Considering The Types Of Commercial Telephone Systems

One of the major factors which can influence the way that a business runs and succeeds, is the efficiency of the communication network which is in place. You need to keep in mind the type and the size of the business you are running and choose your commercial telephone system accordingly. The type of commercial phone system you choose will depend on how many stations (extensions) you need and what features you require. Traditional business phone systems come in three basic configurations: key system units (KSU), Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems, and KSU-less phones.

PBX systems

If your company has more than 40 employees, or if you need advanced functionality, PBX systems are the best solution. PBX systems use dedicated telephone hardware and switches to handle and rout calls. They are traditionally stored in a telecom cabinet at your office, but with the way that modern technology has made everything smaller and more efficient, these days it is possible to get a device which can sit on a desk in the corner and will not even be noticed.

Key systems

These are popular for businesses which have between 5 and 40 employees. This type of phone system uses a central control device called the key system unit (KSU) to provide features that are not available with ordinary phones. For example, a central unit can allow users to make calls between extensions and prevent users from accidentally picking up lines that are in use. Modern key systems do provide standard business features also.

Both key and PBX telephone systems require professional installation and maintenance. All outside telephone lines must connect to the KSU or PBX cabinet, as well as all inside extensions. Unfortunately, configuring and wiring these phone systems can be nearly as costly as the phones themselves. You will almost always be able to use existing phone wiring, but you will need to get new headsets which are compatible with commercial telephone systems.

KSU-less systems

KSU-less phones are designed to provide many of the features of smaller commercial phone systems in a decentralized manner. The phones themselves contain the technology necessary to allow them to communicate with each other without requiring a central cabinet .KSU-less phone systems are not permanently wired into your office. These phones can easily be unplugged and moved to a new location or sold.

VoIP systems

In addition to traditional business phone systems, there are systems that use voice over the Internet protocol (VoIP) technology to let you make and receive phone calls using your broadband Internet connection and special IP enabled telephones. For some businesses, VoIP systems can provide significant cost savings and other benefits.

There are two varieties of VoIP business phone system. An IP PBX is a piece of hardware which is installed at your office and functions much like a traditional PBX or key system. A hosted business phone system, on the other hand, processes calls at a data centre before forwarding them to a direct extension at your office or other location.