iTelNet's Business Phone Systems
For over a decade, we have been working with companies to help them choose the best phone system for their business. The most obvious criteria is of course cost, and our business phone systems are priced at, or below, the rest of the industry. But we'll go beyond low price in helping you select and install your phone system. We'll listen carefully to the telecom needs of your business, and suggest a phone system that is ideal for your specific needs. We'll even install it, do the voice cabling, and help you customize it with business voicemail greetings, extensions, hold music, conference calling, and many other options.
We have experienced telecom executives standing by to take your call, so ring us toll-free at 1-800-677-0836, or click here to email us.
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Business Phone Systems: Overall Thoughts
Despite the rapid growth and impact of computer technology, the telephone arguably remains the single most important communication medium in the business universe. Whether portable phones, mobile or cell phones, or expandable phone systems for offices, the telephone connects businesses to their customers and their employees to one another like no other device can (of course, voice over IP service, which iTelNet provides at a low cost, combines the phone and the internet, and seemingly will change everything. Call 1-800-677-0836 for more information on our voice over ip phones and pricing).
The first business non-operator phone systems were rudimentary in functionality; they could put one call on hold and route that call to another phone within the same office. But digital technology has revolutionized expandable business phone systems. These phone systems can link to computers and be routed to another phone.
A business phone system is the communications center of any office, but the needs of each company are totally unique. It's important to get an business phone system that can grow with your business, not one that comes with bells and whistles that won't be used, nor one that you will outgrow or soon be outdated.
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What is a Business Phone System?
A business phone system has multiple lines, so that all employees have phone access to an outside line and have the capability of contacting each other within the network. Business phone systems can come equipped with a wide assortment of options. This includes video conferencing, which can save travel expenses and cut down on a company's carbon footprint; call routing, which will forward a phone call to another line such as a cell phone or home phone, to drastically reduce the number of missed calls; and advanced telephony features including virtual 800 numbers.
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Types of Expandable Business Phone Systems
Expandable business phone systems come in three major types. The first is a private branch exchange (PBX), which is a company's internal phone network. Think of it as a private phone company within the main phone company. A PBX basically functions as a switch station that connects calls within the closed network and also connects the internal lines of a business phone system to an external line. That means many different people can use the same phone line via their personal extension.
PBX is the most widely used telephone technology for business phone systems for medium and large businesses primarily because it eliminates the need to have a separate phone line for each person in the office, which would be very expensive. In addition, PBX makes it easy to call anyone on the same system by dialing a three or four digit extension.
In general, PBX is the system of choice for companies with 40 employees or more. But key systems are usually the business phone system of choice. They're found in smaller companies with fewer than 40 employees.
Where PBX technology is based around a central terminal (or switch), which connects the different lines in your company, a key system works through technology housed within each phone, called the key system unit (KSU). In other words, an internal terminal, the line routing equipment, is contained within the actual phones so each phone functions as a mini router. PBX systems can expand to handle as many lines as needed. Key systems are limited in the number of lines it can handle, although the traditional 40-line limit is no longer carved in stone. Even though a key system unit is less flexible that a PBX when it comes to programming options, SKUs provide the same basic calling features that come with a PBX, including caller ID, voice mail, call forwarding and extension dialing.
Similarly, technology advances have begun to blur the line between PBX and key systems because business phone system manufacturers have begun to install advanced features on key systems that were previously reserved exclusively for larger PBX systems. There are also so-called hybrid systems that can operate as either a PBX or KSU depending on the software being used.
Regardless of which system is used, professional installation and maintenance is necessary. An older handset will need to be replaced with new handsets that are compatible with key and PBX systems.
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KSU-less systems
The third type of business phone system, called KSU-less, is designed for companies with fewer than 10 employees. The advantage is that the initial financial investment is lower and the phones have built-in PBX-like technology that enables inter-communication without the central cabinet, or switch. This type of phone system is equivalent to plug-and-play: they are not wired into the wall, they're portable.
Because of its simplicity, KSU-less systems are not usually sold by telecom vendors and need to be bought at a retail electronics store and self-installed. Another downside is that there may be cross talk issues, where you can hear other conversations when on the phone!
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Voice Over IP Phone Systems
Voice over IP (VOIP) technology is bringing business phone systems into the digital age. We have a huge selection at extremely competitive pricing, click here for our Voice Over IP page or call us for more information at 1-800-677-0836.
Voice Over Internet Protocol is the transmission of voice data over IP-based computer networks. Internet Protocol, or IP, is the most common system used to transmit data. It works by breaking data up into small pieces called packets. Each packet includes a header, which specifies where the data came from and where it's going.
The data is forwarded across the Internet by routers, which act as checkpoints. Routers look for the most open road at that given moment to the destination point. The packets will pass through several checkpoints, or hops. Once the packets all arrive at the intended destination, they are pieced back together.
With IP technology reaching nearly every computer in the world, it makes sense to use that infrastructure for voice telephony because it enables you to call anyone who has a working telephone number, regardless of where they are on earth.
VOIP telephony works by turning speech into a digital signal, which travels the Internet via the IP protocol, meaning in packets of data. If a traditional analog phone is called, the digital signal is converted to an electrical signal. It can be translated by the phone receiver. Voice Over IP technology can merge multiple remote offices onto a single business phone system by using office computers and because it uses the Internet, these calls are usually free.
A company that has multiple locations (branches, telecommuters, remote sales offices) that are already connected to a company Local Area Network (LAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN), is a prime candidate for a VOIP system. The features of a voice over IP phone system are fully shared across all locations. It's a technology related to MPLS service, a product iTelNet also offers, which connects computers using cloud computing.
Traditional PBX systems are being upgraded to IP PBXs because it reduces the cost and improves functionality.
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iTelNet Will Install Your Business Phone System
According to business phone dealer estimates, most businesses only use 10% of the features on their systems! And many companies select a phone system that works great for them in the short term, but won't allow them to expand. iTelNet's experienced executives will listen carefully to your needs, and help you select the best business phone system for your company today, and tomorrow. Click here to email us, or call us to speak live with an experienced telecom executive at 1-800-677-0836.
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