Buying A Business Telephone System

There are four main types of business telephone systems – voice over internet protocol (VOIP), key telephone systems, private branch exchange telephone systems (PBX) and KSU-less telephone systems. All these provide the basic need of most businesses i.e. to communicate with clients anywhere in the world on a high quality line. For businesses who need more than that, it is worth knowing more about the characteristics of each of them…

Private Branch Exchange Telephone Systems (PBX) – This is the most expensive type of telephone system available but that is because it is also the most advanced one. It can deal with over fifty extensions and can be customized and upgraded as needed. If your company has lots of employees who require access to a phone, then this is the best choice for you. You will save yourself a lot of the hassle involved that comes with having multiple other types of telephone systems in use.

Key Telephone Systems – This system is popular with small businesses because it is well priced and is easy to set-up. It is most beneficial (in terms of usage and price) for companies with between ten and fifty employees. It can potentially cope with dealing with more than fifty extensions but that is not really what it was designed for. It can be combined with a PBX system though.

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) – This is the cheapest type of telephone system available, but it is still definitely usable. Setting it up pretty much involves you just purchasing a special phone (one that can be attached to a computer’s USB port) and plugging it into your computer. The advantages are the price and the portability that it offers. The disadvantages are that it does not have many of the advanced features of other systems and that it is impractical for use in anything bigger than a small business.

KSU-Less Telephone Systems – This is the most common type of telephone system in use which is testament to the fact that it provides what most small businesses need. It can accommodate up to ten extensions, is easy to install and can be moved from one office to another (if you need to relocate). It is not particularly easy to upgrade, which is its only real drawback.

If you are not sure which of the above telephone systems would be best for your business then you should contact a company who specializes in these systems to ask for their advice. They will also be happy to demonstrate each of the systems to you, so you can get a hands on feel of how they work.