WHAT IS A NBN PHONE SYSTEM OR A HOSTED PBX? PART 1

As more and more business move to VoIP services, we regularly have to explain the what, how and why of these services. Here’s our explanation.

Traditionally a business would have Phone System equipment installed at their premises (Often called a PBX – Private Branch Exchange or a PABX – Private Automated Branch Exchange) with their phone lines connected to a carrier network like Telstra. Most of the basic features (such as voice mail, call forwarding etc) are managed on the Phone System equipment, while all the network services such as Line Hunt are carried over the PSTN or ISDN Phone lines.

NBN Phone Systems or Hosted Phone Systems on the other hand take the smarts off site where it is managed by the service provider. The only equipment at the customers site is the handsets, the LAN switch and any modems or routers.

Because the brain of the system is not at the customers site but “hosted” remotely, NBN Phone systems are typically easier & faster to install, cheaper to purchase when compared to traditional systems. Because they are managed remotely there is minimal need for on site maintenance and programming each time the business needs to make a change. All programming is done remotely via the internet, saving on Technician Call Out charges.

Another key feature is that line rental and call charges are reduced and there is significantly less involvement with your Phone carrier such as Telstra as these system only require a good quality internet connection to operate. They do not require multiple phone lines.

To recap the above points NBN phone systems are …

• Cheaper to purchase
• Easier to install – in fact many customers self install these systems
• Easier to manage
• Less carrier involvement as they only require a Internet connection

NBN Hosted Phone Systems are ideally suited to…

• Business’s with multiple or remote sites such as home based staff, as there are free calls between sites and calls can be transferred between sites seamlessly (because the sites are part of a single system)
• Small to Medium Business that need a professional fully featured phone system
• Business’s that requires flexibility – eg may be relocating within a short period
• Business’s that wants to avoid large up front cost of purchasing a traditional Phone System
• Business’s that do not have an in House IT person.