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How does 3CX work?
Figure 1 - How an IP PBX
integrates into the network
An IP PBX or IP
Telephone System consists of one or more SIP phones,
an IP PBX server and optionally a VOIP Gateway to
connect to existing PSTN
lines. The IP PBX server
functions in a similar manner to a proxy server: SIP
clients, being either soft phones or hardware-based
phones, register with
the IP PBX server, and when
they wish to make a call they ask the IP PBX to
establish the connection. The IP PBX has a directory
of all phones/users and
their corresponding SIP
address and thus is able to connect an internal call
or route an external call via either a VOIP gateway
or a VOIP service provider.
More information and
commonly asked questioned about IP PBXs can be found
on the
IP PBX, SIP & VOIP FAQ.
Benefit
#1: Much easier to install & configure than a
proprietary phone system:
An IP PBX runs as software on a computer and can
leverage the advanced processing power of the
computer and user interface as well as Windows'
features. Anyone proficient in networking and
computers can install and maintain an IP PBX. By
contrast a proprietary phone system often requires
an
installer trained on that particular proprietary
system!
Benefit
#2: Easier to manage because of web/GUI based
configuration interface:
An IP PBX can be managed via a web-based
configuration interface or a GUI, allowing you to
easily maintain and fine tune your phone system.
Proprietary phone systems have difficult-to-use
interfaces which are often designed to be used only
by the phone technicians.
Benefit #3:
Significant cost savings using VOIP providers:
With an IP PBX you can easily use a VOIP service
provider for long distance and international calls.
The monthly savings are significant. If you have
branch offices, you can easily connect phone systems
between branches and make free phone calls.
Benefit #4
Eliminate phone wiring!
An IP Telephone system allows you to connect
hardware phones directly to a standard computer
network port (which it can share with the adjacent
computer). Software phones can be installed directly
onto the PC. You can now eliminate the phone wiring
and make adding or moving of extensions
much easier.
In new offices you can completely eliminate the
extra ports to be used by the office phone system!
Benefit #5:
Eliminate vendor lock in!
IP PBXs are based on the open SIP standard. You can
now mix and match any SIP hardware or software phone
with any SIP-based IP PBX, PSTN
Gateway or VOIP
provider. In contrast, a proprietary phone system
often requires proprietary phones to use advanced
features, and proprietary
extension modules to add
features.
Benefit #6:
Scalable
Proprietary systems are easy to outgrow: Adding more
phone lines or extensions often requires expensive
hardware modules. In some cases you need an
entirely
new phone system. Not so with an IP PBX: a standard
computer can easily handle a large number of phone
lines and extensions - just add more
phones to your
network to expand!
Benefit #7:
Better customer service & productivity:
With an IP PBX you can deliver better customer
service and better productivity: Since the IP
telephone system is now computer-based you can
integrate
phone functions with business
applications. For example: Bring up the customer
record of the caller automatically when you receive
his/her call,
dramatically improving customer
service and cutting cost by reducing time spent on
each caller. Outbound calls can be placed directly
from your PC,
removing the need for the user to type
in the phone number.
Benefit #8:
Twice the phone system features for half the price!
Since an IP PABX is software-based, it is easier for
developers to add and improve feature sets. Most
VOIP phone systems come with a rich feature set,
including auto attendant, voice mail, ring groups,
advanced reporting and more. These options are often
very expensive in proprietary systems.
Benefit
#9: Allow hot desking & roaming
Hot desking - the process of being able to easily
move offices/desks based on the task at hand, has
become very popular. Unfortunately traditional PBXs
require extensions to be re-patched to the new
location. With an IP PBX the user simply takes his
phone to his new desk - No patching required!
Users can roam too -
if an employee has to work from home, he/she can
simply fire up their SIP software phone and are able
to answer calls to their
extension, just as they
would in the office. Calls can be diverted anywhere
in the world because of the SIP protocol
characteristics!
Benefit
#10: Better phone usability: SIP phones are easier
to use
Employees often struggle using advanced phone
features: Setting up a conference, transferring a
call - On an old PBX it all requires instruction.
Not so with an IP PBX
- all features are easily performed from a user
friendly Windows GUI. In addition, users get a
better overview of the status of
other extensions
and of inbound lines and call queues via the IP PBX
Windows client. Proprietary systems often require
expensive 'system' phones to get
an idea what is
going on on your phone system. Even then, status
information is cryptic at best.
Conclusion
Investing in a software-based IP PBX makes a lot of
sense, not only for new companies buying a phone
system, but also for companies who already have
a
PBX. An IP PBX delivers such significant savings in
management, maintenance, and ongoing call costs,
that upgrading to an IP PBX, should be the
obvious
choice for any company.
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