Phone systems used to take effort and a pretty penny to set up. You had to rely on existing lines to connect your main server which then connected the phones to your system.
In reality, it wasn’t much of a pain back then because that’s just how it was; there wasn’t any better way of installing an office phone system.
A few decades later, there was a shift in technology that would change voice communications for everyone.
From Analog to VoIP
Today, people are able to transmit voice data over an internet connection and communicate from a variety of devices. We’re not saying the phone is obsolete, on the contrary it’s still the main method of business communication.
The phone is now just one of the many methods we can use to stay in touch with business partners while accessing great phone system features.
All of this is thanks to Alon Cohen, the man behind the invention of the audio transceiver which connects multiple audio output devices to one central location which then simultaneously distributes that data over a network. This technology would go on the enable and power the VoIP technology as we know it.
To really get to know your cloud-based phone system, let’s talk about the main components that on a basic level, make up your business phone system: the PBX, an internet connection, virtual numbers, and the communication devices.
The PBX System
The PBX system is the core of your communications. You can choose from premise-based or hosted solutions, with hosted being the most popular for small businesses because of its seamless set up and maintenance. When you opt to use a hosted system, you’re able to take advantage of all the VoIP features your business needs without the additional resources and costs.
Although hosted providers manage the PBX system remotely, users can still access theirs through an admin portal so you can manage your extensions, enable call forwarding and do not disturb, and more.
Internet Connection
An internet connection is what powers your VoIP solution. It allows you to transmit your voice data quicker than through
Since voice data travels through bandwidth in digitized packets, having more bandwidth means you have more capacity for data to travel through. This will minimize any jitter that causes choppy audio.
To make sure you get the best call quality and service, get in touch with your provider to understand the necessary bandwidth available on your service plan.
Numbers
Without a phone number, you won’t have much use for your business phone. When you’re thinking about setting up your business communications, you might not think about the importance of the type of phone number you choose, but it’s worth considering in the long run.
Having the right business phone number can be useful in a variety of ways, whether it’s for tracking marketing campaigns or reaching out to prospects in certain areas. The key is to understand the benefits of each type of phone number to know how each can suit your business growth strategies.
Endpoints
A phone system uses endpoints to receive and send voice communications. The type of endpoint used can vary depending on the type of business, how it operates, and its unique communications needs.
Using the internet to send voice data gives users the flexibility to use multiple devices for sending these packets of data without worrying about voice quality or service interruption. The most popular are IP office phones, softphone apps, and mobile phones.
As cloud-based phone systems continue to gain popularity and more businesses start using it to power their communications, the technology will inevitably evolve to cater to more communications needs and available endpoints. The components, however, will likely remain intact. Take the time to explore how your business can benefit from a VoIP phone system and set your business up for long-term growth.