual hardware and copper wires. Think of it as a virtual phone and you access all the necessary equipments using the internet and all you need on site is the actual handset. 

A cloud PBX office telephone system is known for bringing savings by as much as 70% compared to traditional phone systems and offer significantly better features because of its flexibility and programmable characteristics that will suit all business types and requirements. So the question remains, what do you really need to successfully deploy the system? Below is a simple list of the basic requirements of a cloud PBX.

Internet connection – Since the solution uses VoIP technology a reliable internet connection is a must have. Bear in mind that you need to consider the speed, jitter level, packet loss and stability of the internet to enjoy business grade calls every time you pick your phone. Usually a business plan is recommended to avoid contention of the overly subscribed home grade connections and depending on your usage a dedicated may be required for your phones.

Modem or router – Often times the internet is blamed for a low quality call in VoIP but in reality almost 50% of these incidents is caused by the modem or router. Choose a brand and model that is designed to support VoIP and tweak the settings of the modem or router to prioritize VoIP traffic.

IP handsets – It is advisable that you use the make and model that your service provider recommends to avoid incompatibility issues and to maximize the full capacity of the system. Considering the overall usage of the phone is also important, for instance a reception style desk unit for your receptionist, a cordless handset for on go staffs and so on.

A good service provider – Before signing up with a provider it is advisable to take a little time to conduct research about their company. Visit forums, ask various business owners and get feedback from VoIP community about them and gauge their reliability, customer service mechanism and actual system accordingly.